Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Rochester, Minnesota area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Rochester, Minnesota 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 Rochester 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#15. Broadway Bar & Pizza
- Rating: 2.9/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4144 Hwy 52 North Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Pizza, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Star Ocean Buffet
- Rating: 3.2/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1300 Salem Road Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Fat Willy's
- Rating: 3.5/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4325 Maine Ave. Southeast Ste 400 Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mango Thai
- Rating: 3.6/5 (359 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 318 South Broadway Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Lord Essex Tavern & Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 20 2nd Ave. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Steakhouses, Desserts, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Twigs Tavern and Grille
- Rating: 3.8/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 401 6th St. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: American, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Five West
- Rating: 3.8/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1991 Commerce Drive Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Victoria's Ristorante & Wine Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (525 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7 1st Ave. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#7. La Poblana
- Rating: 4.0/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 909 37th St. Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Workshop Food Hall & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1232 3rd Ave. Southeast Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Bars, Burgers, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Terza Ristorante
- Rating: 4.1/5 (363 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 30 3rd St. Southeast Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Chester's Kitchen and Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (890 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 South Broadway Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Bleu Duck Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 14 4th St. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Francisco's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1137 2nd St. Southwest First Avenue Food Court Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Thirsty Belgian Bar & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2650 South Broadway Ste 600 Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Pubs, New 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.
