Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Dayton area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Dayton 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 Dayton 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Mamma Disalvos Italian Ristorante
- Rating: 3.9/5 (412 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1375 East Stroop Road Kettering, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#28. China Star
- Rating: 3.9/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 606 Taywood Road Englewood, Ohio
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Oakwood Club
- Rating: 3.9/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2414 Far Hills Ave. Oakwood, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2564 Miamisburg Centerville Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Bennett's Publical Family Sports Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 67 South Main St. Miamisburg, Ohio
- Categories: Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. The Paragon Supper Club
- Rating: 4.0/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 797 Miamisburg Centerville Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Steakhouses, Supper Clubs, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#23. City Barbeque
- Rating: 4.0/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2330 North Fairfield Road Beavercreek, Ohio
- Categories: Barbecue, Caterers, American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant- Centerville, OH
- Rating: 4.0/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5220 Cornerstone North Blvd. Centerville, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Salar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (407 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 400 East 5th St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Peruvian, Lounges, French
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Club Oceano Seafood & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4429 Cedar Park Drive Beavercreek, Ohio
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Lily's - Dayton
- Rating: 4.1/5 (451 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 329 East 5th St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Lucky's Taproom & Eatery
- Rating: 4.1/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 520 East 5th St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Wheat Penny Oven and Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (446 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 515 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Cocktail Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Jimmy's Italian Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3002 Woodman Drive Kettering, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Troni's Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1314 East Dorothy Lane Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Meadowlark Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5531 Far Hills Ave. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Cherry House Café
- Rating: 4.2/5 (302 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1241 Meadowbridge Drive Beavercreek, Ohio
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Ajanta India Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3063 Woodman Drive Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Crossroads Biryani & Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1888 Colonel Glenn Hwy Fairborn, Ohio
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. India Chaat Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 984 Miamisburg-Centerville Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Table 33
- Rating: 4.2/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 45 West 4th St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Sky Asian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.2/5 (270 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4090 Wilmington Pike Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Nelly's A Taste of Bolivia
- Rating: 4.2/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 79 South Main St. Centerville, Ohio
- Categories: Latin American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Ray's Wine Spirits Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8268 North Main St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Wine Bars, Beer, Wine & Spirits, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Sueño
- Rating: 4.4/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 607 East 3rd St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Taqueria Mixteca
- Rating: 4.4/5 (586 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1609 East 3rd St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Fatback's Barbecue
- Rating: 4.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1334 Linden Ave. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Old Scratch Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (727 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 812 South Patterson Blvd. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Beer Bar, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Grist
- Rating: 4.8/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 46 West Fifth St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pasta Shops, Bakeries, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
