Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Columbia 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 Columbia 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!

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1 / 29

#29. Real Mexico Restaurant Y Tienda

- Rating: 4.5/5 (804 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2421 Bush River Road Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 29

#28. Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

- Rating: 3.7/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 Sparkleberry Crossing Road Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 29

#27. Pearlz Oyster Bar

- Rating: 3.8/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 936 Gervais St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 29

#26. Wild Crab

- Rating: 3.9/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 275 Park Terrace Drive Ste 200 Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 29

#25. Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Columbia

- Rating: 3.9/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 702 Cross Hill Road Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 29

#24. Blue Marlin

- Rating: 3.9/5 (782 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1200 Lincoln St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 29

#23. Market On Main

- Rating: 3.9/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1320 Main St. Ste 150 Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Specialty Food, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 29

#22. Baan Sawan Thai Bistro

- Rating: 4.0/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2135 Devine St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 29

#21. Gervais & Vine

- Rating: 4.0/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 620 Gervais St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Wine Bars, Mediterranean, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 29

#20. The War Mouth

- Rating: 4.0/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1209 Franklin St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 29

#19. Hampton Street Vineyard

- Rating: 4.0/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1207 Hampton St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: French, Brasseries
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 29

#18. The Melting Pot - Columbia

- Rating: 4.0/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1410 Colonial Life Blvd. West Ste 130 Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 29

#17. Arabesque

- Rating: 4.1/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2930 Devine St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 29

#16. Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse

- Rating: 4.1/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 410 Columbiana Drive Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 29

#15. Saluda's

- Rating: 4.1/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 751 Saluda Ave. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

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16 / 29

#14. Il Giorgione

- Rating: 4.1/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2406 Devine St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 29

#13. Tazza Kitchen Trenholm Plaza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4840 Forest Drive Ste 20 Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 29

#12. Tombo Grille

- Rating: 4.2/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4517 Forest Drive Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 29

#11. Bourbon

- Rating: 4.2/5 (645 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1214 Main St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Cocktail Bars, Whiskey Bars
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 29

#10. Motor Supply Co Bistro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (656 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 920 Gervais St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

21 / 29

#9. Cola's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (407 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1215 Assembly St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 29

#8. Halls Chophouse - Columbia

- Rating: 4.3/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1221 Main St. Ste 150 Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 29

#7. Hendrix

- Rating: 4.3/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1649 Main St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Bars, Tacos, New American
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 29

#6. Coa Agaveria Y Cocina

- Rating: 4.3/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 823-A Lady St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 29

#5. The Aristocrat

- Rating: 4.3/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1001 Washington St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Bars, Music Venues, New American
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 29

#4. Midwood Smokehouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (897 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 702 Cross Hill Road Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Barbecue, Smokehouse, American
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 29

#3. Mr Friendly's New Southern Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (383 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2001 Greene St. Ste A Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 29

#2. Di Vino Rosso

- Rating: 4.4/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 807 Gervais St. Ste 100 Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 29

#1. Goat's

- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2017 Devine St. Columbia, South Carolina
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Wine Bars
- 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.