Absolutely disgraceful experience at R+D. The manager on duty made it painfully clear that my wife and I were unwelcome from the moment we sat down. We were stared at like we didn’t belong, told to leave before our two-hour reservation time was even up (we still had at least 15–20 minutes left), and treated with blatant disrespect—especially when my wife politely ordered an additional shot with the check. Instead of accommodating a paying guest, the manager denied the request and suggested we go.
She also rudely interrupted my wife during a FaceTime call, speaking to her like a child—despite the fact that nowhere in the restaurant is there a sign stating that FaceTime is not allowed. Nor was there any visible signage about a two-hour seating limit. None. Just arbitrary rules pulled out when it’s convenient for them.
To top it off, when we left, the manager kept her head down—no eye contact, no “thank you,” no basic courtesy—just more proof of the cold, dismissive, and clearly biased treatment we received. When my wife called after we left, the manager admitted we still had 15–20 minutes remaining, confirming that her actions were totally unjustified.
Our server was great, but the manager’s conduct was unprofessional, passive-aggressive, and discriminatory. If this is how R+D chooses to treat certain guests, we’ll gladly take our business—and our money—elsewhere. And we’ll make sure others know to do the same.
Vivian Love
Can you say Excellent with a capital E !! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with such genuine warmth and hospitality. Our hostess, was an absolute gem – gracious, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Her energy set the tone for what turned out to be a truly memorable evening.
The bar staff was phenomenal great energy , friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do.
The food was Absolutely delicious. Every dish we ordered was full of flavor, fresh, and plated with care.
And let’s talk about the vibe.. it was a beautiful atmosphere! Chic, relaxed, and just the right blend of lively and intimate. Whether you're planning a date night or a night out with friends, this spot is a Big winner
Thank you to Sophia and the entire team at R+D Kitchen for making our visit excellent!
Can’t wait to come back! ( Newport Beach )
Nadirkhan Kuanyshev
Will never comeback to this place and would not recommend to anybody.
Michelle Mimay
All wonderful and pleasing to me
Russo Gasimov
R+D Kitchen at Fashion Island is always a solid pick. I usually stop by on Fridays just for their amazing lamb sandwich, but this time I tried one of their salads with an Arnold Palmer while sitting at the bar. The salad was fresh and flavorful, and the drink hit the spot. The bar area had a great vibe, everyone around was friendly, and the staff were attentive and genuinely caring. Service is consistent, and the food is always high quality. Definitely a favorite, though I do miss that lamb sandwich when it’s not Friday!
Scott Morrison
Good food and great service. Was a nice place for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand-Cut Fries, Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Tartare, French Dip Sandwich, Dip Duo, French Dip Au Jus
Nima Farivar
Nice elegant Atmosphere , good drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Harper
The staff deals with the high needs Newport crowd with the grace of a thousand therapists. Providing them with craft cocktails and great food. The people watching is just a bonus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrea Ibanez
They stopped carrying the only European white wine they had (Scarpetta, from Italy ) They only carry American wine, not organic, so they have pesticides. They need to bring European wines back. They are loosing money, as we had our dinner with not alcohol, and we won't be back until they bring back at least one European wine. I'm not the only who feels this way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Allen Oz
I have been to almost all R+D restaurants. Food is always good and consistent. Professional staff. Yasmin was serving our table and she was awesome, super friendly and accommodating. R+D is the place I go when I want everything go right and just relax.
Food was good but was nothing to run home about. For the price, I’d recommend going anywhere else since every item is à la carte. It is a nice and place if you were on a business trip or are trying to impress but nothing impressive about the food itself.
Kathi Bacon
Oh my gosh, I love R+D Kitchen! The vibe is totally upscale but still so cozy and welcoming—like you can tell it’s a special spot, but you feel right at home. The place is just gorgeous and has this cool, interesting charm to it. And the service? Seriously, second to none. I ordered the Pine Room Salad (which was super fresh and tasty), but I had no idea there were onions on it. When I mentioned it, they immediately offered to remake it, no questions asked. So sweet! And honestly, the food was fantastic, but the carrot cake is hands down, the best I’ve ever had. You have to try it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs, Pine Room Salad
Breona
Love this place! The food is always great and consistent. I come here often before work or for lunch and am always satisfied. I’ve never recieved bad customer service with the exception of one time (which the manager apologized as this was not normal for them). My favorite things to get are the carnitas sandwich, chicken spaghetti, meatball on polenta and fresh orange juice! I think their dress policy is fair :) I wouldn’t want people walking in my establishment any kind of way either. If more people put effort in their appearance, this wouldn’t be a challenge.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Singh Dharmvir
Enjoy the food and service
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mathew Rad
There’s already 50 other regarding 1-2 star reviews for there no hat policy, and I will be adding one more. They had my date, remove his hat before he even sat down or had a chance to do it himself. This was fine, but 10 minutes later, I noticed that they made an exception for another female patron wearing a NYC white baseball cap across from us. Hillstone establishments have typically pristine service. This includes Houston’s and Gulfstream. Service was pretty bad yesterday. Our waitress forgot our appetizer, left bacon in my friends salad and I had to ask for ketchup twice. I think I was just annoyed about the hat incident. I think they should not have this policy because it is going to be very hard for them to control everybody and based off reviews they make exceptions. Keep in mind this was lunch and fashion island is outdoors--ppl where hats. And everyone was so casual—jeans, tshirts etc. I hope management takes time to read all the negative reviews as most people are not new customers they live around the area and have been coming for years. I didn’t want to be a Karen in front of my big party and speak to the manager there but you don’t ask grown man to takeoff their hat.
