Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in New Haven 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 New Haven 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Portofino's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.7/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 937 State St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Atelier Florian
- Rating: 3.7/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1166 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Seafood, French, Belgian
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Mamoun's Falafel
- Rating: 3.7/5 (611 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 85 Howe St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel, Syrian
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Mezcal
- Rating: 3.8/5 (411 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14 Mechanic St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Encore by Goodfellas
- Rating: 3.8/5 (464 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 702 State St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. L'Orcio
- Rating: 3.8/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 806 State St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#24. BAR
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1423 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 254 Crown St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Pizza, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Miso Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 Orange St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Japanese, Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (981 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 South Water St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Union League Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (395 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1032 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: French, Venues & Event Spaces, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. South Bay
- Rating: 4.0/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 228 College St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mediterranean, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Elm City Social
- Rating: 4.0/5 (514 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 266 College St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Barcelona - New Haven
- Rating: 4.0/5 (762 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 155 Temple St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Wine Bars, Spanish, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. New Haven Taste of China
- Rating: 4.0/5 (248 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 954 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp
#16. ZINC New Haven
- Rating: 4.0/5 (405 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 964 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Koon Thai Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 163 Temple St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
- Rating: 4.1/5 (3545 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 157 Wooster St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Barracuda Bistro & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (497 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1180 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Latin American, Cocktail Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mecha Noodle Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (816 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 Crown St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Noodles, Ramen, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Kevin's Seafood
- Rating: 4.2/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 17 Kimberly Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Consiglio's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 165 Wooster St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Carmines Di Vega
- Rating: 4.2/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1500 Whalley Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Da Legna x Nolo
- Rating: 4.2/5 (866 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 687 State St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Pizza, Tapas/Small Plates, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Skappo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 59 Crown St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Olea
- Rating: 4.4/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 39 High St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#5. September In Bangkok
- Rating: 4.4/5 (469 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 754 State St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Thai, Pan Asian, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Midpoint Istanbul Fine Dining
- Rating: 4.5/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 245 Crown St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Turkish, Mediterranean, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Tavern On State
- Rating: 4.6/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 969 State St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Next Door
- Rating: 4.7/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 175 Humphrey St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Pizza, Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. the LUKE BRASSERIE
- Rating: 4.8/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 261 College St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Brasseries, Cafes, Bars
- 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.
