Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Ocala area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Ocala 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 Ocala 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#19. Horse & Hounds Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6998 North US Hwy 27 Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Pubs, Barbecue, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#18. El Toreo
- Rating: 3.3/5 (191 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3510 Southwest 36th Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Ocean Buffet
- Rating: 3.4/5 (248 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3425 Southwest College Road Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Charlie Horse
- Rating: 3.4/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2426 East Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: American, Karaoke, Cheesesteaks
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Beef 'O' Brady's
- Rating: 3.4/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11100 Southwest 93rd Court Road Ste 12 Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Sports Bars, American, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Big Rascal BBQ & Grille
- Rating: 3.5/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3437 Northwest Blitchton Road Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mimi's Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4414 Southwest College Road Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, French
- Read more on Yelp
#12. The Club at Candler Hills
- Rating: 3.6/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8139 Southwest 90th Terrace Road Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Terry's Place
- Rating: 3.7/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4121 Northeast 36th Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: American, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Mark's Prime Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.8/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 30 South Magnolia Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Ivy on the Square
- Rating: 4.0/5 (366 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 53 South Magnolia Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Southern, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Braised Onion
- Rating: 4.0/5 (441 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 754 Northeast 25th Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: New American, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#7. La Cuisine French Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 48 Southwest 1st Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Ipanema Brazilian Steak House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (548 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2023 South Pine Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Ayuttaya Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2437 Southwest 27th Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Thai, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Amrit Palace
- Rating: 4.4/5 (594 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3415 Southwest College Road Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. La Hacienda
- Rating: 4.5/5 (508 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4185 West Hwy 40 Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Grocery
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Mesa de Notte
- Rating: 4.6/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2436 East Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Three Six Bistro
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 3751 Southeast 36th Ave. Ocala, Florida
- Categories: Wine Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
