Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3411 Washtenaw Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Sadako Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (337 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1321 South University Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.5/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 314 South Fourth Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#26. The Blue Nile
- Rating: 3.6/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 221 East Washington St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Ethiopian, Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Yee Siang Dumplings
- Rating: 3.7/5 (485 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4837 Washtenaw Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Chinese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Knight's Downtown Ann Arbor Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.7/5 (320 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 600 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The Ravens Club
- Rating: 3.8/5 (348 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 207 South Main St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: American, Bars, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Weber's Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (358 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3050 Jackson Road Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Knight's Steak House
- Rating: 3.8/5 (343 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2324 Dexter Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Black Pearl Ann Arbor
- Rating: 3.8/5 (388 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 302 South Main St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Seafood, Lounges, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Earle Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (385 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 121 West Washington St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Wine Bars, French, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Carlyle Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3660 Jackson Road Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Tomukun Noodle Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (942 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 505 East Liberty St. Ste 200 Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Amadeus
- Rating: 3.9/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 122 East Washington St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Polish, Russian, Hungarian
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Vinology Restaurant & Event Space
- Rating: 3.9/5 (535 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 South Main St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Palm Palace
- Rating: 3.9/5 (602 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2370 Carpenter Road Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The West End Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 West Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Cardamom
- Rating: 3.9/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1739 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Miss Kim
- Rating: 4.0/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 North 5th Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Korean, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Isalita
- Rating: 4.0/5 (624 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 341 East Liberty St. Ste 2 Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Tomukun Korean Barbeque
- Rating: 4.0/5 (491 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 505 East Liberty St. Ste 200 Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Mediterrano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2900 South State St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Aventura
- Rating: 4.0/5 (944 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 216 East Washington St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Spanish, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Pacific Rim
- Rating: 4.1/5 (554 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 114 West Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Rich Jc Korean Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1313 South University Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Mani Osteria & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1039 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 341 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Taste Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 521 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Desserts, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Spencer
- Rating: 4.4/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Detroit Street Filling Station
- Rating: 4.5/5 (329 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 Detroit St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Vegan, Jazz & Blues, Vegetarian
- 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.
