Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Iowa City area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#20. Tin Roost
- Rating: 3.4/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 840 West Penn St. North Liberty, Iowa
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. One Twenty Six
- Rating: 3.5/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 126 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Vue Rooftop
- Rating: 3.6/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 328 South Clinton St. Ste A Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Masala Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.7/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. BlackStone
- Rating: 3.7/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 503 Westbury Drive Ste 1 Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Bluebird Cafe
- Rating: 3.8/5 (232 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 650 West Cherry St. Ste 9 North Liberty, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Iowa Chop House
- Rating: 3.8/5 (324 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 223 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Konomi Restaurant & Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 843 Quarry Road Unit 140 Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Monica's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (255 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 303 2nd St. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Iowa Athletic Club
- Rating: 3.8/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 East 9th St. Ste 205 Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Sports Bars, New American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Oryza Asian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.8/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5 Sturgis Corner Drive Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Twelve01 Kitchen and Tap
- Rating: 3.8/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1210 1st Ave. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Beer Bar, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. St. Burch Tavern
- Rating: 3.9/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 127 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Supper Clubs, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Baroncini
- Rating: 4.1/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 South Linn St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Joseph's Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.1/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 212 South Clinton St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Big Grove Brewery and Taproom
- Rating: 4.1/5 (419 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1225 South Gilbert St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Brewpubs, American, Beer Gardens
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Reds Alehouse
- Rating: 4.2/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 405 North Dubuque St. North Liberty, Iowa
- Categories: American, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Basta Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (409 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 121 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Orchard Green
- Rating: 4.4/5 (250 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 521 South Gilbert St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Chez Grace
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 424 6th Ave. Ste 101 Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
