Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Columbus 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 Columbus 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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#30. Veritas

- Rating: 4.2/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 11 West Gay St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. The Pearl

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1227 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 641 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Lindey's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1093 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 169 East Beck St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. The Whitney House

- Rating: 4.2/5 (667 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 666 High St. Worthington, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Sidebar Columbus

- Rating: 4.2/5 (446 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 122 East Main St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Lounges, Mediterranean, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Wolf's Ridge Brewing

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 North 4th St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breweries, New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Sycamore

- Rating: 4.2/5 (480 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 262 East Sycamore St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Bars, American, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Watershed Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (369 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1145 Chesapeake Ave. Ste D Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Martini Modern Italian

- Rating: 4.2/5 (640 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 445 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Lupo

- Rating: 4.2/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2124 Arlington Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Denmark

- Rating: 4.3/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 463 North High 2nd Floor 2 Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Columbus

- Rating: 4.3/5 (472 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 89 East Nationwide Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Akai Hana

- Rating: 4.3/5 (787 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1173 Old Henderson Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Service Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1230 Courtland Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. SŌW Plated

- Rating: 4.3/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1625 West Lane Ave. Upper Arlington, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Little West Tavern

- Rating: 4.3/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 77 Belle St. The Junto Hotel Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Mitchell's Ocean Club

- Rating: 4.3/5 (698 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4002 Easton Sta Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. High Bank Distillery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (835 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1051 Goodale Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Third and Hollywood

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1003 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1433 West 3rd Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Ampersand Asian Supper Club

- Rating: 4.4/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 940 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Ramen
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Pasqualone's Ristorante

- Rating: 4.4/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5766 Emporium Sq Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. South Village Grille

- Rating: 4.4/5 (387 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 197 Thurman Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Gallo's Kitchen + Bar

- Rating: 4.4/5 (378 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2820 Nottingham Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Cajun/Creole, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Rooh Columbus

- Rating: 4.4/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 685 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Indian, Cocktail Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Basi Italia

- Rating: 4.4/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 811 Highland St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. The Refectory Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (572 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1092 Bethel Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: French, Wine Bars, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. La Tavola

- Rating: 4.5/5 (329 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1664 West 1st Ave. Grandview Heights, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (618 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Granville St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Comune

- Rating: 4.5/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 677 Parsons Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Vegetarian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Plas Food and Drink

- Rating: 4.5/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 21 East 5th Ave. Ste 101 Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

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