Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Saigon Oi
- Rating: 4.4/5 (604 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6835 Stockton Blvd. Ste 450 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Octopus Baja
- Rating: 4.6/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2731 K St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Desserts, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Dawson's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (451 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1209 L St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Plan B Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (385 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 555 La Sierra Drive Sacramento, California
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Canon
- Rating: 4.1/5 (598 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1719 34th St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Piatti
- Rating: 4.1/5 (774 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 571 Pavilions Lane Sacramento, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Ella Dining Room and Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (2160 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1131 K St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Waterboy
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1011 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2000 Capitol Ave. Sacramento, California
- Categories: French, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. The Firehouse Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1890 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1112 2nd St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Fogo de Minas
- Rating: 4.2/5 (491 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2606 Gateway Oaks Drive Ste 140/150 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Camden Spit & Larder
- Rating: 4.2/5 (387 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 555 Capitol Mall Ste 100 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Brasseries, British, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Prelude Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (434 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1117 11th St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Juju Kitchen & Cocktails
- Rating: 4.3/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1501 L St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Sumer Nights
- Rating: 4.3/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2316 Watt Ave. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Moxie
- Rating: 4.3/5 (600 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2028 H St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Kau Kau
- Rating: 4.3/5 (528 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 855 57th St. Ste C Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mulvaney's B & L
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1375 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1215 19th St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Okesutora
- Rating: 4.4/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1801 L St. Ste 70 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Allora
- Rating: 4.4/5 (696 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 5215 Folsom Blvd. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1569 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3135 Folsom Blvd. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Localis
- Rating: 4.4/5 (721 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2031 South St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Historic Star Lounge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2719 K St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Lounges, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. TableVine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (366 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1501 14th St. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Azayaka Japanese Fusion
- Rating: 4.5/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8760 La Riviera Drive Ste B Sacramento, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Butterscotch Den
- Rating: 4.5/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3406 Broadway Sacramento, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Maydoon
- Rating: 4.6/5 (621 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1501 16th St. Ste 111 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Persian/Iranian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Ippolito's Trattoria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (324 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9500 Micron Ave. Ste 128 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Kitchen Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1099 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 915 Broadway Ste 100 Sacramento, California
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Cacio
- Rating: 4.7/5 (353 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7600 Greenhaven Drive Ste 23 Sacramento, California
- Categories: Italian
- 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.
