On recommendation from my girl, R&D was our choice of lunch venue. Overall a great experience. Food: My favorite dish today was the Skirt Steak. Cooked to medium rare perfection and delicious chimichurri. The steak was properly seasoned and the chimichurri added a nice herby spice. The fries were cooked just right and were gone in seconds. My other favorite was the pear vinegrette salad with peanuts. It was fresh, slightly sweet and the peanuts gave little bit of salty texture. Great accompaniment with any dish. Service: Our service was excellent. The servers worked as a team and covered our needs well. Kept our water filled and gave us new utensils without even asking. The severs were all dressed chefs wear and looked very cool imo. Everyone has a neat and buttoned down appearance. They all had smiles which is a huge plus. Ambiance: The inside looked like were inside a barrel. The ceiling were rounded in a medium colored wood with dark metal curved beams. The room was dark like barrel room of a winery but still had plenty of light at the tables. It feels nice and cool on a hot day. Also the outdoor bar and seating looked inviting. The Koi's on the fountain were cool too. read more

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We have been here a few times over the years always sitting outside until this time. The world cup was on and we were lucky to get a couple seats at the bar on the corner. The place was packed. No TV to see at our seats which is totally fine cause when your with Andrea you don't need to look at any think else. We ordered a couple of rolls and deviled eggs and fries. Yes rolls. Along with hamburgers, fish, and steaks they have sushi. I think Andrea had a Lemon Drop and I had tequila with a touch of lime juice. We are both pretty much one trick ponies when it comes to drinks. At least I am. Upon walking Andrea thought it a very similar to Hillstone in SF and she was right. Same group. Outside is a huge Koi pond. These guys will eat right out of your hand and by the size of them it looks like they eat a lot. read more

I would've loved to have given this restaurant a 5 star, unfortunately, just couldn't. Apparently they have a dress code, which my husband and I were not aware of. They had no hostess to express that and we did not see a dress policy sign upon entering. This was our first experience dining at this restaurant. We were invited by another couple and they've been there before, however, they must not have known. My husband wore a tank top, apparently, no tank tops allowed. Upon seating us, our server, apparently, saw my husband entering and pointed him out to our friend, asked if he was with us. When our friend said yes, our server asked if he wouldn't mind asking my husband if he had another shirt he could change into or if he had something to wear over the tank top. My husband was a little embarrassed that our friend had to be the one to relay that message. We just wished there was another way the business could have expressed that to him. The restaurant dining area was nice and elegant and the food was delicious. For the most part, the rest of the experience was good. read more

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This review is long overdue... we're talking 2020 long overdue... One thing about me... I judge restaurants by their dessert. I don't care if it's fancy or simple... if it's good, I'll remember it forever. And somehow I'm still thinking about the vanilla ice cream with that warm fudge/chocolate sauce years later. It was so simple, but WOW... it had no business being that good. My bestie and I used to come here all the time, and this was one of our favorite spots. She moved to Virginia, so I haven't been back since, but I still randomly think about this place. That's how you know it made an impression. I also remember the burger being absolutely delicious, the drinks were great, and the atmosphere was perfect for hanging out and catching up for hours. Any place that can make me crave ice cream with hot fudge five years later deserves five stars in my book. Maybe it's finally time for a reunion. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

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I could tell upon arrival that R+D Kitchen is part of the Hillstone brand. The dark wood window shutters - which I love - are the first giveaway. I really like the dim ambiance in this family of restaurants, as it instantly adds a relaxing yet sophisticated vibe. We had been to R+D a couple of times in the past, and revisited this past week. We came in for lunch, and unsurprisingly, the place was filled with tourists as well as people watching the World Cup. Luckily we were able to snag a couple of (very comfortable!) seats at the bar. Our bartender/server was nice and responsive, but overextended with the number of people he was helping. Perhaps it's time to hire some additional staff. The menu is a combination of sandwiches & burgers, salads, steak and fish mains, and sushi. The sushi doesn't quite seem to fit the rest of the menu, but as a pescatarian and sushi lover, I'm good with it. We started off with the deviled eggs, the rainbow roll, and a tuna roll, and followed up with a couple of orders of fries. I liked the rainbow roll and the fries. The cocktails were tasty as well - lemon drop for me, tequila & lime for RB. They have beautiful koi fish in the pond out front, that I hope they take good care of. They might need a bigger pond, and judging by their interest in the hoomans passing by, more frequent feeding times. Overall, an enjoyable experience every time we've been in, and I'm sure we will return during future trips to Napa. read more

R+D Kitchen - How cute are these guys!! Got any food, hoomans? - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

