Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Nashville 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 Nashville 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Folk
- Rating: 4.2/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 823 Meridian St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Hall's Chophouse
- Rating: 4.3/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1600 West End Ave. St. 101 Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Lockeland Table
- Rating: 4.3/5 (736 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1520 Woodland St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Henrietta Red
- Rating: 4.3/5 (574 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1200 4th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Rolf and Daughters
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1051 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 700 Taylor St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Peninsula
- Rating: 4.3/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1035 West Eastland Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Portuguese, Spanish, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The Hampton Social - Nashville
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1603 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 1st Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Standard At The Smith House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (381 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 167 Rosa L Parks Blvd. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Piano Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Luogo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 211 12th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#20. 5th & Taylor
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1432 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1411 5th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Oak Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (455 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 801 Clark Place Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Chef and I
- Rating: 4.4/5 (627 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1922 Adelicia St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Southern, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Lyra
- Rating: 4.4/5 (318 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 935 West Eastland Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Darfons Restaurant & Lounge
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2810 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Lounges, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The River House
- Rating: 4.4/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 313 Demonbreun St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Sushi Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The Optimist - Nashville
- Rating: 4.4/5 (424 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1400 Adams St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Stillery
- Rating: 4.4/5 (3526 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 2nd Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Skull's Rainbow Room
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1405 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 222 Printers Aly Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (846 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 201 8th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Etc Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3790 Bedford Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Hathorne
- Rating: 4.5/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4708 Charlotte Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse- Nashville
- Rating: 4.5/5 (705 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 300 4th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Sixty Vines
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1051 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5055 Broadway Place Ste 3200 Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Answer
- Rating: 4.5/5 (355 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 132 46th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Bastion
- Rating: 4.5/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 434 Houston St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Locust
- Rating: 4.5/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2305 12th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Shaved Ice, Noodles, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#3. etch
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1742 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 303 Demonbreun St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Catbird Seat
- Rating: 4.5/5 (482 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1711 Division St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Gannons Nashville
- Rating: 4.6/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 170 4th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Cocktail 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.
