Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#27. Sitti
- Rating: 4.0/5 (971 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 137 South Wilmington St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Lebanese, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Beasley's Chicken & Honey
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 237 South Wilmington St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Tazza Kitchen Village District
- Rating: 4.3/5 (603 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 432 Woodburn Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. The Fiction Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (720 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2409 Crabtree Blvd. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Raleigh
- Rating: 4.6/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 105 Friendly Drive Ste 101 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. City Market Sushi
- Rating: 4.7/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 Blake St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Death & Taxes
- Rating: 4.1/5 (418 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 105 West Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. The Angus Barn
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1829 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 9401 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, Lounges, American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Rey's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (303 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1130 Buck Jones Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Vivace
- Rating: 4.1/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4209 Lassiter Mill Road Ste 115 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Bloomsbury Bistro
- Rating: 4.1/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 509 West Whitaker Mill Road Ste 101 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Mill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3201 Edwards Mill Road Ste 153 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Vinnie's Steak House & Tavern
- Rating: 4.1/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 7440 Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Vidrio
- Rating: 4.1/5 (560 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 Glenwood Ave. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
- Rating: 4.3/5 (449 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 South Boylan Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Glenwood Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (371 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2603 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.4/5 (420 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7400 Six Forks Road Ste 2 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Oak Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 417 West Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Barcelona Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.4/5 (450 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 430 West Martin St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. O-Ku
- Rating: 4.4/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 411 West Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Second Empire Restaurant And Tavern
- Rating: 4.4/5 (678 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 330 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Bida Manda
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1802 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 South Blount St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Laotian, Asian Fusion, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Stanbury
- Rating: 4.5/5 (428 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 938 North Blount St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar
- Rating: 4.6/5 (422 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 223 South Wilmington St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Sushi Mon
- Rating: 4.6/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3800 Glenwood Ave. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Karavan by 3 Olives
- Rating: 4.7/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1493 Garner Station Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Uzbek, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Bombay Curry
- Rating: 4.8/5 (219 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13220 Strickland Road Ste 167 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian
- 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.
