Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Pensacola 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 Pensacola 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#24. Flora-Bama Ole River Grill
- Rating: 3.6/5 (499 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 17400 Perdido Key Drive Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Sushi Masa
- Rating: 3.6/5 (524 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4731 Bayou Blvd. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Rodizio Grill - Pensacola
- Rating: 3.7/5 (447 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 605 East Gregory St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Steakhouses, Brazilian
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Atlas Oyster House
- Rating: 3.7/5 (324 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 South Barracks St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. V Paul's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 29 Palafox Place Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Jellyfish - Seafood Restaurant and Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (681 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13700 Perdido Key Drive Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Thai Rice
- Rating: 4.3/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7175 North Davis Hwy Ste J Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Taste of India
- Rating: 4.3/5 (509 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 810 East Gregory St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Hot Spot Barbecue
- Rating: 4.6/5 (464 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 901 East La Rua St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Barbecue, Bars, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Fish House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1309 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 600 South Barracks St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Wine Bars, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#14. 86 Forks Bar + Table
- Rating: 4.1/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11B Palafox Place Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Noodles, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Jacksons
- Rating: 4.1/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 400 South Palafox St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Steakhouses, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Five Sisters Blues Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (882 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 421 West Belmont St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Wine Bar on Palafox
- Rating: 4.3/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 16 Palafox Place Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Fisherman's Corner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (915 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13486 Perdido Key Drive Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. McGuire's Irish Pub - Pensacola
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2773 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 East Gregory St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Irish Pub, Steakhouses, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Fishing Hole
- Rating: 4.4/5 (379 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 Brent Lane Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Chicken Wings, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Bonelli's Cafe Italia
- Rating: 4.4/5 (353 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1217 North 9th Ave. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Global Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 27 South Palafox Place Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Taste of Jerusalem & More
- Rating: 4.4/5 (367 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2805 West Cervantes St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Restaurant IRON
- Rating: 4.5/5 (415 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 22 North Palafox St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Southern, Bars, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas
- Rating: 4.6/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 407 South Palafox St. Ste B Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: Tapas Bars, American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Pearl & Horn
- Rating: 4.7/5 (317 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1504 West Intendencia St. Pensacola, Florida
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Don Cha
- Rating: 4.8/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3103 East Strong St. Pensacola, Florida
- 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.
