Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Bloomington, Illinois area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Bloomington, Illinois 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 Bloomington 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#14. Grand Cafe
- Rating: 3.1/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2205 East Oakland Ave. Ste A2 Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Filipino
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Jim's Steak House
- Rating: 3.3/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2307 East Washington St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Imperial Buffet
- Rating: 3.5/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1950 East College Ave. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Rob Dob's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 North Hershey Road Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Reality Bites
- Rating: 3.5/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 414 North Main St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Medici Restaurant
- Rating: 3.6/5 (459 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 West North St. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bars, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Baxter's American Grille
- Rating: 4.0/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3212 East Empire St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.1/5 (390 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3010 East Empire St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#6. DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works
- Rating: 4.2/5 (951 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 318 South Towanda Ave. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Brewpubs, American, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Rosie's Pub
- Rating: 4.2/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 106 East Front St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: American, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Sichuan Chinese Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 122 East Beaufort St. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Hot Pot, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jack's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1600 Visa Drive Normal, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Epiphany Farms Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (477 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 220 East Front St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The Mystic Kitchen & Tasting Room
- Rating: 4.7/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 306 North Center St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Wine Tasting Room, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
