Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Newark 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 Newark 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#18. Don Pepe
- Rating: 3.2/5 (400 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 844 McCarter Hwy Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Classified
- Rating: 3.4/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 23 Newark International Airport St. Terminal C Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Allegro Seafood Grill
- Rating: 3.4/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 58 Kossuth St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Ferry St. Barbecue
- Rating: 3.5/5 (293 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 89 Ferry St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Barbecue, Portuguese
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Seabra Marisqueira
- Rating: 3.6/5 (633 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 87 Madison St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese, Seafood, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Sol-Mar
- Rating: 3.6/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 267 Ferry St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Adega Grill
- Rating: 3.7/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Ferry St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Chateau of Spain
- Rating: 3.7/5 (299 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11 Franklin St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish, New American, Portuguese
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Campino Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 70 Jabez St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Portugalia Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 280 Ferry St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Tony Da Caneca
- Rating: 3.8/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 72 Elm Road Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Portuguese
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Mompou Tapas Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (519 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 77 Ferry St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish, Wine Bars, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Fornos of Spain Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1050 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 47 Ferry St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish, Basque, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Kinjo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 159 Washington St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Spanish Tavern
- Rating: 4.1/5 (335 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 103 Mc Whorter St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Casa Vasca
- Rating: 4.1/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 141 Elm St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Bello's Pub & Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 376 Market St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: American, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Casa d'Paco
- Rating: 4.6/5 (993 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 73 Warwick St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars, 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.
