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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Modesto area by diners

·Stacker

Javier Volcan // Shutterstock
Javier Volcan // Shutterstock
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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 Modesto 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!

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#30. La Huerta Vieja

- Rating: 4.0/5 (438 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2100 Standiford Ave. Ste E1 Modesto, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Pastas Pronto

- Rating: 4.0/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2509 Coffee Road Ste C Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Velvet Grill & Creamery

- Rating: 4.0/5 (291 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3250 Dale Road Ste A Modesto, California
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Bella Italia

- Rating: 4.1/5 (705 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2625 Coffee Road Ste K Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Raw Sushi Bistro

- Rating: 4.1/5 (764 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1200 I St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Papachino's

- Rating: 4.1/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1212 J St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Papapavlos Mediterranean Bistro & Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1320 Standiford Ave. Ste 2 Modesto, California
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Fuzio Universal Bistro

- Rating: 4.1/5 (461 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1020 10th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Masumi Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1140 Colony Road Ste 110 Ripon, California
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Papapolloni Mediterranean Bistro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2501 Mchenry Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Dewz Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (742 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1505 J St. Modesto, California
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Mei Wei Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2900 Standiford Ave. Ste 11 Modesto, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Wildfire Public House

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1761 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1533 Oakdale Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Skewers Kabob House!

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1359 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 821 L St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Persian/Iranian, Kebab
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Mike's Grillhouse

- Rating: 4.3/5 (980 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3801 Pelandale Ave. Ste B11 Modesto, California
- Categories: American, Salad, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. El Bistro by Salt and Pepper

- Rating: 4.4/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 901 North Carpenter Road Ste 18 Modesto, California
- Categories: Latin American, Breakfast & Brunch, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Thaiburi

- Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3900 Pelandale Ave. Ste 155 Modesto, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Falcon's Lair

- Rating: 4.4/5 (377 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1225 Canal Blvd. Ripon, California
- Categories: Lounges, Speakeasies, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Burly's California Bistro

- Rating: 4.4/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1219 North Carpenter Road Ste 5 Modesto, California
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Gusto Italiano

- Rating: 4.4/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3948 Sylvan Ave. Ste 307 Modesto, California
- Categories: Southern, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Super Gyros

- Rating: 4.6/5 (447 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2252 McHenry Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Camp 4

- Rating: 4.6/5 (759 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1508 10th St. Ste B Modesto, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. The Vine House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 West River Road Ste B Ripon, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Beer Bar, French
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Braulio's Bistro

- Rating: 4.7/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 621 9th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Food Trucks, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Bauhaus

- Rating: 4.7/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 405 Downey Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Beer Bar, Tapas 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.

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