Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#27. Blue Water
- Rating: 3.8/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5180 Northland Drive Northeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Palace of India
- Rating: 3.9/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 138 Fulton St. East Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Walker Roadhouse
- Rating: 4.0/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3272 Remembrance Road Northwest Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Ju Sushi and Lounge
- Rating: 4.0/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1144 East Paris Ave. Southeast Ste 9 Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Japanese, Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Thai Chef
- Rating: 4.1/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1971 East Beltline Ave. Northeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Indian Masala
- Rating: 4.4/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5769 28th St. Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Poke Toki
- Rating: 4.8/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5150 Northland Drive Northeast Ste East Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Poke, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Reserve Wine & Food
- Rating: 3.9/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 Monroe Ave. Northwest Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Le Kabob
- Rating: 4.0/5 (298 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3122 28th St. Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Rose's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (336 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 550 Lakeside Drive Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Margaux
- Rating: 4.0/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 235 Louis St. Northwest JW Marriott Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Harmony Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.0/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1551 Lake Drive Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Breweries, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#15. MeXo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 118 Fulton St. East Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. HopCat
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1138 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 25 Ionia Ave. Southwest Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Divani
- Rating: 4.2/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 Ionia Ave. Southwest Ste 130 Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Palio - Grand Rapids
- Rating: 4.2/5 (258 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 545 Michigan St. Northeast Ste 102 Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Leo's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (332 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 60 Ottawa Ave. Northwest Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Bistro Bella Vita
- Rating: 4.3/5 (522 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 44 Cesar East Chavez Ave. Southwest Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Modern European, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Terra GR
- Rating: 4.3/5 (485 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1429 Lake Drive Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. MDRD
- Rating: 4.4/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 187 Monroe Ave. Northwest Floor 27 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Spanish, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. One Twenty Three Tavern
- Rating: 4.4/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 123 Ionia Ave. Southwest Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Živio
- Rating: 4.4/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 724 Wealthy St. Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Euro Bistro
- Rating: 4.4/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6080 28th St. Southeast Ste 105 Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Modern European, French
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Pind Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 241 Fulton St. West Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Grove
- Rating: 4.6/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 919 Cherry St. Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Butcher's Union
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1241 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 438 Bridge St. Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: American, Whiskey Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The Heritage Restaurant
- Rating: 4.7/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 151 Fountain St. Northeast Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- 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.
