Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Duluth area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Duluth 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 Duluth 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#14. Burrito Union
- Rating: 2.9/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1332 East 4th St. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Grandma's Saloon & Grill
- Rating: 3.1/5 (580 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 522 South Lake Ave. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: American, Bars, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Maya Family Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4702 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, Minnesota
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Tavern on the Hill
- Rating: 3.4/5 (338 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1102 Woodland Ave. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Bars, American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Lyric Kitchen · Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 West Superior St. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Bars, American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Boat Club Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.6/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 600 East Superior Str Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Black Woods Grill & Bar
- Rating: 3.6/5 (290 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2525 London Road Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Pickwick
- Rating: 3.8/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 508 East Superior St. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Bellisio's Italian Restaurant And Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 405 South Lake Ave. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Lake Ave Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (378 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 394 South Lake Ave. Ste 107A Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: New American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Vitta Pizza Canal Park
- Rating: 4.3/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 307 Canal Park Drive Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Sir Benedict's Tavern On the Lake
- Rating: 4.4/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 805 East Superior St. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pubs, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Va Bene
- Rating: 4.4/5 (600 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 734 East Superior St. Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Italian, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Duluth Grill
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1257 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 118 South 27th Ave. West Duluth, Minnesota
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
