Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Milwaukee area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Movida
- Rating: 4.2/5 (682 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 600 South 6th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Buckley's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (417 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 801 North Cass St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Braise
- Rating: 4.2/5 (380 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1101 South 2nd St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Mo's A Place For Steaks
- Rating: 4.2/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 720 North Plankinton Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro
- Rating: 4.3/5 (420 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3133 East Newberry Blvd. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Strange Town
- Rating: 4.3/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2101 North Prospect Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vegan, Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Amilinda
- Rating: 4.3/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 East Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Portuguese, Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Eddie Martini's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (254 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 8612 West Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Zarletti
- Rating: 4.3/5 (327 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 741 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Le Reve Patisserie & Café
- Rating: 4.3/5 (729 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7610 Harwood Ave. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bakeries, French, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Carnevor Steakhouse Moderne
- Rating: 4.4/5 (282 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 718 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Saffron Modern Indian Dining
- Rating: 4.4/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 223 North Water St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Oscar's Pub & Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (894 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1712 West Pierce St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Pubs, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Third Coast Provisions
- Rating: 4.4/5 (298 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 724 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 925 East Wells St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#14. St Paul Fish Company
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1454 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 North Water St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Seafood, Seafood Markets
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Sorella
- Rating: 4.4/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2535 South Kinnickinnic Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. La Merenda
- Rating: 4.4/5 (787 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 East National Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Three Brothers Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2414 South St. Clair St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Desserts, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Lupi & Iris
- Rating: 4.4/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 777 North Van Buren St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wine Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Sanford Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1547 North Jackson St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Odd Duck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1003 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 939 South 2nd St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Vegetarian, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Swingin' Door Exchange
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 219 East Michigan St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Story Hill BKC
- Rating: 4.6/5 (812 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5100 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Lebnani House
- Rating: 4.6/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5051 South 27th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Arabic
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Morel
- Rating: 4.6/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 430 South 2nd St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Ca'Lucchenzo
- Rating: 4.6/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6030 West North Ave. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pasta Shops, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Santino's Little Italy
- Rating: 4.7/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 352 East Stewart St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Tavo's Signature Cuisine
- Rating: 4.7/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5814 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
