Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#26. Scottie's On The River
- Rating: 3.6/5 (535 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 491 Riverfront Pkwy Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Nic & Norman's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1386 Market St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Sawasdee Thai Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4008 St. Elmo Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Hennen's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (400 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 193 Chestnut St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Alimentari
- Rating: 4.0/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 Pine St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Taconooga
- Rating: 4.1/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 207 A Frazier Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (735 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 212 High St. Bluff View Art District Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Rodizio Grill Chattanooga Hamilton Place
- Rating: 4.1/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Ste 201 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Boccaccia
- Rating: 4.1/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3077 Broad St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Bela Lisboa
- Rating: 4.1/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 417 Frazier Ave. Ste 104 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Portuguese, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Acropolis Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2213 Hamilton Place Blvd. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Lakeshore Grille
- Rating: 4.2/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5600 Lake Resort Ter Ste 300 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Boathouse Rotisserie & Raw Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (807 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1459 Riverside Drive Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. STIR
- Rating: 4.2/5 (797 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1444 Market St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Opa Greek Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (323 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 249 River St. Ste 0 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The FEED Co Table & Tavern
- Rating: 4.3/5 (929 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 West Main St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Bars, American, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Mayan Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (461 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 507 Broad St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Community Pie - Downtown
- Rating: 4.4/5 (727 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 850 Market St. Ste 100 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. SideTrack
- Rating: 4.4/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3514 Hixson Pike Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Public House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (924 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1110 Market St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Alleia
- Rating: 4.5/5 (767 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 25 East Main St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. St John's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1278 Market St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Giardino
- Rating: 4.5/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2503 Westside Drive Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Taqueria Jalisco - ANIA
- Rating: 4.6/5 (418 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1639 Rossville Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Calliope
- Rating: 4.8/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 422 East M L King Blvd. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Seafood, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Uncle Larry's
- Rating: 4.8/5 (226 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 736 Mlk Blvd. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Fish & Chips
- 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.
