Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Columbus, Georgia area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Columbus, Georgia 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 Columbus 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#20. Samurai Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar
- Rating: 2.8/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1009 Broadway Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Fife and Drum
- Rating: 3.1/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1775 Legacy Way National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Cannon Brew Pub
- Rating: 3.4/5 (457 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1041 Broadway Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Brewpubs, Pasta Shops, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Seoul Garden Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2009 South Lumpkin Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Smoke Bourbon and BBQ
- Rating: 3.5/5 (294 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1047 Broadway Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Mikata Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
- Rating: 3.6/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd. Ste 19 Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Hudson's At Main Street
- Rating: 3.6/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6298 Veterans Pkwy Ste 7A Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Pure Taqueria
- Rating: 3.6/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8186 Veterans Pkwy Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Tacos, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mark's City Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7160 Moon Road Ste C Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Wicked Hen Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1350 13th St. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Southern, New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. The Black Cow
- Rating: 4.1/5 (730 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 115A 12th St. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Morten's At Old Town
- Rating: 4.1/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3580 Massee Lane Ste H Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Modern European, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Uptown Vietnam Cuisine
- Rating: 4.2/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1250 Broadway Ste A Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Loft
- Rating: 4.4/5 (268 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1032 Broadway Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Mabella
- Rating: 4.4/5 (329 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 14 West 11th St. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. 11th and Bay Southern Table
- Rating: 4.4/5 (546 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1050 Bay Ave. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Southern, Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Saffron Columbus
- Rating: 4.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd. Ste 27 Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Saltcellar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1039 1st Ave. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Seafood, American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Epic Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1201 Front Ave. Ste East Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Thai Orchid
- Rating: 4.9/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5960 Veterans Pkwy Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
