Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Austin 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 Austin 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Comedor
- Rating: 4.2/5 (471 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 Colorado St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Mattie's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (401 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 811 West Live Oak St. Green Pastures Austin, Texas
- Categories: American, Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Bulevar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 9400 Arboretum Blvd. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. III Forks
- Rating: 4.2/5 (663 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 111 Lavaca St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Juniper
- Rating: 4.2/5 (691 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2400 East Cesar Chavez St. Ste 304 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab
- Rating: 4.3/5 (719 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 10225 Research Blvd. Ste 4000 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Loro
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2314 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2115 South Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Smokehouse, Asian Fusion, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Carillon
- Rating: 4.3/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1900 University Ave. Austin, Texas
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. TenTen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (484 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 West 6th St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Salty Sow
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3311 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1917 Manor Road Austin, Texas
- Categories: American, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Odd Duck
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2272 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1201 South Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Suerte
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1135 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1800 East 6th St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Barley Swine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1238 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 6555 Burnet Road Ste 400 Austin, Texas
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Aba
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1490 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1011 South Congress Ave. Bldg 2, Ste 180 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Mediterranean, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Jack Allen's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.4/5 (2071 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7720 Highway 71 West Austin, Texas
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1082 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 300 Colorado St. Ste 100 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Uchi Austin
- Rating: 4.4/5 (3020 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 801 South Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Jaipur Palace
- Rating: 4.4/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9900 Sih 35 Frontage Road Ste P900 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Qi Austin
- Rating: 4.4/5 (738 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 835 West 6th St. Unit 114 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Dim Sum
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Red Ash
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1331 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 303 Colorado St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#9. French Quarter Grille
- Rating: 4.4/5 (847 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13000 I 35 Ste 600 Austin, Texas
- Categories: American, Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Simar Seafood & Steak
- Rating: 4.4/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9503 Research Blvd. Unit 400 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. J Prime Steakhouse - Austin
- Rating: 4.5/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 301 Brazos St. Ste 150 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Gangnam Korean BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (317 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1100 Little Texas Lane Austin, Texas
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. J Carver's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 509 Rio Grande St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Intero Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (528 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2612 East Cesar Chavez St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Fabrik - Austin
- Rating: 4.8/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1701 East Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Ste 102 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Apt 115
- Rating: 4.8/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2025 East 7th St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Tsuke Edomae
- Rating: 4.9/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4600 Mueller Blvd. Ste 1035 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- 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.
