Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#14. Kyoto Japanese Steak House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4604 West Main St. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Teppanyaki, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Martell's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3501 Greenleaf Blvd. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Comensoli's Italian Bistro
- Rating: 3.9/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 762 West Main St. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. HighDive Kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 214 East Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. 600 Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (250 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 East Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Maru Sushi & Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 427 East Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Texas Corners Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.1/5 (270 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6970 Texas Drive Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Breweries, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Saffron Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.2/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1710 West Main St. Ste D Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Bold
- Rating: 4.4/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6915 West Q Ave. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Rustica
- Rating: 4.4/5 (336 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 236 South Kalamazoo Mall Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#4. One Well Brewing
- Rating: 4.4/5 (542 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4213 Portage St. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Breweries, New American, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Café 36
- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2965 Oakland Drive Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: New American, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Principle Food & Drink
- Rating: 4.6/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 230 South Kalamazoo Mall Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Brick and Brine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 West Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Categories: New American
- 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.
