Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Appleton 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 Appleton 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#19. Good Company
- Rating: 2.8/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 North Richmond Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Victorias Italian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.5/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 503 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. TJ Thai & Japanese Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.7/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4025 East Lorna Lane Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Japanese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Vince Lombardi's Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.8/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 333 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#15. George's Steak House
- Rating: 3.8/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2208 South Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Piano Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The Melting Pot
- Rating: 3.9/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2295 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (275 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 West Water St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, New American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Katsu-ya of Japan
- Rating: 4.0/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 338 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Stone Arch Brewpub
- Rating: 4.0/5 (406 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1004 South Olde Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Gastropubs, Breweries
- Read more on Yelp
#10. The Red Ox
- Rating: 4.0/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2318 South Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Nakashima of Japan
- Rating: 4.1/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4100 West Pine St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. India Darbar Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2333 West Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Sangria's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Draft Gastropub
- Rating: 4.2/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 664 West Ridgeview Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Basil Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (248 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1513 North Richmond St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vietnamese, Thai, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Carmella's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (445 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 716 North Casaloma Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. OB's Brau Haus
- Rating: 4.6/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 523 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Dance Clubs, German, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Apollon
- Rating: 4.6/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 207 North Appleton St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Author's Kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 4.8/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 East College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, American
- 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.
