Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Trio Bistro
- Rating: 4.0/5 (328 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7565 Kenwood Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Symphony Hotel & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 West 14th St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Hotels, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Nada
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1537 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 Walnut St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Ruth's Parkside Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1550 Blue Rock St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Revolution Rotisserie - Pleasant Ridge
- Rating: 4.2/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6063 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Bakersfield OTR
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1503 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1213 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Kiki College Hill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5932 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Ramen, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Inkazteka Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3920 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Crown Republic Gastropub
- Rating: 4.5/5 (499 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 720 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Gastropubs, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Truva Turkish Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8060 Montgomery Road Ste 400 Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Turkish, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Via Vite
- Rating: 4.0/5 (761 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 520 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Metropole
- Rating: 4.1/5 (391 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 609 Walnut St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Embers
- Rating: 4.1/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 8170 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Butcher and Barrel
- Rating: 4.1/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 700 Race St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Bars, Salad, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Biagio's Bistro
- Rating: 4.1/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 308 Ludlow Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Primavista
- Rating: 4.1/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 810 Matson Place Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Nicola's Ristorante
- Rating: 4.2/5 (458 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1420 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mita's Restaurant and Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (502 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 Race St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Spanish, Latin American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Tony's of Cincinnati
- Rating: 4.3/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 12110 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Cincinnati
- Rating: 4.4/5 (700 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 505 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Carlo & Johnny
- Rating: 4.4/5 (386 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 9769 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Cincinnati Dinner Train
- Rating: 4.4/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2172 Seymour Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Precinct
- Rating: 4.4/5 (642 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 311 Delta Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Abigail Street
- Rating: 4.4/5 (515 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1214 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wine Bars, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Alfio's Buon Cibo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2724 Erie Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Argentine, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Five On Vine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1324 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Boca
- Rating: 4.6/5 (645 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 114 East 6th St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, French, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Sotto
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1599 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 118 East 6th St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Fillo Modern Greek
- Rating: 4.7/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1505 Race St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- 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.
