Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Akron 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 Akron 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!

You may also like: Akron's 2025 housing market year in review

1 / 29

#29. Virtues

- Rating: 3.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 525 East Market St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 29

#28. Papa Joe's Iacomini's

- Rating: 3.6/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1561 Akron Peninsula Road Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 29

#27. Diamond Grille

- Rating: 3.6/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 77 West Market St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 29

#26. 35 Brix

- Rating: 3.7/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3875 Massillon Road Heritage Crossing Plaza Uniontown, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 29

#25. Russo's

- Rating: 3.7/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4895 State Road Peninsula, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Akron

6 / 29

#24. Merchant Tavern

- Rating: 3.8/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1824 Merriman Road Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Gastropubs, New American
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 29

#23. Ken Stewart's Lodge

- Rating: 3.8/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1911 North Cleveland Massillon Road Akron, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 29

#22. Dean Martin's Lanning's

- Rating: 3.8/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 826 North Cleveland Massillon Road Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 29

#21. Luigi's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (847 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 105 North Main St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 29

#20. Wise Guys Lounge & Grill

- Rating: 3.8/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1008 North Main St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Akron

11 / 29

#19. Cilantro Thai & Sushi Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 326 South Main St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Thai, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 29

#18. Dontino's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 555 East Cuyahoga Falls Ave. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 29

#17. Edgar's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 530 Nome Ave. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Barbecue, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 29

#16. Crave

- Rating: 3.9/5 (453 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 156 South Main St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 29

#15. Ken Stewart's Grille

- Rating: 3.9/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1970 West Market St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: How many homes are for sale in Akron right now?

16 / 29

#14. Beau's Grille

- Rating: 3.9/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3180 West Market St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 29

#13. Kingfish

- Rating: 4.0/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 115 Montrose West Ave. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 29

#12. The Lockview

- Rating: 4.0/5 (413 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 207 South Main St. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: American, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 29

#11. D'Agnese's at White Pond Akron

- Rating: 4.0/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 566 White Pond Drive Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Lounges, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 29

#10. Casa Del Mar Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3725 South Cleveland Massillon Road Barberton, Ohio
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Akron by diners

21 / 29

#9. Moe's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2385 Front St. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 29

#8. Trattoria Vaccaro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1000 Ghent Road Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 29

#7. Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2559 State Road Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 29

#6. Darby's on Fifty-Nine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2764 Front St. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
- Categories: Gastropubs, American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 29

#5. Lock 15 Brewing Co.

- Rating: 4.4/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 21 West North St. Ste TL 1 Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Brewpubs, American
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Akron

26 / 29

#4. The Bistro of Green

- Rating: 4.4/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3459 Massillon Road Uniontown, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 29

#3. The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1970 State Road Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 29

#2. Tamr Mediterranean Grille

- Rating: 4.7/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3226 Kent Road Stow, Ohio
- Categories: Mediterranean, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 29

#1. Khaao Macha

- Rating: 4.9/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 Montrose West Ave. Akron, Ohio
- Categories: Indian, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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