Highest-rated restaurants in Appleton by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Appleton, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#30. Draft Gastropub
- Rating: 4.5/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 664 West Ridgeview Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Sangria's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Luigi's Pizza of Appleton
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1835 East Edgewood Drive Ste 104 Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Meade Street Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 2729 North Meade St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Seafood, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#26. The Tipsy Taco & Tequila Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 129 South Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Basil Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1513 North Richmond St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vietnamese, Thai, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Thai Ginger Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1619 West College Ave. Ste F Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Thai, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Urban Modern Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 800 East Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine, New American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Mark's East Side
- Rating: 4.5/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1405 East Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, German, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Copper Rock Coffee Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 West College Ave. Ste B Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#20. My Lee's Egg Roll House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 North Richmond St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Snaps Wraps
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 3305 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Wraps, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Tempest Coffee Collective
- Rating: 4.5/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 181 South Riverheath Way Ste 1100 Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Taco House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 135 East Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Schreiner's Diner
- Rating: 4.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2437 South Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Camelot Bar and Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 East Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Carmella's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (426 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 716 North Casaloma Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Home Burger Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Karaoke, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mai's Deli
- Rating: 4.5/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 South Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Delis, Asian Fusion, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Ellinor
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 1016 East Pacific St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Fronteras Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 2311 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Jerk Joint
- Rating: 4.5/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 1619 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Soul Food, Comfort Food, Trinidadian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. SAP
- Rating: 4.5/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 708 North Casaloma Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#7. ACOCA Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#6. OB's Brau Haus
- Rating: 4.5/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 523 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Dance Clubs, German, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Josef's Gyros Kabob
- Rating: 4.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 118 Soldiers Sq Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Mill City Public House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 1103 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Burgers, Wine Bars, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Apollon
- Rating: 4.5/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 207 North Appleton St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Hop Yard Ale Works
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 512 West Northland Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Breweries, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Author's Kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (111 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 Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.