First time here. We drive by here often when we make trips to the Napa Valley region. We stopped by based on a friend's recommendation. I ordered the Beef Ribs based on the server's recommendation. Cooked extremely tender then grilled crispy on the edges. Delicious combination with the lightly sweet and tangy Carolina style BBQ sauce. Coleslaw was very fresh and a nice pairing with the ribs. The sandwiches looked great and my friends said that tasted great, too. read more

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It's a busy Saturday evening, we walked in, we were told the wait was 40 mins. 15 mins into our wait, a staff came out and informed us that one of our party's top is not permissible (sleeveless taupe pullover vest). Their website indicates that the restaurants do not permit "Excessively revealing clothing such as intimate wear or lingerie", but we pointed out female patrons wearing either low spaghetti strap top or short shorts. When we pointed out other patrons wearing what is defined in their website as excessively revealing, the staff simply said that they have the prerogative on how they want or like to enforce their dress code. To note: this is not a formal fine dining restaurant. Basically, female patrons can dress like a slut and it's okay. We did not make a scene. We just left afterwards read more

Still two stars... service is very inconsistent... outstanding staff like Mallory who has great energy and dour hostess who took offense at us requesting a different place because original location was so cold (it's 71 degrees outside and air conditioning is cranked up). Since we moved we lost Mallory as our server and our new server seemed unhappy with life. Btw, asked for straws twice abs never got them. Food generally is very good... Osaka roll, carnitas sandwich and Sunday were very good. Special of black beans and rice had way too much Mexican oregano. We still go for food but our expectations for service remain low although we will be requesting Mallory next time. read more

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We tried R&D Kitchen (a Hillstone brand) for lunch specifically because they had dog-friendly outdoor seating. Before coming, we called to confirm and were told dogs were allowed on the patio, first come first serve, and that the patio had a smaller menu than inside. No problem. We arrived right at 11am and were immediately seated outside with our 9lb Yorkie, who quietly sat on my lap the entire time without making a sound. We ordered drinks and food, drinks arrived, and then about 10 minutes later a woman came over to tell us our dog could not sit on my lap and had to be on the ground. That's completely fine if it's the policy -- but no one mentioned this on the phone, when we were seated, NOR when our waitress took our order. Had we known upfront, we simply would have left before ordering. At that point we asked to make the food to-go. We ordered the starter salad, fries, a Cubano sandwich, and a carnitas sandwich. Then we were told they "don't do fries to-go" because the kitchen says they don't travel well. We explained we were literally going to sit across the way at nearby public seating and eat immediately, but were told we still couldn't eat there as that was their property. The whole experience became unnecessarily frustrating and inconsistent. In the end, they brought us the fries anyway, and we packed them ourselves into a to-go box. (This is the first time I've heard of a restaurant not doing take out fries when on the menu.) We ended up finding a picnic table elsewhere to eat lunch. The food itself was okay but nothing memorable. My partner enjoyed the Cubano. The fries were a good crisp. The salad was fine, though the croutons were oddly soft instead of crispy. The carnitas sandwich wasn't really for me -- I prefer carnitas with more flavor and crispiness. Overall, the issue wasn't really the dog policy -- it was the poor communication and inconsistent handling of the situation. Unfortunately, after this experience, we won't be returning. Since we left, I only got a picture of the drinks. The rose was average but the cocktail was good. read more

R+D Kitchen - Jackrabbit cocktail and rose - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

Stopped in after a wine tasting on a recommendation from the winery and sat at the bar with a friend--such a great find. Service was quick, the ambiance was modern and inviting, and everything felt very clean and well-kept. The food was fresh and hit the spot. I'd definitely come back if I'm in the area again. read more

Enjoy the outside dining and well done area for any group setting. Indoor also very different to house large group dining and bar . read more

The food was just ok and the service as well. I tried ordering a side salad with their garlic buttermilk dressing, but the waitress said that was not possible, she indicated it all pre-made, I'm still trying to figure out if they actually have chefs there or is it just a glorified catering. Web order the cheese burger (3 stars) Cubano sandwich (3 stars) and Asian noodle salad with chicken (2 Star) I don't think I'll be back read more

I have been to R+D a lot throughout the years. The food is always amazing and it was on Saturday 6/27 as well. However, the service was severely lacking from the server(s) to management. The server(s) was very inattentive. We had to flag people down to get water. I ordered a glass of wine. When I was done, the server didn't even ask if I wanted another glass, just took my glass and walked away. To order desserts I had to ask to order it, while the table across from us was asked if they would like dessert, coffee or tea. I think our server stopped by our table once after we had our food. When I mentioned these to the manger, he was dismissive and defensive. R+D sends information of their standards before you visit, which is fine. However, if the restaurant expects a certain standard from their customers, then they need to provide the same level of service. read more

