Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Amada
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2330 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 217 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Spanish, Iberian
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Fat Salmon
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 719 Walnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Helm
- Rating: 4.4/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1303 North 5th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Saloon Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 750 South 7th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Vernick Fish
- Rating: 4.4/5 (226 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1876 Arch St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood, Desserts, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#25. White Yak
- Rating: 4.5/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6118 Ridge Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Himalayan/Nepalese
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Perla
- Rating: 4.6/5 (289 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1535 South 11th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Filipino, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Steak 48
- Rating: 4.2/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 260 South Broad St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Dandelion
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2925 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 124 South 18th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Gastropubs, British
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Rex at the Royal
- Rating: 4.3/5 (596 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1524 South St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Southern, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Spice Finch
- Rating: 4.3/5 (470 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 South 17th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Morimoto
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2162 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 723 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Lacroix at The Rittenhouse
- Rating: 4.3/5 (479 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 210 West Rittenhouse Sq Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Barbuzzo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3321 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Via Locusta
- Rating: 4.3/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1723 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Double Knot
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1449 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Laurel
- Rating: 4.4/5 (373 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1617 East Passyunk Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: French, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Butcher and Singer
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1513 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1500 Walnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Forsythia
- Rating: 4.4/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 233 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Modern European, French, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Barclay Prime
- Rating: 4.4/5 (926 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 237 South 18th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Talula's Garden
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2310 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 210 West Washington Sq Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Laser Wolf
- Rating: 4.5/5 (466 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1301 North Howard St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Vetri Cucina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (556 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1312 Spruce St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Vernick Food & Drink
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1113 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2031 Walnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Fiorino
- Rating: 4.5/5 (439 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3572 Indian Queen Lane Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Zahav
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3480 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 237 St. James Place Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Jansen
- Rating: 4.6/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 7402 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Friday Saturday Sunday
- Rating: 4.6/5 (389 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 261 South 21st St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Sky Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1122-38 Washington Ave. Ste B Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Indonesian, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Restaurant Ambra
- Rating: 4.7/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 705 South 4th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- 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.
