Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Washington, D.C. by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#28. Retrobottega
- Rating: 4.4/5 (289 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2435 18th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Rania
- Rating: 4.4/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 427 11th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Wine Bars, Indian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. RARE Steakhouse & Tavern
- Rating: 4.1/5 (387 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1595 I St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Fiola Mare
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1502 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 3050 K St. Northwest Ste 101 Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Seafood, Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. La Grande Boucherie
- Rating: 4.2/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 699 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: French, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Seven Reasons
- Rating: 4.2/5 (501 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 931 H St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Latin American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Opal
- Rating: 4.2/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5534 Connecticut Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. 1789 Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (811 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1226 36th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: American, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Filomena Ristorante
- Rating: 4.2/5 (3502 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1063 Wisconsin Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Pineapple & Pearls
- Rating: 4.3/5 (448 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 715 8th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Dabney
- Rating: 4.3/5 (854 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 122 Blagden Aly Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Gypsy Kitchen DC
- Rating: 4.3/5 (894 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1825 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#16. il Canale
- Rating: 4.3/5 (4806 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1065 31st St. Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Cranes Spanish Kaiseki
- Rating: 4.3/5 (694 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 724 9th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Lounges, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#14. ilili Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (549 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 District Square Southwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Halal
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Maydan
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1195 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1346 Florida Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Moroccan, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Purple Patch
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1429 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3155 Mt Pleasant St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Filipino, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. dLeña
- Rating: 4.4/5 (985 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 476 K St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Maiz 64
- Rating: 4.4/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1324 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Quill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1200 16th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Ambar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2245 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 523 8th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Chloe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (679 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1331 4th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Rose's Luxury
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2336 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 717 8th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Italian, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#5. minibar by José Andrés
- Rating: 4.5/5 (401 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 855 East St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Rooster & Owl
- Rating: 4.5/5 (469 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2436 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jont
- Rating: 4.5/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1904 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Mazi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (368 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1518 K St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Kappo DC
- Rating: 4.5/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4822 MacArthur Blvd. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: 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.
