Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Springfield, Illinois by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Springfield, Illinois 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 Springfield 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#14. Papa Frank's
- Rating: 2.9/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4111 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mimosa
- Rating: 3.4/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4201 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Nancy's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2301 West Monroe St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Saputo's
- Rating: 3.5/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 East Monroe St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Chesapeake Seafood House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3045 East Clear Lake Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant- Springfield
- Rating: 3.6/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2501 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Wine Tasting Room, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Westwoods Lodge Pub & Grill
- Rating: 3.6/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2406 West Jefferson St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Indigo Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3013 Lindbergh Blvd. Ste C Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, French, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Magic Kitchen Thai Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4112 North Peoria Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Thai, Desserts, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Maldaner's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 South 6th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. VELE
- Rating: 4.4/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3241 West Iles Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Loukinens' on 4th
- Rating: 4.4/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 517 South 4th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Luminary Kitchen & Provisions
- Rating: 4.4/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3121 Hedley Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Roots Latin Grill
- Rating: 4.8/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4127 West Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Latin American
- 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.
