I'm really surprised this place doesn't have better reviews because I had such a pleasant lunch here. I came on a Wednesday afternoon and it was packed, so I was glad I made a reservation since the wait without one was around 45 minutes. I really enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was seasoned perfectly, super tender, and the bread was soooo soft. I also got an unsweetened iced tea and it was the perfect combo for an afternoon lunch. The service was also amazing. Our server and the host was really friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend! read more

R+D Kitchen - Fried chicken sandwich was so good! - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Really weird experience...sat at the bar and listened to the waiter/waitresses talk poorly about their various customers. One waiter (man with glasses) said he can tell when someone is going to pay debit vs credit. The food was mediocre--French dip was a C+ at best and the fries are almost identical to In-N-Out fries so you might as well go there. Overall poor experience 0/5 read more

I had a frustrating and honestly disappointing experience with management at R&D Kitchen specifically with Kelly. At around 5pm, I was seated on the patio with the sun directly on my back. I was dressed appropriately in a collared shirt, tucked in, and overall well put together. The only issue? I had my hat on backward to block the sun. I was approached and told I couldn't wear my hat that way, which felt completely unnecessary and, frankly, a bit selective. There was nothing disruptive, inappropriate, or disrespectful about my appearance. It seemed like a rigid enforcement of a rule without any consideration for comfort or context especially given the outdoor setting and time of day. What made it worse was the tone and lack of flexibility from Kelly. Instead of creating a welcoming environment, it felt more like being policed over something trivial. It's hard not to question whether this kind of enforcement is applied consistently to all guests. For a place that prides itself on atmosphere and hospitality, this interaction missed the mark. Guests should feel comfortable and respected, not singled out over minor, situational things like how a hat is worn especially when seated outside in direct sunlight. I expected better read more

R+D Kitchen - Still took care of our wonderful server. As she was just as shocked as I was - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We came here the other day for cocktails only. There was a bit of a weight, but we did get in. We sat at the bar they do make pretty good drink drinks. As we were enjoying them, they brought fresh new cold, martini glasses, and put our existing drinks in them .. very classy. It's a very busy place. It's fun to people watch.. Next time I have to try the food . read more

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R+D Restaurant is my go-to whenever I'm at Fashion Island. The service is always great, and the food consistently comes out perfectly every time. It's such a great spot to grab a meal solo after a long day of shopping--comfortable, reliable, and never disappointing. The au jus prime rib sandwich is a must, and their cheeseburger is just as good. The fries are perfectly done, and the deviled eggs are absolutely delicious. Definitely one of the best places to stop by when in the area. read more

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Food - today, am gonna try the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. I love their Lamb sando, their Dings crispy sando, tuna tartare, dip duo, and othe goodies. Service - service is good here. Usually attentive and helpful. Ambiance - i consider this a mature refined environment Verdict - if your expectations are on par with the crowd, then visit this place. If you like to complain and are needy, then maybe not the place for you. Most of the time, we loved this place! Some hits and misses every now and then, but mostly good. read more

R+D Kitchen - Amaretto sour with egg whites - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I'm gonna start off why saying why it doesn't get a 5 star review like the other 3 hill stone restaurants in OC. It's quite simple and obvious. I'm not the only one with gripes about it: why the hell are sides like fries, salad, coleslaw or whatever EXTRA? The French dip, dings crispy chicken etc should come with it, not be some stand alone BS. I get it, fashion island rent do be crazy Spencey but still, it's the principle. Whatever. The cool thing about it is they have a few extra things and items you can't get at Houston's, bandera or gulfstream but they aren't spectacular enough to make it a 5 or like be on par with the others. The drinks and cocktails are just as good though. So great place for fancy drinks and Apps. Salud. read more

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Bury me at a Hillstone... the best American food in the west is here. Deviled eggs, dip duo & a Thai salad is 10/10 and the crush cocktail the service is wildly helpful & attentive. read more

Great experience and R+D that is a family favorite. We put our name down and were seated about 20 mins later in a cozy booth. I had their cheeseburger which is now $23. Was delish as always. We also go ther coleslaw and fries as appys. My son had ther fish and he enjoyed it very much. Wife loved her cocktail which was delish but also very strong. Best thing about this was the first server that sat us down. She was very friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and food prep and recommended a few items. Our main server was ok but the first young lady made this a 5 star review. read more

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Years later, as I upload 2 photos, I see that I'm still enjoying the same R & D items. (I need to branch out!) Well I have had the veggie burger and Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich a number of times. Everything I've had here is good. read more

