Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Tuscaloosa area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#16. World of Beer
- Rating: 2.7/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2107 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Beer Bar, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Shrimp Basket
- Rating: 2.9/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3429 Mcfarland Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Rock N Roll Sushi
- Rating: 3.2/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2229 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Side by Side Kitchen & Cocktails
- Rating: 3.4/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2410 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: French, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Baumhower's Victory Grille
- Rating: 3.5/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4251 Courtney Drive Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Chicken Wings, American, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Moe's Original Bar B Que
- Rating: 3.6/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2101 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Newk's Eatery
- Rating: 3.6/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 University Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Five Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (273 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2324 6th St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Bars, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Chuck's Fish
- Rating: 3.9/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 508 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Depalma's Italian Cafe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (386 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2300 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Half Shell Oyster House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2325 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Seafood, Southern, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Central Mesa
- Rating: 4.1/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 519 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: American, Latin American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Evangeline's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1653 McFarland Blvd. North Ste G4-A Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. River
- Rating: 4.3/5 (302 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1650 Jack Warner Pkwy Northeast Unit 1005 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Archibald's BBQ
- Rating: 4.4/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1211 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Avenue Pub - Tuscaloosa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (596 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2230 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Salad, Cocktail Bars, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
