Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#27. Soul Food Express
- Rating: 4.1/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1227 East 21st St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Lemongrass Thai Bistro
- Rating: 4.1/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14866 Old St. Augustine Road Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#25. The Juicy Crab
- Rating: 4.1/5 (515 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1115 Mary Susan Drive Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Bars, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Ember & Iron
- Rating: 4.2/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 60 Shops Blvd. Ste 80 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: American, Whiskey Bars, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (531 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13475 Atlantic Blvd. Ste 32 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Thai, Soup, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Julington Creek Fish Camp
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1056 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 12760 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Alhambra Theatre & Dining
- Rating: 4.3/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 12000 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Performing Arts, American, Dinner Theater
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Stonewood Grill & Tavern
- Rating: 4.0/5 (323 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3832 Baymeadows Road Ste 3 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Moca Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 North Laura St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. La Cena Ristorante
- Rating: 4.1/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 911 Edgewood Ave. South Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Josephine
- Rating: 4.1/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3563 St. Johns Ave. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant- Jacksonville
- Rating: 4.2/5 (861 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4850 Big Is Drive Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American, Wine Tasting Room
- Read more on Yelp
#15. River Club
- Rating: 4.2/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1 Independent Drive Ste 3500 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Caterers, New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Rue Saint Marc
- Rating: 4.2/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2103 San Marco Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: French, Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#13. 13 Gypsies
- Rating: 4.2/5 (329 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 887 Stockton St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Spanish, Basque, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Primi Piatti
- Rating: 4.2/5 (231 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2722 Park St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Bazille
- Rating: 4.2/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4835 Town Xing Drive Floor 2 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Matthew's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (308 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2107 Hendricks Ave. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American, Lounges, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Cuisine 76 and Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (331 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1023 Park St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Mediterranean, Cocktail Bars, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Marker 32
- Rating: 4.2/5 (481 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 14549 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Picasso's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (813 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10503 San Jose Blvd. Ste 207 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Pizza, Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The District SPR
- Rating: 4.4/5 (327 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2026 Walnut St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Town Hall
- Rating: 4.4/5 (390 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2012 San Marco Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. BB's
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1071 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1019 Hendricks Ave. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Norikase
- Rating: 4.5/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 9734 Deer Lake Court Ste 13 Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Orsay
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1156 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3630 Park St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: French, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Mesa
- Rating: 4.9/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4260 Herschel St. Jacksonville, Florida
- Categories: Indian
- 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.
