Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Tucson by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Tucson using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#28. El Rustico
- Rating: 4.5/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2281 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#27. The Little One
- Rating: 4.6/5 (408 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 151 North Stone Ave. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Vero Amore - Swan
- Rating: 3.9/5 (584 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2920 North Swan Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. North Italia
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1123 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2995 East Skyline Drive Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Trattoria Pina
- Rating: 3.9/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5541 North Swan Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. PY Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.0/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5655 West Valencia Road Casino Del Sol Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Cork Tucson
- Rating: 4.0/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6320 East Tanque Verde Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Bob's Steak & Chop House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2727 West Club Drive Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Inca's Peruvian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.0/5 (412 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6878 East Sunrise Drive Ste 130 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Latin American, Peruvian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Feast
- Rating: 4.1/5 (573 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3719 East Speedway Blvd. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Zio Peppe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6502 East Tanque Verde Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Contigo Latin Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (314 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3770 East Sunrise Drive Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Spanish, Latin American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Le Rendez-vous
- Rating: 4.2/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3844 East Fort Lowell Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: French, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Commoner &
- Rating: 4.2/5 (615 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6960 East Sunrise Drive Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. JoJo's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (613 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 76 West Washington St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Bars, American, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Vivace
- Rating: 4.2/5 (761 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6440 North Campbell Ave. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Villa Peru
- Rating: 4.3/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1745 East River Road Ste 165 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Peruvian, Latin American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Persian Room Fine Dining
- Rating: 4.3/5 (376 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9290 North Thornydale Road Ste 100 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Persian/Iranian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Wildflower
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1067 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7037 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Noodleholics
- Rating: 4.3/5 (612 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3502 East Grant Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#8. El Chinito Gordo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2920 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Parish
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1890 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6453 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Gastropubs, Southern, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Chef Alisah's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (571 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5931 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mediterranean, Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Tito & Pep
- Rating: 4.5/5 (693 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4122 East Speedway Blvd. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Anello
- Rating: 4.6/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 East 6th St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Tasteful Kitchen
- Rating: 4.6/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan, Food Delivery Services
- Read more on Yelp
#2. La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood
- Rating: 4.7/5 (289 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7230 East 22nd St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Tumerico
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2526 East 6th St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Vegetarian, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
