Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Philadelphia area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Spice Finch
- Rating: 4.3/5 (502 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 South 17th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Morimoto
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2207 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 723 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Via Locusta
- Rating: 4.3/5 (408 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1723 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Barbuzzo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3394 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 110 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Elia Greek Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 264 North Keswick Ave. Glenside, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Lark
- Rating: 4.3/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 611 Righters Ferry Road Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Double Knot
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1523 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Laurel
- Rating: 4.3/5 (388 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1617 East Passyunk Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: French, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Gran Caffe L'Aquila
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1590 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1716 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Italian, Gelato
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Little Fish
- Rating: 4.4/5 (586 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 746 South 6th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Chef Vargas
- Rating: 4.4/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7900 Old York Road Elkins Park House Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Vernick Fish
- Rating: 4.4/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1876 Arch St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood, Desserts, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Butcher and Singer
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1559 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1500 Walnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Helm
- Rating: 4.4/5 (268 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1303 North 5th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Love
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1186 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 South 18th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Alpen Rose
- Rating: 4.4/5 (337 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 116 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Forsythia
- Rating: 4.4/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 233 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Modern European, French, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Barclay Prime
- Rating: 4.4/5 (975 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 237 South 18th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Middle Child Clubhouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (333 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1232 North Front St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Darling Jack's Tavern
- Rating: 4.4/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 South 13th St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Vetri Cucina
- Rating: 4.4/5 (576 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1312 Spruce St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Talula's Garden
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2422 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 210 West Washington Sq Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Vernick Food & Drink
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1139 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2031 Walnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Laser Wolf
- Rating: 4.5/5 (532 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1301 North Howard St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Suraya
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1661 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1528 Frankford Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Lebanese, Specialty Food, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Fiorino
- Rating: 4.5/5 (460 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3572 Indian Queen Lane Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Zahav
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3569 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 237 St. James Place Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jansen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 7402 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Friday Saturday Sunday
- Rating: 4.6/5 (403 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 261 South 21st St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Sky Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1122-38 Washington Ave. Ste B Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Indonesian, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
