Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#27. Bibim Korean Bistro
- Rating: 4.6/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14027 Conlan Cir Ste A2 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Stagioni Four Seasons of Food
- Rating: 4.0/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 715 Providence Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. McNinch House Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 511 North Church St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: French, New American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Rooster's Wood - Fired Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (734 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 150 North College St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Southern, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. 204 North Kitchen & Cocktails
- Rating: 4.1/5 (581 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 204 North Tryon Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Oak Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.1/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4777 Sharon Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Barrington's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 7822 Fairview Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Luce Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 214 North Tryon St. Ste J Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Sea Level NC
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1230 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 129 East 5th St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Indaco
- Rating: 4.3/5 (304 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2046 South Blvd. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. 131 MAIN Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5970 Fairview Road Ste 100 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#16. SupperClub SouthEnd
- Rating: 4.3/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3521 Dewitt Lane Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Southern, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Dressler's - Charlotte
- Rating: 4.3/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1100-E Metropolitan Ave. Ste 125-E Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Link & Pin South End
- Rating: 4.3/5 (703 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 155 New Bern St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Juniper Grill - Ballantyne
- Rating: 4.3/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15235 John J Delaney Drive Ste P Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Haberdish
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1676 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3106 North Davidson St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Good Food on Montford
- Rating: 4.4/5 (971 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1701 Montford Drive Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Supperland
- Rating: 4.4/5 (419 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1212 The Plz Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Mariposa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 500 South Tryon St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Fin & Fino
- Rating: 4.5/5 (514 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 135 Levine Avenue Of The Arts Ste 100 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Fig Tree Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (631 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1601 East 7th St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, French, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Cellar at Duckworth's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1078 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 330 North Tryon St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Gastropubs, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Crunkleton
- Rating: 4.5/5 (412 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1957 East 7th St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Ever Andalo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3116 North Davidson St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Bulla Gastrobar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (744 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4310 Sharon Road Ste W01 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Spanish, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Steak 48
- Rating: 4.5/5 (502 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4425 Sharon Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Peppervine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4620 Piedmont Row Drive Ste 170B Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Cocktail 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.
