Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Roanoke 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 Roanoke 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#14. Kabuki Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar
- Rating: 3.3/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3503 Franklin Road Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Taste of Asia
- Rating: 3.4/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3603 Franklin Road Southwest Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Thai, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Billy's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (348 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 102 Market St. Southeast Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Remini's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4210 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Luigi's Italian Gourmet
- Rating: 3.9/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3301 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Table 50
- Rating: 4.0/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 309 Market St. Southeast Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Regency Room
- Rating: 4.0/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 110 Shenandoah Ave. Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.0/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 104 South Jefferson St. Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Nawab Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.2/5 (266 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 118-A Campbell Ave. Southeast Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Alexander's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 105 South Jefferson St. Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Fortunato
- Rating: 4.3/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 Kirk Ave. Southwest Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Lucky Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (345 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 Kirk Ave. Southwest Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The River and Rail
- Rating: 4.4/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2201 Crystal Spring Ave. Southwest Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, New American, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Bernard's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 303 South Jefferson St. Southwest Roanoke, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Gastropubs
- 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.
