Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Charlottesville by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. The Local
- Rating: 3.8/5 (566 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 824 Hinton Ave. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Carmello's Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 29th Place Court Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Vivace
- Rating: 3.8/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2244 Ivy Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Mas Tapas
- Rating: 3.9/5 (467 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 904 Monticello Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Tapas Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Bang!
- Rating: 3.9/5 (319 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 213 2nd St. Southwest Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Vegetarian, Asian Fusion, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Tastings
- Rating: 3.9/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 502 East Market St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Michie Tavern
- Rating: 3.9/5 (363 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 683 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Landmarks & Historical Buildings, American, Tours
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Continental Divide
- Rating: 3.9/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 811 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Hamiltons' At First and Main
- Rating: 4.0/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Petit Pois
- Rating: 4.0/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 East Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Zocalo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 East Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Burtons Grill & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (541 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2010 Bond St. The Shops at Stonefield Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Wood Grill Buffet
- Rating: 4.1/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 576 Branchlands Blvd. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#17. El Puerto
- Rating: 4.1/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2045 Barracks Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. mezeh
- Rating: 4.1/5 (219 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2015 Bond St. Ste 180 Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Mediterranean, Halal, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Melting Pot - Charlottesville
- Rating: 4.1/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 East Water St. Historic Downtown Mall Area Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Maya
- Rating: 4.1/5 (386 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 633 West Main St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Afghan Kabob Cville
- Rating: 4.1/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 Emmet St. North Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Afghan, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#12. tavola
- Rating: 4.1/5 (407 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 826 Hinton Ave. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (362 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 416 West Main St. Main St. Market Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Mediterranean, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Thai Cuisine & Noodle House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2005 Commonwealth Drive Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Duner's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4372 Ivy Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. C & O Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 515 East Water St. Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Alley Light
- Rating: 4.2/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 108 2nd St. Southwest Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, French
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Milan Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (376 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1817 Emmet St. North Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Lampo
- Rating: 4.3/5 (507 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Monticello Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Poke Sushi Bowl
- Rating: 4.4/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1104 Emmet St. North Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Poke, Ramen, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Kanak Indian Kitchen
- Rating: 4.6/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 385 Merchant Walk Square Ste 400 Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Ivy Inn
- Rating: 4.6/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2244 Old Ivy Road Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Fleurie Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 108 3rd St. Northeast Charlottesville, Virginia
- Categories: French
- 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.
