Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Lexington 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 Lexington 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#26. Sutton's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 North Locust Hill Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Tekka Japanese Grill & Sushi
- Rating: 3.8/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2300 Sir Barton Way Suite110 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Honeywood
- Rating: 3.9/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Summit At Fritz Farm Ste 140 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Azur Restaurant & Patio
- Rating: 3.9/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3070 Lakecrest Cir Ste 550 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Aqua Sushi Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (19 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1920 Pleasant Ridge Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Thai Street Food Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3340 Clays Mill Road Ste 110 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Cheng's Chinese Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3101 Clays Mill Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Sushi Blue
- Rating: 4.4/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 185 Pasadena Drive Ste 130 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Sage Rabbit
- Rating: 3.9/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 438 South Ashland Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Salad, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Palmers Fresh Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 161 Lexington Green Cir Ste C-8 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#16. CRÚ Food & Wine Bar - The Summit
- Rating: 4.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 107 Summit At Fritz Farm Ste 120 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Wine Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Malone's Palomar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3735 Palomar Center Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Lockbox
- Rating: 4.0/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 167 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Joella's Hot Chicken - Lexington
- Rating: 4.0/5 (496 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 Cochran Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Smithtown Seafood
- Rating: 4.0/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 West 6th St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Pasta Garage Italian Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (419 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 962 Delaware Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Malone's Lansdowne
- Rating: 4.1/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3347 Tates Creek Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Malone's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (470 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1920 Pleasant Ridge Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Distilled On Jefferson
- Rating: 4.2/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 157 Jefferson St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Epping's on Eastside
- Rating: 4.2/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 264 Walton Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Bella Notte
- Rating: 4.2/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3715 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. J2C Sichuan Bistro
- Rating: 4.2/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 561 South Broadway Ste 140 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Tony's of Lexington
- Rating: 4.3/5 (536 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 401 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Coles 735 Main
- Rating: 4.4/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 735 East Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Lexington
- Rating: 4.5/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 101 West Vine St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Rosemont Station
- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 Rosemont Garden Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Fast food
- 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.
