Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Louisville 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 Louisville 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Grassa Gramma
- Rating: 4.1/5 (482 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2210 Holiday Manor Center Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#29. River House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (701 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3015 River Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Live/Raw Food, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Proof on Main
- Rating: 4.1/5 (996 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 702 West Main St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern
- Rating: 4.2/5 (533 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10609 Lagrange Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood, American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Fork & Barrel
- Rating: 4.2/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1722 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Varanese
- Rating: 4.2/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2106 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Brasserie Provence
- Rating: 4.2/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 150 North Hurstbourne Pkwy Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Brasseries, Venues & Event Spaces, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Copper & Kings Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1121 East Washington St. Copper and Kings Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Distilleries
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Connor's Steak and Seafood
- Rating: 4.3/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 615 South Hurstbourne Pkwy Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Bourbons Bistro
- Rating: 4.3/5 (303 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2255 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern, New American, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. CASK Southern Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (506 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9980 Linn Station Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern, Salad, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Juno Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5406 Antle Drive Ste 109 Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 835 East Main St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp
#17. bar Vetti
- Rating: 4.4/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 727 East Market St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Buck's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.4/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 425 West Ormsby Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Steak & Bourbon
- Rating: 4.4/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1321 Herr Lane Ste 130 Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Seviche A Latin Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (363 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1538 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Latin American, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Repeal Oak Fired Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (482 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 101 West Main St. Unit 101 Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. La Chasse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1359 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: French, Cocktail Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#11. 610 Magnolia
- Rating: 4.4/5 (232 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 610 West Magnolia Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Jack Fry's
- Rating: 4.4/5 (688 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1007 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Fat Lamb
- Rating: 4.4/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2011 Grinstead Drive Ste 104 Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Southern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#8. GOGi 1055 Korean BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1055 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Louisville
- Rating: 4.5/5 (626 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 325 West Main St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Silvio's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 Fairfax Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Hammerheads
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1411 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 921 Swan St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern, New American, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Volare Italian Ristorante
- Rating: 4.5/5 (440 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2300 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. District 6
- Rating: 4.6/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3930 Shelbyville Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Gastropubs, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Perso
- Rating: 4.6/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 741 East Oak St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. La Bodeguita de Mima
- Rating: 4.7/5 (967 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 725 East Market St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Categories: Cuban, Cocktail 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.