Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#26. Mayas Restaurant
- Rating: 3.6/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 537 East Little Creek Road Ste Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Salvadoran, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Hell's Kitchen
- Rating: 3.6/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 124 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Norfolk Seafood Company & Oyster Bar
- Rating: 3.6/5 (351 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 West Tazewell St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Gershwin's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (291 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 332 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. 456 Fish
- Rating: 3.8/5 (386 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 456 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Wine Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Rajput Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.8/5 (364 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 742 West 21st St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Island Krave
- Rating: 3.8/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 West 21st St. Ste J Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Leone's Italian
- Rating: 3.8/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 455 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Jessy's Taqueria
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1095 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3201 East Ocean View Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. A W Shucks Raw Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (655 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 Colonial Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bars, Live/Raw Food, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#16. My Mama's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (506 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7943 Shore Drive Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Barbecue, Chicken Wings, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Maymar Poke & Grill
- Rating: 4.8/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Maple Ave. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Poke, Filipino
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Regino's Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3816 East Little Creek Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Varia
- Rating: 3.9/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 East Main St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Luna Maya
- Rating: 3.9/5 (567 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2010 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Saltine
- Rating: 3.9/5 (773 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 East Main St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Mj's Tavern
- Rating: 3.9/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4019 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Gay Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Freemason Abbey Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (895 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 209 West Freemason St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Byrd & Baldwin Bros Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.1/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 116 Brooke Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Monastery Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 443 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Syd's FishPig Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 East Main St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Omar's Carriage House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 313 West Bute St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Mr. Shawarma
- Rating: 4.5/5 (692 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 725 West 21st St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Luce
- Rating: 4.5/5 (517 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 245 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Coach House Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.6/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5103 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Blanca
- Rating: 4.7/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4117 Granby St. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Modern European, Italian
- 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.