R+D Kitchen - Asian Chicken & Noodle Salad - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We arrived for our lunch reservation quite early, but the accommodating staff seated us immediately and our server was knowledgeable and attentive. The food was delicious and the space delightful. We started off with the dip duo (guacamole and queso) and the rock shrimp. I shared the lamb sandwich and one of my table mates enjoyed the tuna salad sandwich while another said his French dip was tasty. All in all, a great meal was had by everyone at the table. read more

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Had drinks and appetizers yesterday and I wish I had planned my meal here! The staff are friendly and the whole place is chic. The drinks came fast and the appetizer in a timely manner. I had the jack rabbit and the tuna tartare. Definitely coming back ! read more

R+D Kitchen - Jack rabbit - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The food was delicious - unique and fresh. We sat at the bar with full, attentive, service and enjoyed the open air vibe.

Best carrot cake ever. Had pan-fried sole fish for lunch. Delicious! Great choice for business meals.Service was excellent! read more

R+D Kitchen - Best carrot cake ever! Have the sole Pan-fried Fish for lunch.Fantastic! Service was excellent! - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Wow! The Veggie burger is off the chain, I think even meat eaters would appreciate a handmade meatless burger. I would come back just for this. Service was great and with it being a packed place during the peak holiday season. read more

R+D Kitchen - Table - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Very nice ambiance with tasty food. The service was fine - not bad, not outstanding. The deviled eggs appetizer and crispy chicken sandwich were very good, definitely recommend. 50-minute wait for a table for two on a Monday night, so make a reservation ahead of time unless you want to walk around the mall for a while. read more

R+D Kitchen - Front entrance - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I highly recommend reading this before stepping into R&D Kitchen. There are plenty of other options within walking distance that I've thoroughly enjoyed--and after this experience, I wish I had chosen one of them instead. To start, I made a reservation, yet when I checked in, I was told there would be a wait. That might have been understandable if not for the fact that I watched them seat other guests without reservations ahead of me. It immediately set the tone for what turned out to be a frustrating and disappointing visit. Things only got worse when it came to seating. I was dining with my one-year-old child, and they informed me they do not offer high chairs or boosters. Instead, we were placed at a high-top booth, which is completely inappropriate for a toddler. My daughter had to remain in her stroller, essentially sitting underneath the high table, which was both uncomfortable and impractical. As for the food, it was underwhelming at best. The menu mainly consists of basic sandwiches and appetizers--nothing memorable, nothing worth returning for. In an attempt to keep my daughter occupied so I could eat, I quietly played a video for her on my phone. The volume was extremely low--so low that I could barely hear it myself, especially since it was positioned under the table. Despite this, a hostess approached me and asked me to turn it down, which felt unnecessary and excessive. Hoping to address the situation, I later contacted the manager, Max, to share my concerns and explain how unwelcome I felt after multiple issues. Unfortunately, his response was dismissive. He stated that everything I experienced was within their policy: they don't provide high chairs, I should have specified that a high table wouldn't work, and they enforce a strict cell phone usage policy. There was no acknowledgment of how poorly the situation was handled or any attempt to make things right. I've visited other Hillstone Restaurant Group locations and have never had an experience like this. Given that this is not a fine dining establishment and is located in a family-friendly outdoor mall, the lack of accommodation and understanding was surprising. The expectations and treatment here felt completely out of step with their other restaurants. Overall, the experience felt unwelcoming and, frankly, discriminatory. I will not be returning and plan to follow up with their corporate office regarding this visit. read more

Dip Duo - enough said! We followed this with the sole which I had not tried before and it was crispy light and delicious. You can always count on good service they definitely do not want you to linger but we were going to a movie so we did not mind. read more

I arrived to Fashion Island for lunch and shopping. My favorite hostess Christine and outstanding bartender Angela were there which made me feel very welcome and delighted. I selected Ahi Tuna Tartare and Deviled eggs. Paired well with Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc. The photo I present was from years past when things were done beautifully and presented the same at each visit. Much has changed ... Noah, the fairly new manager was very inappropriate when he rudely asked me to take my phone conversation outside in the middle of an important call. Now mind you, I was brief and there was only one other candidate reading a newspaper across from me at 11 am on a Thursday. Nobody was seated in the bar area yet, much less next to me on either side. I would disturb nobody. For 20 minutes I watched as they briefed a new hire where everything was in the bar as she was in training. Normally that wouldn't bother me. But because I was handled with no grace, I felt like my 30 minute dining experience at $60 a pop was wasteful and regrettable. Please review the insane policies and put more emphasis on the food and portions. Thank you! read more

