Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in La Crosse 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 La Crosse 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#9. 4 Sisters Wine Bar and Tapas
- Rating: 3.7/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Harborview Plz Ste 100 La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Pogreba Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1232 Avon St. La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Freighthouse Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 107 Vine St. La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Hungry Peddler
- Rating: 3.9/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3429 Mormon Coulee Road La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Restaurant at Charmant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 State St. La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: French, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Le Chateau
- Rating: 4.3/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 410 Cass St. La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: French, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Digger's Sting Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 122 North 3rd St. La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern
- Rating: 4.4/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 328 Front St. South La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Lovechild Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 300 3rd St. South La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Categories: New 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.