Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Providence by diners

Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's 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 at the 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 chef's 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 to choose from, 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 Providence 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 Aug. 19, 2024.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

1 / 29

#29. Andino's

- Rating: 3.9/5 (708 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 171 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 29

#28. Cassarino's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (430 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 177 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 29

#27. Mokban Korean Bistro

- Rating: 4.0/5 (493 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 217 Westminster St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Korean, Noodles, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 29

#26. Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen

- Rating: 4.0/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 29

#25. Rosalina

- Rating: 4.0/5 (498 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 50 Aborn St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 29

#24. Providence Coal Fired Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (772 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 385 Westminster St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 29

#23. Mill's Tavern

- Rating: 4.0/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 101 North Main St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 29

#22. The Congress Tavern

- Rating: 4.0/5 (239 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 62 Orange St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 29

#21. Cafe Nuovo

- Rating: 4.1/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1 Citizens Plz Ste 1000 Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 29

#20. Sarto Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 86 Dorrance St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 29

#19. Al Forno Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (724 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 577 South Water St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 29

#18. Circe Restaurant & Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (469 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 50 Weybosset St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 29

#17. CAV Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (588 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 14 Imperial Place Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 29

#16. Oberlin

- Rating: 4.1/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 266 Westminster St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 29

#15. Wara Wara

- Rating: 4.2/5 (373 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 776 Hope St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Japanese, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 29

#14. New Rivers

- Rating: 4.2/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 7 Steeple St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 29

#13. Providence Oyster Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (716 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 283 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 29

#12. Pane E Vino

- Rating: 4.2/5 (518 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 365 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 29

#11. Hemenway's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1055 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 121 South Main St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 29

#10. Camille's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 71 Bradford St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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21 / 29

#9. Anthony's Authentic Italian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 441 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Bars, Italian, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 29

#8. Massimo Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (963 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 134 Atwells Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 29

#7. Waterman Grille

- Rating: 4.3/5 (725 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4 Richmond Sq Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 29

#6. The Slow Rhode

- Rating: 4.4/5 (270 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 425 West Fountain St. Ste 106 Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Southern, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 29

#5. Needle & Thread

- Rating: 4.4/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 45 Peck St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Speakeasies, Cocktail Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

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26 / 29

#4. Gracie's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (772 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 194 Washington St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 29

#3. Persimmon

- Rating: 4.4/5 (359 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 99 Hope St. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: New American, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 29

#2. Los Andes Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 903 Chalkstone Ave. Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Latin American, Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 29

#1. Vino Veritas

- Rating: 4.6/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 486 Broadway Providence, Rhode Island
- Categories: Wine Bars, American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.