I wasn’t sure whether to list this place as R+D Kitchen or R&D Kitchen. They use a plus sign, but clearly it means ‘R and D’, right? So an ‘&’ would be appropriate? Or maybe they’re actually adding ‘R’ with ‘D’ using arithmetic, in which case you’d have to use the ‘+’. Damn you and your weird names, Hillstone Restaurant Group. Anyways, R+D Kitchen is a trendy little restaurant located in Fashion Island in Newport Beach and it has a very Newport Beach vibe, meaning expect to see a lot of people having lunch meetings and the occasional cougar here or there.
They’ve got a nice open dining room along with an outdoor seating area. I’ve only been here for lunch so I’ve never actually seen their dinner menu (I’m not even sure they have a dinner menu) but their lunch is pretty good. It’s also a little expensive, but that’s the price you pay to people watch in Fashion Island. Have you ever seen The Real Housewives of Orange County? Those people are real. And they hang out at places like here. If looking at old rich guys and their young trophy wives is your thing, R+D Kitchen is perfect for that. Or if you’re more into just having a pretty damn delicious lunch then R+D Kitchen is pretty good at that too.
$4 Hand-Cut Fries – So simple. So thin. So delicious.
$20 French Dip Sandwich (thinly sliced prime rib with mayonnaise and genuine au jus) – Every time I come here this is what the waitress recommends, and every time I come here this is what I order. I personally could’ve used some more au jus though. I mean, c’mon, meat juice? I could drink that stuff by the gallon.
R & D Kitchen
Fashion Island
555 Newport Ctr Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 219-0555
