Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in San Jose 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 San Jose 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#15. The Grandview Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (2072 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 15005 Mount Hamilton Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Steakhouses, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Petiscos
- Rating: 3.9/5 (543 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 399 South 1st St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Portuguese, Tapas/Small Plates, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Meso Modern Mediterranean
- Rating: 3.9/5 (874 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3060 Olsen Drive Ste 50 San Jose, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Cocktail Bars, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Ozumo
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1518 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 355 Santana Row Ste 1010 San Jose, California
- Categories: Izakaya, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Añejo Cantina & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (444 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3132 Williams Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Thai Soul Kitchen
- Rating: 4.6/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6471 Almaden Expy Ste 75 San Jose, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Paesano Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1341 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 350 West Julian St. Ste 1 San Jose, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. La Foret
- Rating: 4.1/5 (815 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 21747 Bertram Road San Jose, California
- Categories: French, Venues & Event Spaces, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Elements Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6471-10 Almaden Expy San Jose, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Asian Fusion, French
- Read more on Yelp
#6. King's Fish House - San Jose
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2167 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Ste 1820 San Jose, California
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Blossom & Bourbon
- Rating: 4.2/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 632 Blossom Hill Road San Jose, California
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Le Papillon
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1242 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 410 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Élyse Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (469 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 96 South 1st St. San Jose, California
- Categories: French, Vietnamese, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Trifecta
- Rating: 4.4/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5665 Silver Creek Valley Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Caterers, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Orchestria Palm Court
- Rating: 4.4/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 27 East William St. San Jose, California
- Categories: American, Italian, Gluten-Free
- 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.
