Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the State College area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the State College 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 State College 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#16. Fuji Jade Garden & My Thai
- Rating: 2.5/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 287 Northland Center State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Japanese, Chinese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Champs Sports Bar & Grill
- Rating: 2.9/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1611 North Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Sports Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The Tavern
- Rating: 3.2/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 East College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, Desserts, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Duffy's Tavern
- Rating: 3.3/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 East Main St. Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Soup, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. American Ale House & Grill
- Rating: 3.3/5 (345 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 821 Cricklewood Drive State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Piano Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Corner Room
- Rating: 3.3/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Kelly's Steak and Seafood
- Rating: 3.3/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 316 Boal Ave. Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Sakura Sushi Bar & Asian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.5/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1525 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Gigi's Southern Table
- Rating: 3.5/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2080 Cato Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Barrel 21 Distillery And Dining
- Rating: 3.5/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2255 North Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Distilleries
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Allen Street Grill
- Rating: 3.6/5 (223 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 West College Ave. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Otto's Pub & Brewery
- Rating: 3.7/5 (663 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2235 North Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pubs, Breweries, American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. The Field Burger and Tap
- Rating: 3.8/5 (448 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 Country Club Lane State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Burgers, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Faccia Luna Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (413 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1229 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Chen's Mongolian Buffet
- Rating: 4.2/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1880 South Atherton St. State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mongolian, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Bistrozine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 409 East Calder Way State College, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Coffee & Tea, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
