Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Auburn area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Auburn area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all 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 and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, 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 chefs' 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, 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 the Auburn area 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#16. LiveOaks
- Rating: 3.1/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 North College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Burgers, New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Ariccia Cucina
- Rating: 3.7/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 241 South College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Venditori's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2575 Hilton Garden Drive Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. BurgerFi
- Rating: 3.7/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 339 South College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Burgers, Hot Dogs, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Taste of Asia
- Rating: 3.9/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3750 Pepperell Pkwy Asian Supermarket Opelika, Alabama
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Lucy's
- Rating: 3.9/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2300 Moore's Mill Road Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Amsterdam Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 410 South Gay St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Niffer's Place Auburn
- Rating: 4.0/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1151 Opelika Road Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Hamilton's On Magnolia
- Rating: 4.1/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 174 East Magnolia Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Hey Day Market
- Rating: 4.1/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 South College St. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Food Court, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Zazu
- Rating: 4.3/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 112 South 8th St. Opelika, Alabama
- Categories: Gastropubs, Seafood, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Acre
- Rating: 4.3/5 (529 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 East Glenn Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: Bars, Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Café 123
- Rating: 4.4/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 123 South 8th St. Opelika, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Southern, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Depot
- Rating: 4.4/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 124 Mitcham Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Hound
- Rating: 4.5/5 (713 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 124 Tichenor Ave. Auburn, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The Waverly Local
- Rating: 4.6/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1465 Patrick St. Waverly, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
