Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Memphis 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 Memphis 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#25. Ciao Bella Italian Grill and Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5101 Sanderlin Ste 100 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Ronnie Grisanti's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6150 Poplar Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Sage Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 94 South Main St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Casablanca Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (422 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5030 Poplar Ave. Ste 7 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Beauty Shop Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (685 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 966 South Cooper St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. ACRE
- Rating: 4.1/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 690 South Perkins Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Hog & Hominy
- Rating: 4.1/5 (701 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 707 West Brookhaven Cir Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Southern, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Napa Café
- Rating: 4.1/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5101 Sanderlin Ave. Ste 122 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Char Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 431 South Highland St. Ste 120 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Flava Shack Seafood
- Rating: 4.2/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4780 Riverdale Road Ste 11 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Restaurant Iris
- Rating: 4.2/5 (331 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4550 Poplar Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, French
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Catherine and Mary's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (326 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 272 South Main St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Modern European, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. ECCO on Overton Park
- Rating: 4.3/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1585 Overton Park Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Modern European, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Marciano
- Rating: 4.3/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 780 East Brookhaven Cir Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 712 West Brookhaven Cir Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Folks Folly Prime Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.3/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 551 South Mendenhall Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Erling Jensen The Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1044 South Yates Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: French, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Tsunami Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 928 South Cooper St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Tapas/Small Plates, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#7. McEwen's Memphis
- Rating: 4.4/5 (590 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Monroe Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Itta Bena
- Rating: 4.4/5 (472 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 145 Beale St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Southern, Venues & Event Spaces, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Chez Philippe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 149 Union Ave. Ste 8 The Peabody Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Coastal Fish Company
- Rating: 4.6/5 (552 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 415 Great View Drive East Ste 101 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1533 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 39 South Main St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Wine Bars, Venues & Event Spaces, American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Porch and Parlor
- Rating: 4.6/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2125 Madison St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Julles Posh Food Co
- Rating: 4.8/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6300 Poplar Ave. Ste 110 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Gluten-Free, Caterers
- 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.
