Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Champaign 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 Champaign 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#16. Spicy Tang
- Rating: 2.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 607 South 6th St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Evo Cafe
- Rating: 2.6/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 711 South 6th St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Szechuan China
- Rating: 2.6/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 401 South 1st St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Houlihan's
- Rating: 2.8/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1900 South 1st St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Ko Fusion
- Rating: 3.4/5 (390 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 30 East Main St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Rainbow Garden Champaign
- Rating: 3.4/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1402 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Big Grove Tavern
- Rating: 3.5/5 (504 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 East Main St. Ste 101 Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 3.6/5 (293 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2235 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Hamilton Walker's
- Rating: 3.6/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Ribeye
- Rating: 3.7/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1701 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Nando Milano Trattoria
- Rating: 3.8/5 (383 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 204 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Watson's Shack & Rail
- Rating: 4.1/5 (290 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. The Himalayan Chimney
- Rating: 4.1/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 134 West Church St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Baxter's American Grille
- Rating: 4.1/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Trade Centre Drive Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Golden Harbor Authentic Chinese Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (545 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 505 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Taiwanese
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Sakanaya
- Rating: 4.4/5 (647 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 403 East Green St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi 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.
