Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Punta Gorda area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Punta Gorda 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 Punta Gorda 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#25. Ryan's Subs And Sports Grill
- Rating: 2.8/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5268 Duncan Road Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Harpoon Harry's Lounge & Raw Bar
- Rating: 2.9/5 (426 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1200 West Retta Esplanade Ste 55 Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Monty's Restaurant & Pizzeria
- Rating: 3.0/5 (146 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2515 Tamiami Trl Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Dean's South of the Border
- Rating: 3.1/5 (317 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Tamiami Trl Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#21. The Captain's Table
- Rating: 3.2/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1200 West Retta Esplanade Ste 55 Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Laishley Crab House
- Rating: 3.2/5 (885 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 150 Laishley Court Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Luigi's
- Rating: 3.3/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3883 Tamiami Trl Port Charlotte, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Captain Crab Seafood and Sushi
- Rating: 3.5/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2746 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Sushi Bars, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Ice House Pub
- Rating: 3.8/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 408 Tamiami Trl Ste 111 Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: American, Pubs, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Top China
- Rating: 3.8/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1968 Kings Hwy Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Prime Serious Steak
- Rating: 3.8/5 (590 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 19655 Cochran Blvd. Port Charlotte, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#14. River City Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 131 West Marion Ave. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar & Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2390 Tamiami Trl Port Charlotte, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Peace River Seafood & Crab Shack
- Rating: 3.9/5 (404 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5337 Duncan Road Punta Gorda Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Brooklyn Joe's
- Rating: 3.9/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1133 Bal Harbor Blvd. Ste 1115 Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Visani
- Rating: 4.0/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2400 Kings Hwy Port Charlotte, Florida
- Categories: Comedy Clubs, Italian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. F M DON'S
- Rating: 4.0/5 (455 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 West Marion Ave. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Bars, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Winesett House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (657 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 139 West Marion Ave. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Italia
- Rating: 4.1/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 127 West Marion Ave. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (534 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 West Marion Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Southern, New American, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Perfect Caper
- Rating: 4.2/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 121 East Marion Ave. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: New American, Salad, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Brother's Fish House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3821 Tamiami Trl Ste A Port Charlotte, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Carmelo's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 321 West Retta Esplanade Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. John Ski's House of Breakfast & Lunch
- Rating: 4.3/5 (427 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 502 King St. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Mainely Seafood
- Rating: 4.5/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 16520 Burnt Store Road Ste 102 Punta Gorda, Florida
- Categories: Seafood Markets, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
