Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Richmond 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 Richmond 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Southbound
- Rating: 3.9/5 (421 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3036 Stony Point Road Stony Point Shopping Center Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Sabai
- Rating: 3.9/5 (606 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2727 West Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Bars, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Edo's Squid
- Rating: 3.9/5 (822 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 411 North Harrison St. Floor 2 Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#26. La Grotta Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 529 East Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Metzger Bar and Butchery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 North 23rd St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: German
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Toast, New American Gastropub at the Village
- Rating: 4.0/5 (784 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7007 Three Chopt Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#23. ML Steak Modern Chophouse
- Rating: 4.1/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 328 East Broad St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Brenner Pass
- Rating: 4.1/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3200 Rockbridge St. Ste 100 Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Modern European, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Amuse Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 North Blvd. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Old Original Bookbinders
- Rating: 4.1/5 (469 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2306 East Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Julep's New Southern Cuisine
- Rating: 4.2/5 (328 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 420 East Grace St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, Whiskey Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Buckhead's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 8510 Patterson Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#17. The Roosevelt
- Rating: 4.2/5 (602 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 623 North 25th St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Mantu
- Rating: 4.3/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 South Thompson St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Afghan, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Half Way House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 10301 Rte 1 Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Shagbark
- Rating: 4.3/5 (462 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4901 Libbie Mill East Blvd. Ste 175 Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Lemaire Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (355 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 101 West Franklin St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Restaurant Adarra
- Rating: 4.3/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 618 North 1st St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Lolita's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2929 West Cary St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Belmont Food Shop
- Rating: 4.3/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 27 North Belmont Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Casa Italiana
- Rating: 4.3/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8801 Three Chopt Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Alewife
- Rating: 4.4/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3120 East Marshall St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Laura Lee's
- Rating: 4.4/5 (404 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3410 Semmes Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Grapevine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (434 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11055 Three Chopt Road Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#5. L'Opossum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (412 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 626 China St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American, French, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Heritage
- Rating: 4.5/5 (685 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1627 West Main St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Lillie Pearl
- Rating: 4.5/5 (585 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 418 East Grace St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Stables
- Rating: 4.5/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 North Belmont Ave. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Stella's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1079 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1012 Lafayette St. Richmond, Virginia
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, 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.
