Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Charlottesville area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Bang!
- Rating: 3.9/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 213 2nd St. Southwest Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Vegetarian, Asian Fusion, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Bizou
- Rating: 3.9/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 119 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Michie Tavern
- Rating: 3.9/5 (388 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 683 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Landmarks & Historical Buildings, American, Tours
- Read more on Yelp
#27. The Fitzroy
- Rating: 3.9/5 (227 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 East Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Continental Divide
- Rating: 3.9/5 (231 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 811 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Farm Bell Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (471 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1209 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Hamiltons' At First and Main
- Rating: 4.0/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Mellow Mushroom Charlottesville
- Rating: 4.0/5 (337 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1321 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Pizza, Bars, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Melting Pot - Charlottesville
- Rating: 4.0/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 Historic Downtown Mall Area East Water St. Historic Downtown Mall Area Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Petit Pois
- Rating: 4.0/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 East Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#20. mezeh
- Rating: 4.0/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2015 Bond St. Ste 180 Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Mediterranean, Halal, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Burtons Grill & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (599 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2010 Bond St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Wood Grill Buffet
- Rating: 4.0/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 576 Branchlands Blvd. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Zocalo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (291 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 East Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Maya
- Rating: 4.1/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 633 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#15. El Puerto
- Rating: 4.1/5 (95 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2045 Barracks Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. tavola
- Rating: 4.1/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 826 Hinton Ave. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Afghan Kabob Cville
- Rating: 4.1/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 Emmet St. North Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Afghan, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Duner's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4372 Ivy Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (391 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 416 West Main St. Main St. Market Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Mediterranean, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Thai Cuisine & Noodle House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2005 Commonwealth Drive Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#9. C & O Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (302 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 515 East Water St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Milan Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1817 Emmet St. North Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Alley Light
- Rating: 4.3/5 (332 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 108 2nd St. Southwest Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, French
- Read more on Yelp
#6. LW's Livery Stable
- Rating: 4.3/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Old Preston Ave. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Lampo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (534 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Monticello Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Poke Sushi Bowl
- Rating: 4.3/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1104 Emmet St. North Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Poke, Ramen, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Kanak Indian Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 385 Merchant Walk Square Ste 400 Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Ivy Inn
- Rating: 4.5/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2244 Old Ivy Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Fleurie Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 108 3rd St. Northeast Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
