Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Chico 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 Chico 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#15. Parkside Tap House
- Rating: 3.4/5 (289 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 115 West 3rd St. Chico, California
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Rawbar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 346 Broadway St. Chico, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Momona
- Rating: 3.7/5 (362 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 330 Main St. Ste 100 Chico, California
- Categories: Ramen
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Sicilian Cafe
- Rating: 3.8/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 240 Wall St. Chico, California
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Red Tavern
- Rating: 4.0/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1250 Esplanade Chico, California
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Crush Italian Cuisine & Lounge
- Rating: 4.0/5 (653 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 Broadway Chico, California
- Categories: Lounges, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Cocodine Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 4.1/5 (373 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2485 Notre Dame Blvd. Ste 250 Chico, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Grana
- Rating: 4.1/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 198 East 2nd St. Chico, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Basque Norte
- Rating: 4.1/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3355 Esplanade Chico, California
- Categories: Spanish, Basque
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1406 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1075 East 20th St. Chico, California
- Categories: Breweries, American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Burban Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1925 Market Place Ste 100 Chico, California
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Big Hot Crab
- Rating: 4.2/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 701 Main St. Chico, California
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Tea Bar & Fusion Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (642 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 250 Vallombrosa Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Tea Rooms, Cafes, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#2. 5th Street Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.3/5 (730 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 345 West 5th St. Chico, California
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Halo Hawaiian BBQ & Poke Bar
- Rating: 4.4/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1354 East Ave. Ste P Chico, California
- Categories: Barbecue, Hawaiian, Poke
- 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.