Absolutely disgraceful experience at R+D. The manager on duty made it painfully clear that my wife and I were unwelcome from the moment we sat down. We were stared at like we didn’t belong, told to leave before our two-hour reservation time was even up (we still had at least 15–20 minutes left), and treated with blatant disrespect—especially when my wife politely ordered an additional shot with the check. Instead of accommodating a paying guest, the manager denied the request and suggested we go.
She also rudely interrupted my wife during a FaceTime call, speaking to her like a child—despite the fact that nowhere in the restaurant is there a sign stating that FaceTime is not allowed. Nor was there any visible signage about a two-hour seating limit. None. Just arbitrary rules pulled out when it’s convenient for them.
To top it off, when we left, the manager kept her head down—no eye contact, no “thank you,” no basic courtesy—just more proof of the cold, dismissive, and clearly biased treatment we received. When my wife called after we left, the manager admitted we still had 15–20 minutes remaining, confirming that her actions were totally unjustified.
Our server was great, but the manager’s conduct was unprofessional, passive-aggressive, and discriminatory. If this is how R+D chooses to treat certain guests, we’ll gladly take our business—and our money—elsewhere. And we’ll make sure others know to do the same.
Can you say Excellent with a capital E !!
From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with such genuine warmth and hospitality. Our hostess, was an absolute gem – gracious, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Her energy set the tone for what turned out to be a truly memorable evening.
The bar staff was phenomenal great energy , friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do.
The food was Absolutely delicious. Every dish we ordered was full of flavor, fresh, and plated with care.
And let’s talk about the vibe.. it was a beautiful atmosphere! Chic, relaxed, and just the right blend of lively and intimate. Whether you're planning a date night or a night out with friends, this spot is a Big winner
Thank you to Sophia and the entire team at R+D Kitchen for making our visit excellent!
Can’t wait to come back! ( Newport Beach )
Will never comeback to this place and would not recommend to anybody.
All wonderful and pleasing to me
R+D Kitchen at Fashion Island is always a solid pick. I usually stop by on Fridays just for their amazing lamb sandwich, but this time I tried one of their salads with an Arnold Palmer while sitting at the bar. The salad was fresh and flavorful, and the drink hit the spot. The bar area had a great vibe, everyone around was friendly, and the staff were attentive and genuinely caring. Service is consistent, and the food is always high quality. Definitely a favorite, though I do miss that lamb sandwich when it’s not Friday!
Good food and great service. Was a nice place for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand-Cut Fries, Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Tartare, French Dip Sandwich, Dip Duo, French Dip Au Jus
Nice elegant Atmosphere , good drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The staff deals with the high needs Newport crowd with the grace of a thousand therapists. Providing them with craft cocktails and great food. The people watching is just a bonus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They stopped carrying the only European white wine they had (Scarpetta, from Italy ) They only carry American wine, not organic, so they have pesticides. They need to bring European wines back. They are loosing money, as we had our dinner with not alcohol, and we won't be back until they bring back at least one European wine. I'm not the only who feels this way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I have been to almost all R+D restaurants. Food is always good and consistent. Professional staff. Yasmin was serving our table and she was awesome, super friendly and accommodating. R+D is the place I go when I want everything go right and just relax.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs, Meat Loaf
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was good but was nothing to run home about. For the price, I’d recommend going anywhere else since every item is à la carte. It is a nice and place if you were on a business trip or are trying to impress but nothing impressive about the food itself.
Oh my gosh, I love R+D Kitchen! The vibe is totally upscale but still so cozy and welcoming—like you can tell it’s a special spot, but you feel right at home. The place is just gorgeous and has this cool, interesting charm to it. And the service? Seriously, second to none. I ordered the Pine Room Salad (which was super fresh and tasty), but I had no idea there were onions on it. When I mentioned it, they immediately offered to remake it, no questions asked. So sweet! And honestly, the food was fantastic, but the carrot cake is hands down, the best I’ve ever had. You have to try it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs, Pine Room Salad
Love this place! The food is always great and consistent. I come here often before work or for lunch and am always satisfied. I’ve never recieved bad customer service with the exception of one time (which the manager apologized as this was not normal for them). My favorite things to get are the carnitas sandwich, chicken spaghetti, meatball on polenta and fresh orange juice! I think their dress policy is fair :) I wouldn’t want people walking in my establishment any kind of way either. If more people put effort in their appearance, this wouldn’t be a challenge.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Enjoy the food and service
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
There’s already 50 other regarding 1-2 star reviews for there no hat policy, and I will be adding one more. They had my date, remove his hat before he even sat down or had a chance to do it himself. This was fine, but 10 minutes later, I noticed that they made an exception for another female patron wearing a NYC white baseball cap across from us. Hillstone establishments have typically pristine service. This includes Houston’s and Gulfstream. Service was pretty bad yesterday. Our waitress forgot our appetizer, left bacon in my friends salad and I had to ask for ketchup twice. I think I was just annoyed about the hat incident. I think they should not have this policy because it is going to be very hard for them to control everybody and based off reviews they make exceptions. Keep in mind this was lunch and fashion island is outdoors--ppl where hats. And everyone was so casual—jeans, tshirts etc. I hope management takes time to read all the negative reviews as most people are not new customers they live around the area and have been coming for years. I didn’t want to be a Karen in front of my big party and speak to the manager there but you don’t ask grown man to takeoff their hat.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
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