Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in San Luis Obispo by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#27. Sushiya
- Rating: 3.3/5 (327 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11560 Los Osos Valley Road Ste 160 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Alex Madonna's Gold Rush Steak House
- Rating: 3.4/5 (722 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 Madonna Road San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Mee Heng Low Noodle House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 815 Palm St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Chinese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Kumi Ko
- Rating: 4.0/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3830 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Japanese, Tapas Bars, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Black Sheep Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (465 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1117 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Thai Palace
- Rating: 4.0/5 (417 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1015 Court St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Sidecar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (712 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1040 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Cafe Roma - San Luis Obispo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1020 Railroad Ave. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Mama's Meatball
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1015 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 570 Higuera St. Ste 130 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Eureka! - San Luis Obispo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1141 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Arigato Sushi
- Rating: 4.1/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 667 Marsh St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Luna Red
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1569 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1023 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: New American, Latin American, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1499 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 849 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Koberl At Blue
- Rating: 4.2/5 (429 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 998 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Shalimar Indian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (886 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3820 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Indian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mistura Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1086 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 570 Higuera St. Ste 105 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Latin American, Peruvian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Firestone Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (4570 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1001 Higuera St. Ste A San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Novo
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2058 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 726 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: New American, Lounges, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Flour House SLO
- Rating: 4.2/5 (779 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 690 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Buona Tavola-San Luis Obispo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (873 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1037 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Nate's on Marsh
- Rating: 4.4/5 (346 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 450 Marsh St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: New American, Italian, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#6. La Locanda
- Rating: 4.4/5 (320 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1137 Garden St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Piadina
- Rating: 4.4/5 (194 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 877 Palm St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Piadina, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Thai Boat
- Rating: 4.5/5 (826 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3212 Broad St. Ste 140 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Thai, Soup, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#3. At Bites
- Rating: 4.6/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 195 North Santa Rosa St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Asian Fusion, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Ox+Anchor
- Rating: 4.6/5 (328 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 877 Palm St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Coya Peruvian Food
- Rating: 4.8/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1401 Osos St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Peruvian
- 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.