What a perfect place to enjoy birthday lunch! Started with a crisp martini which was so balanced and easy to drink, the crush cocktail was also great - citrusy and a little sweet. Had the crispy chicken sandwich, honestly it's perfect. The bread is so soft, chicken is thin and extra crispy and the slaw is crunchy and fresh. The kale salad as a side has some spice, but it's just right! I would have this all the time if it was closer. Our bartender was super kind and friendly, incredible service, ambiance and food! Can't wait to come back again. read more

R+D Kitchen - Crisp martini - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

The Best Hamburgers In The World! It's a beautiful ride up to Yountville and the drinks were wonderful!

This was one of the most baffling and unnecessarily unfriendly restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. Four people in my party were already seated on the patio when I arrived. They had already ordered and eaten, and I simply wanted to join them at their table. Instead, the staff refused to allow me to sit with my own group and made me sit at a separate table next to them. What made this especially frustrating was that the patio was nearly empty. Multiple tables surrounding us were completely vacant for the entire time I was there. There was no crowd, no shortage of space, and no reasonable explanation for why I couldn't sit with my friends. The staff chose to enforce a rule--or make a decision--that served no purpose other than creating an awkward and unpleasant experience. Restaurants are supposed to be in the hospitality business. Separating a guest from their own party when there is abundant empty seating all around is the exact opposite of hospitality. The complete lack of common sense and flexibility was astonishing. I've never encountered a restaurant that would rather leave tables empty than allow someone to sit with their own group. It was a needlessly rude and frustrating experience that left a far worse impression than anything related to the food. As a local resident, I've dined at plenty of restaurants in the area and have never encountered anything this rigid or inhospitable. read more

Let me start by saying that the place is gorgeous! It has a high-end, elevated vibe, and with that, you kind of expect to ball out... which is exactly what happened during our visit last weekend. They have an al fresco dining area that's so nice especially since the weather that day was amazing. We made a reservation for four at 12:30 PM after doing some wine tasting nearby. This spot was recommended by a friend, and when we booked, the hostess mentioned their chicken sandwich was a best-seller, so of course we had to try it. Drinks: The drinks were fantastic and they definitely didn't cheap out on flavor or alcohol content. Manhattan Cocktail - 8/10 Kickstart - 7/10 Tequila Sunrise - 10/10 The Crush - 9/10 Food: Dip Duo Appetizer - 4/10: Not the greatest. The guac was mid, though the cheese dip was pretty good. Chips were a bit stale. Kale Sashimi - 7/10: Fish was fresh and the kale salad was good, but not mind-blowing. Sashimi Nigiri Plate - 6/10: Fish was fresh, but the rice was dense and too sweet. Prime Rib Sandwich - 8/10: The standout of our order! The meat was super tender and flavorful. Carnitas Sandwich - 7/10: Didn't get to try this myself, but my friend said it was nothing special. Crispy Chicken Sandwich - 5/10: Saying that this was the best-seller was kind of a reach tbh. Nothing special, and for the price, it could use a little more "umph". Service: Service was top-notch! Tamara, our server, went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. We spent about $250 for everything. Overall: Would we come back? Not anytime soon. Would we recommend it? Yes but with some fair warning and guidance. The experience overall was great because of how beautiful the place is and how excellent the service was, but the food itself was pretty mid. read more

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Service was over the top! Instant recognition and a step ahead ensuring everything needed was delivered. Friends had burgers and they were just right. I had the tuna and the picture is worth 1000 words! read more

R+D Kitchen - Tuna Tartar - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

I have been to many Hillstone/Houston properties in my lifetime. I love Los Altos Grill and Rutherford Grill. At R&D, the staff and especially the hostesses are so serious and don't seem to like their jobs. It's quite disappointing. read more

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This place has tasty food and a great vibe. We sat outside with our dog. The patio has a limited menu compared to the indoor restaurant and bar. The sushi and salad were amazing. Highly recommend. Great service too. read more

An easygoing, more casual spot in Yountville that offers a cozy atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating. One of the few non TK spots in town, it is a little easier to grab a reservation. The menu is elevated bar fare that is well prepared with care, quality, and flavor. Generally, there are plenty of sandwich and salad choices, as well as some basic sushi rolls. Choice is varied enough to satisfy even the pickiest in the group! Ironically, pizza offered as a to go item is not available in the restaurant. There is a full bar, albeit without many standard bar drinks, and of course a nice wine menu and NA options. Our server was polite enough, and ensured we really were crystal clear the inflexibility of the menu to change the bread on one of the sandwiches. He also made it clear that we couldn't get as much as an additional candle to improve our table lighting. A really nice restaurant for lunch/dinner in the Yountville area, but not the level of service you'll find at other local spots. read more

