Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Boston 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 Boston 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#28. Aqua Pazza
- Rating: 4.6/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 135 Richmond St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Asta
- Rating: 4.1/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 47 Massachusetts Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. 1928 Beacon Hill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 97 Mount Vernon St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: American, Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Yvonne's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1487 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2 Winter Place Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Deuxave
- Rating: 4.2/5 (680 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 371 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Bars, French
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Giacomo's Ristorante - Boston
- Rating: 4.2/5 (4266 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 355 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Salty Pig
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1955 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Dartmouth St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Toro
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2553 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1704 Washington St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Spanish, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Saltie Girl
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2226 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 279 Dartmouth St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Sorellina
- Rating: 4.2/5 (782 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1 Huntington Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Banks Seafood and Steak
- Rating: 4.2/5 (275 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 406 Stuart St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. SAVR
- Rating: 4.2/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 150 Seaport Blvd. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Row 34
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1892 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 383 Congress St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Mistral
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1100 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 223 Columbus Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: French, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Alma Gaucha
- Rating: 4.3/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 401 D St. Boston Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Steakhouses, Desserts, Brazilian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mamma Maria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (924 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3 North Sq Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#12. JiangNan Boston
- Rating: 4.4/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 177 Tremont St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Ostra
- Rating: 4.4/5 (644 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1 Charles St. South Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Barcelona Wine Bar South End
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1513 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 525 Tremont St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Spanish, Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#9. O Ya
- Rating: 4.4/5 (825 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 9 East St. Place Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#8. SRV Boston
- Rating: 4.4/5 (582 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 569 Columbus Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Moonshine 152
- Rating: 4.4/5 (609 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 152 Dorchester Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Mooncusser
- Rating: 4.4/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 304 Stuart St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Ma Maison
- Rating: 4.4/5 (509 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 272 Cambridge St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: French, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Fuji at Ink Block
- Rating: 4.5/5 (723 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 352 Harrison Ave. Ste B Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Isabella Ristorante
- Rating: 4.5/5 (434 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 Prince St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Carmelina's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3767 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 307 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Krasi
- Rating: 4.6/5 (473 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 48 Gloucester St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Wine 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.
