Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Bellingham 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 Bellingham 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#17. Jalapeno's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 2.9/5 (216 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1007 Harris Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Loft Restaurant
- Rating: 3.1/5 (313 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1801 Roeder Ave. Ste 120 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Jalapeños Family Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 West Holly St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Kuru Kuru Sushi
- Rating: 3.3/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11 Bellwether Way Ste 101 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Conveyor Belt Sushi
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Anthony's Hearthfire Grill – Squalicum Harbor
- Rating: 3.6/5 (296 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7 Bellwether Way Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Anthony's Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (302 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 25 Bellwether Way Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Lombardi's Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 21 Bellwether Way Ste 112 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Wanida Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 3.9/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1213 Dupont St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#9. El Agave Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 207 North Samish Way Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Pho Ly
- Rating: 4.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4151 Meridian St. Ste 113 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Black Cat
- Rating: 4.1/5 (418 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1200 Harris Ave. Ste 310 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: New American, Bars, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Rock and Rye Oyster House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (394 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1145 North State St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Temple Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 306 West Champion St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. D'anna's Cafe Italiano
- Rating: 4.2/5 (538 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1317 North State St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Hokkai Ramen & Sushi
- Rating: 4.3/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4277 Meridian St. Ste 102 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Carnal
- Rating: 4.5/5 (259 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1234 North State St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Thai Maison
- Rating: 4.5/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2430 James St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Thai, Salad, Noodles
- 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.