This non pretentious restaurant is highly recommended for any casual lunch... very wine country like decor... simple yet purposeful. Outside the restaurant, there are planter boxes of herbs planted (for use in the restaurant? idk) We were referred here from Harlan Estate winery's host. I had the best tasting prime rib sandwich ever here. And I'm a steak enthusiast. Meat melts in your mouth & the bread is slightly sour dough but soft like freshly baked. 5* The devil eggs are nice. No expert in this dish. 4* meat ball pasta (had a small tastes shared with me) have a refreshing sauce, clean, light & with hints of fresh tomatoes. 4.5* Expedient from food ordering to serving at the table is great for us wanting more time to explore the wine country. But they don't rush you out.. attended to all our requests and last minute add ons with a smile. Highly recommended! read more

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One of my very local favorite cheers bar. The food is very consistent. Menu doesn't change often, but there are specials this trip. I got the Thai chicken salad. What a treat after not having it for over a year. Everything goes so well together in the salad-- the mint the peanuts carrots mango Al dente Spaghetti noodles. Highly recommend. Pretty presentation although mixing it up is best once it arrives in front of you. Choose between the chopsticks or fork and knife. Parrot with California Chardonnay or earthy Pinot Noir. read more

R+D Kitchen - Shrimp Louis - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

I had the best fall of the bone, Campfire ribs. With the best Carolina BBQ sauce I have had in a long time. It was accompanied by a delicious large helping of slaw, that amazingly, was good too! Matt our server at the bar was nice, attentive and busy! But he held it down. It was busy, but somehow we were in and out of there in a timely manner, just intime do have a nice walk home before it got dark, The patio and fireplaces outside were so cute and cozy! Def will be back in the future. read more

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Outdoor seating only has finger food like sandwiches and fries The sandwiches are pretty decent The fried. Chicken sandwich was the best The lamb sandwich and the pulled pork sandwich are ok Service and ambience is pretty good Huge bar and decent wines and beer read more

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Great spot. Always something fresh and tasty to eat! Service is solid and attentive with a casual ambiance. Shrimp Louis is a key dish of you like shrimp. Form plump shrimp on a crisp lettuce and two dressings All the sushi is great - fresh and nicely presented. Not a fan of the macadamia in the roll but otherwise all great Kale salad is amazing. Fresh and crisp. I recommend this place. read more

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Birthday Celebration starting with the Chocolate Sunday and carrot cake. The Callebaut calletes chocolate is simply divine! Our service from Andie was excellent! She refreshed the cocktail glasses and Recommended that I have my coffee with steamed milk. Properly European. Perfect kickoff! read more

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Visited this restaurant after visiting the winery's in St.Helena. They had plenty of parking and a beautiful outdoor setting. They had one menu for food and one menu for drinks which should is honestly a good thing when visiting restaurants so they can focus on each menu item. We started off ordering some cocktails I ordered the Tequila Sunrise & my boyfriend ordered the Jack rabbit. Let me tell you these drinks are not watered down you can definitely taste the alcohol in there lol. For an app we got the fries and dip which came with a separate fry seasoning which was DELICIOUS. I wanted to take home that seasoning so bad. The fries were good pretty basic. For the entrees I ordered the carolina bbq ribs and it was pretty good! But didn't WOW me good. My boyfriend ordered the prime rib sandwich and it was good as well, but it was definitely missing something. However- the kale cashew salad was absolutely delicious! Our server was nice, checked on us a few times. Our visit was pleasant, may need to ask the server what do they recommend next time. read more

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Service is underwhelming, fully lacks joy! Asking for water, wine, crackers, all the things is unacceptable in a Hillstone establishment! We love this brand and of course the back of the house is killing it with high standards and delish food- sadly the front of the house including managers could learn from the kitchen standards! I would never normally post this, but because I love the brand- and the manager told me "there is nothing she can do" I rest it here for the reviewers! And in honor of George Biel's standard of excellence in service that was not met today! Boo! read more

Prime location that's going to waste! Read the last few reviews of this place and you'll notice that service and staff are consistently commented on for being subpar and confrontational. The patio is almost always empty and seems like they'd rather keep it that way. The food is probably best characterized as mediocre (think upscale Chili's) but definitely not something you go to Yountville for. Do yourself a favor and go to literally any of the other restaurants down the street for better service, food and vibes! read more