R+D Kitchen - Ahi Tuna Tartare. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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What a wonderful location for an American style restaurant in Fashion Island. The inside is modeled after a royal yacht. The service is fantastic, and the menu is limited but very tasty. They specialize in sandwiches and salads. I came for the best French Dip sandwich around. Fresh cut beef right off the prime rib. The real deal. We spilt two sandwiches and ordered a side salad and fries. With two iced teas, we had just enough food for three of us. The only negative was our bill with tax and tip was over $100 for sharing two meals. I loved everything about R&D Kitchen except the amount of food for the price. It just put us out of the market for this place. Maybe we are paying for the real estate being in Newport Beach? In summary, this place is just Okay with me. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The cheeseburger was SO juicy. It had a really yum aioli on it and the cheese was perfectly semi melty just how I like it. read more

R+D Kitchen - Cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Worst customer service I've experienced in a long time at R&D Kitchen. Food was mid. Martinis were good. That's about the only positive. We had a 1:15 PM reservation for a simple lunch and still waited, then had to go back up and check in again just to be seated. What's the point of a reservation? We were told they don't have high chairs or booster seats and that you have to bring your own. I've never in my life been to a restaurant that doesn't offer basic accommodations like that, especially one that's basically Cheesecake Factory level, not fine dining. Then they seated us at a high-top in the corner knowing we had a one-year-old in a stroller. The setup made zero sense and was honestly uncomfortable. The worst part was being approached by a staff member named Christine about a "complaint" over a phone playing a video for the baby. The restaurant is already loud to the point you can barely hear anything, so that felt completely made up and unnecessary. When we followed up with management, the manager Max claimed there's a "no phone policy." That's not posted anywhere, and it clearly isn't enforced consistently considering you literally see influencers filming content in these restaurants all the time. So what exactly is the rule? And what volume is supposedly acceptable in a place that's already extremely loud? Overall, terrible experience. Poor service, inconsistent policies, and zero consideration for guests. Would not return. read more

Great spot in Fashion Island. The tuna tartar was a perfect dish and something I can't get back home in Nebraska. Service was a little slow, but they were also packed full with people waiting for tables, so staff were stretched thin. read more

We put our name in on the wait list and were told 30 minutes. While waiting, many other guests arrived and were seated, along with some tv personalities. More than an hour later we left. We always visit R+D Kitchen when we come to Newport Beach but unfortunately we weren't important enough to be seated this time. Very disappointing. We won't try again. read more

One of the best things about any restaurant under the Hillstone group is the consistency! You will never be disappointed. The food is always excellent. service always on point, and they run their restaurant like a military op! R&D in particular is one of my favorite places in fashion Island. I always get the veggie burger in a lettuce wrap with no cheese or onions, I love it. Whether you're sitting at the bar, at a high top or on the patio, it never disappoints. It's a great spot to go with girlfriends, on a date, or even on your own to people watch and meet others. R+D is a great meeting spot and you will always be guaranteed to have a great experience. Very easy to book online reservations too. If you go as a walk and they will do your best accommodate you, but on the weekends when it's busy, expect to wait anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. If you have things to do around the mall, it is worth the wait. read more

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Our to go place in fashion island after long shopping days we love their chicken sandwich and salads read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The manager was extremely unprofessional. He asked me to vacate my table as he had 'guest's waiting'. I had just finished my lunch and had a half glass of wine left which I was enjoying . Please note it was 4 pm in the afternoon with many tables available. On a another note they insist men remove their caps but women are not required to. A very underwhelming experience. A very poorly run restaurant. read more

Came here on a Monday for lunch and I can honestly say, this place was really good. If you've ever been to Houston's in Irvine it's a lot like that (menu style, waiter dress code and ambiance). You would think Monday during the week should not be too busy, but when we got there there was a decent sized wait. Luckily I made a reservation. I got the Flat Iron steak ($39) which was cooked perfectly and seasoned well, also a daily good size. We also got the omelet (not pictured) but a lot smaller than we thought it was going to be. Our server was Page who was friendly, nice and very attentive. Will definitely be coming back here in the future read more

R+D Kitchen - Flat iron steak - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Pretty place, i like the ambience and decor, is a big place, the bar area was very nice, even the waiting area is a nice and pleasant spot, our waitress was very helpful and friendly, she explained the menu to us, food was fast and it was very good, my favorite was the ahi tuna tartare, it has a devil egg on the side that everything combined was delicious. Price is really good we spend like $60 per person (everything including) and we also order a bottle of wine. I like it a lot. Also! They do have vegan options which is a plus. read more

