Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Daphne area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Daphne 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 Daphne 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#20. Whataburger
- Rating: 2.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 29651 State Hwy 181 Daphne, Alabama
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Ralph & Kacoo's
- Rating: 3.3/5 (242 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1595 Battleship Pkwy Spanish Fort, Alabama
- Categories: American, Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Bone and Barrel
- Rating: 3.7/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 311 Fairhope Ave. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Manci's Antique Club
- Rating: 3.8/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1715 Main St. Daphne, Alabama
- Categories: American, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Agave Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 Ecor Rouge Place Shop Center Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Another Broken Egg Cafe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 Fairhope Ave. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Cafes, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#14. California Dreaming
- Rating: 3.9/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 30500 AL-181 Spanish Fort, Alabama
- Categories: American, Salad, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Fairhope Inn & Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 63 South Church St. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Bed & Breakfast
- Read more on Yelp
#12. BLUEGILL Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (432 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3775 Battleship Pkwy Spanish Fort, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, American, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Gambino's Italian Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 Laurel Ave. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Felix's Fish Camp
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1287 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1530 Battleship Pkwy Spanish Fort, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, Diners, Fish & Chips
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Tamara's Downtown
- Rating: 4.2/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 North Section St. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Shanghai Cottage
- Rating: 4.2/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22530 US Hwy 98 Ste 250 Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Sunset Pointe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (606 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 831 North Section St. Fly Creek Marina Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Bars, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Tulum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9878 Spanish Fort Blvd. Daphne, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Thyme on Section
- Rating: 4.4/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 North Section St. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Market By the Bay
- Rating: 4.5/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 29145 US Hwyy 98 Daphne, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, Seafood Markets
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Ox Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 365 Greeno Road South Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Salad, Sandwiches, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Southwood Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1203 US Hwy 98 Ste 3D Daphne, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Sage Lebanese Cuisine & Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 319 Fairhope Ave. Fairhope, Alabama
- Categories: Lebanese, Falafel, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