We stopped by here yesterday for an impromptu lunch. It was Mother's Day, so all the indoor tables were booked, but we arrived early enough to grab a couple of seats at the bar, which offers the full menu. I got a classic margarita on the rocks. Nice and refreshing. We ordered the Dip Duo, which is an appetizer of tortilla chips served with a scoop of guacamole and a scoop of jalapeño queso dip (not spicy). Highly recommend! The guacamole was fresh and had just the right hint of lime and the queso dip was a delicious, cheesy contrast. I was on the fence between ordering the carnitas sandwich and the fried chicken sandwich. I decided to go with the chicken this time and wasn't disappointed. The chicken is thin and crispy. The slaw and tomatoes were fresh and the sweet-tangy sauce paired with Swiss cheese was a nice touch. I'd order this again. Note that it doesn't come with any sides, so if you want fries, you'll have to order them separately. My husband ordered the spaghetti with chicken meatballs, which also had a nice sweet tomato sauce. The only regrettable moment was when the bartender cleared my plate with guacamole before I was done with it and before I could say anything. Oh well, honest mistake. I had finished all the chips and was dipping my fries in the guacamole--which just tells you how good it was! read more

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Here celebrating My Nieces Birthday and everything has been Amazing!!! America our Server was VERY attentive and Fantastic at Her job!! Never had to ask for anything as She was Right there asking if We needed anything, refills etc......and always with Her big Beautiful Smile read more

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I bought a California burger to go and wanted to sit down and enjoy a few bites since it was a pleasant day. However, when I asked an employee if I could eat my burger on their lawn chairs, they informed me that I couldn't. I found this unacceptable, especially since it was a nice day and I simply wanted to savor my burger before continuing with my day. For a restaurant that doesn't charge for parking, I would expect to be treated fairly and allowed to enjoy my meal in a comfortable setting. read more

We were excited to visit based on the restaurant's reputation, but the experience fell well short of expectations. The number of house rules--particularly around patio seating, party size, and ordering--made the atmosphere feel unnecessarily restrictive and took away from what should have been a relaxed Napa dining experience for a birthday celebration. Unfortunately, the cocktails were also underwhelming and lacked the quality we'd expect at this price point. The staff was courteous, but between the rigid policies and disappointing drinks, I'm not sure we'd choose to return. Completely understand if it was packed, but the place was near empty and there certainly could have been flexibility. read more

They have an out-of-this-world chicken sandwich. Every time I go to Napa, I want their food. It is part of the Hillstone brand, and as you know, they never disappoint. I enjoy the experience--the servers, the food, the atmosphere--all five out of five. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

This was our first time here, as it was recommended by a host at a winery. We were not disappointed! The place was packed, so with no reservations (for lunch) we sat at the bar. The service was great and we were impressed with how fast the food came out. Everything was tasty, and we especially enjoyed their special seasoning. Only wish they would sell that! read more

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I don't normally write Yelp reviews, but R+D Kitchen compelled me to share my experience. The food quality, service, ambiance, and attention to detail were all superb. My daughter and I ordered the Tuna and Mango Roll, the Rainbow Roll, and the Honor Burger cooked medium-rare--everything was excellent. At first, I wasn't sure an American food would have well made sushi and didn't have much expectations for anything really. On my way to the bathroom I saw how the chefs were busy preparing food and noticed sushi chefs preparing sushi's through the glass immediately changed my mind. I knew it would be worth trying. From the outskirts, it was hard to tell what to expect, but once inside, the experience exceeded all expectations. Right in front of the entrance there is a koi pond with many healthy looking Koi. I will definitely come back here when I am in this part of town. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

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Great meeting place at the North side of Yountville. It has outdoor and indoor seating. I have been here a number of times always very good. They have a great wine list and good food. The pricing is Napa Valley standard which is more expensive than other areas but it is a worthwhile stop in the area. I had the Newporter Salad it was pretty tasty with chunks of chicken $25. The Ding Crispy Chicken Sandwich $21. The Pan Asian Salad w/ pork $30, w/ chicken $24. Granted the service is good, ambiance nice ( with booths). It is a little pricey - granted it is located in Yountville . We all ordered drinks and had a great time. read more

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- Casual, upscale feel, like a Sophisticated diner - Excellent warm service - If you order vodka, they will change your glass to a frozen one to keep your drink nice and chill - don't forget to order their carrot cake: we came here specifically for that Will definitely return read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Yountville, California

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why can't you order sandwiches without the bun? Presentation? Tuna is g-f but they refuse to serve without the bun? Disappointed.