Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Visalia 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 Visalia 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#14. El Tarasco Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 2.7/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 208 West Main St. Ste 9 Visalia, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Tahoe Joe's
- Rating: 2.7/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4015 West Caldwell Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Double LL Steakhouse & Saloon
- Rating: 2.9/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 401 East Center Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Gozen Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (513 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1115 West Caldwell Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Teppanyaki
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Tommy's Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 North Encina St. Visalia, California
- Categories: New American, Lounges, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Crawdaddy's
- Rating: 3.4/5 (367 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 East Main St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Howie and Sons Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2430 South Mooney Blvd. Visalia, California
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Strings Italian Cafe
- Rating: 3.6/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1971 West Caldwell Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. California Fish Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2253 South Mooney Blvd. Visalia, California
- Categories: Seafood, Fish & Chips, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Davorn's Place Lao - Thai Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (792 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 North Willis St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Vintage Press
- Rating: 3.9/5 (538 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 216 North Willis St. Visalia, California
- Categories: American, Desserts, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Elderwood
- Rating: 4.0/5 (450 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 North Court St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Thai Basil Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1423 East Noble Ave. Visalia, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Pita Kabob & Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (773 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 227 North Court St. Visalia, California
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Mediterranean, Pizza
- 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.
