Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Springfield 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 Springfield 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!

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1 / 30

#30. The Hill Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.3/5 (146 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 East Battlefield Road Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Maru Sushi & Grill

- Rating: 3.6/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1745 West James River Road Ozark, Missouri
- Categories: Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30

#28. Leong's Asian Diner

- Rating: 3.6/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1540 West Republic Road Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Chinese, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Nakato Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2615 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Japanese, Steakhouses, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 30

#26. Ocean Zen

- Rating: 3.8/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4117 South National Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30

#25. Fire & Ice Restaurant & Bar

- Rating: 3.8/5 (146 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2546 North Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30

#24. Whole Hog Cafe

- Rating: 3.9/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2731 North Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Barbecue, Chicken Wings, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. The Order Food & Drink

- Rating: 3.9/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 305 East Walnut St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Gilardi's Ristorante

- Rating: 4.0/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 820 East Walnut St. Ste A Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 30

#21. Kai After Dark

- Rating: 4.0/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 306 South Campbell Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Steakhouses, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 30

#20. Jimm's Steakhouse & Pub

- Rating: 4.0/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1935 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, Pubs, American
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30

#19. Haruno Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3044 South Fremont Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30

#18. Lambert's Cafe - Ozark

- Rating: 4.0/5 (1327 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1800 West State Hwy J Ozark, Missouri
- Categories: American, Chicken Wings, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30

#17. Civil Kitchen

- Rating: 4.0/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 107 Park Central Sq Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Bars, New American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 30

#16. Farmers Gastropub

- Rating: 4.1/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2620 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 30

#15. La Paloma

- Rating: 4.1/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3014 East Sunshine St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30

#14. Char Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1620 East Republic Road Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30

#13. Metropolitan Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2931 East Battlefield St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30

#12. Avanzare Italian Dining

- Rating: 4.3/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3240 South Fremont Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 30

#11. First Watch

- Rating: 4.3/5 (333 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2946 National Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American
- Read more on Yelp

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21 / 30

#10. Rama Thai

- Rating: 4.3/5 (429 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1129 East Walnut St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30

#9. Nicola's Ristorante

- Rating: 4.3/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3631 East Sunshine St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30

#8. Casper's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 937 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Diners, American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30

#7. FD's Grillhouse

- Rating: 4.3/5 (552 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 245 East Monastery St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: American, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 30

#6. Flame Steakhouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (381 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 314 West Walnut St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 30

#5. Vineyard Market

- Rating: 4.4/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1759 West State Hwy J Ozark, Missouri
- Categories: Cigar Bars, Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30

#4. Greek Belly

- Rating: 4.4/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 320 East Walnut St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 30

#3. Cafe Cusco

- Rating: 4.5/5 (591 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 234 East Commercial St. Springfield, Missouri
- Categories: Peruvian, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30

#2. Piccolo

- Rating: 4.6/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 107 Aldersgate Drive Ste 1 Nixa, Missouri
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

30 / 30

#1. Cafe B-29

- Rating: 4.6/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1751 West State Hwy J Ozark, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.