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This R+D kitchen is a must from the delicious food to the top tier Drinks with freshly squeezed juices for you mixer and the flavors from the food is like a Party in itself. I will be definitely be back with friends to show them the goodness of it. The service was fast and friendly. We had a lil wait so I ordered from the Bar top it was lunchtime and it was busy but still managed to get a couple drinks while we waited for our table. They have a patio area and inside seating both are very nice and comfortable. From the front desk to the staff everyone was friendly as well were the other in the restaurant. It's an all around great time. read more

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The worse costumer service ever!!! their bar tenders are incompetent and clearly can't do any better. They catering was very mediocre. However I can't blame them, they're about 30yrs old bar tenders with poor costumer service, I would be moderately too if I didn't know what to do with my life by that age. Hope this review helps the restaurant improve the costumer service. read more

Food, service, and ambiance were good and consistent as always. It was busy on a Saturday, but the vibe was still great. The real 5-star highlight was our server, Adrianne. She was incredibly attentive and thoughtful, even changing our glasses twice to keep our drinks cold. That level of care is rare and really made the night feel special. read more

R+D Kitchen - Shout to our server, Adrianne!! She has elevated our dining experience and brought such a positive vibe to our table. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I was visting family in the Newport Coast area and we stopped by Fashion Island. We decided to stop by here for lunch. Typically this place can get really crowded- it only took about 15 min to get a table. They have options outside and inside. I also heard this place won't do carryout pickups. Its dine in only. Their lunch menu is really small and we had someone who needed to avoid dairy. I think what was interesting is they picked a salad that seemed dairy free but it wasn't. They only list some of the ingredients on the menu, which is odd esp for cheese. We did ask before she ordered and it had white cheddar, so we asked to remove it. We got the chicken sandwich, tuna sandwich and fries. When the salad arrived it had cheese on it luckily we looked- we had to flag another server down to help because ours didn't come back for awhile. They apologized and brought out another salad, but it took awhile. I also should have asked more questions about the tuna. I typically like more savory tuna than ones with a sweet relish/pickles added. The sandwich was good if I liked relish, but basic. None of the sandwiches came with a side we had to order fries. The fries were good and crispy. The chicken sandwich was the best option out of what we ordered. Its tough because I would come back here again maybe for dinner- for a bigger menu- but the lunch was just okay. Overall experience 3/5. read more

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Hillstone group continues to deliver high quality food and great customer service. Everything here is delicious. Started with the deviled eggs followed by the au jus sandwich with harvarti cheese. In Florida we don't have the carrot cake so it's my first time having it and it was amazing. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Love the ambiance and our server was friendly. The food selection was a little limited; would probably come back for a happy hour and not a full dinner, but the flat iron steak was juicy and tender. read more

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Okay just based on the food, this place has poor quality cooking. I asked for med rare prime steak with chimichurri. My steak came to the table an hour later cooked well done. Disappointing. I ordered a well done burger for my 5 year old and it was served on the verge of rare. She wouldn't touch it. Disappointing. Lastly I ordered the margarita and it tasted like they threw an unwashed lemon wedged in it. Servers were nice tho read more

One of the few restaurants that consistently offer excellent service and great food! We always take out of town guests here and there's something for everyone. The servers are always attentive and friendly, and even if it's really packed, food and drinks come out on time. The chicken sandwich and the noodle salad are my favorites, though I recently tried the little mo's sandwich (ham on rye) and that was great, too! Drinks are strong and nice and cold :) read more

Tried to place a simple to-go order over the phone and was told I had to come in and order in person. Completely unreasonable and a total waste of time, especially in today's world. The level of service has dropped dramatically. A place that used to be a favorite clearly no longer cares about customer convenience. This experience was enough to make sure I won't be coming back. read more

Can't tell you how the food was because we never got seated.... Sad I brought my daughter here because she heard such good things there was told there would be a 30-minute to an hour wait....never was seated tried to ask The hostess About when we would be seated never received an answer, never received a text message.. Almost seemed like if I was blonde hair and blue eyed and white I would have been seated.... Yes I was in jeans and a nice shirt but surprise this Mexican woman does make enough money to shop at fashion island and eat there and get the same respect as anyone else?.... I was in different stores and not treated as bad as I was here.... I will never go to or promote this place it is okay.... a better restaurant was happy to take my money read more

consistently great food and great service. they currently have a rock shrimp special as an appetizer that's really good but the ahi tuna tartare is also a good starter. for mains i recommend the french dip sandwich with a side of horseradish and the chicken sandwich. the flat iron steak and rotisserie chicken are also great. there's a few dessert options too, recommend trying the carrot cake! read more

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