Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Tavo's Signature Cuisine
- Rating: 4.7/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5814 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Onesto
- Rating: 4.1/5 (599 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 221 North Broadway Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Goodkind
- Rating: 4.1/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2457 South Wentworth Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Soul Food, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Stella Van Buren
- Rating: 4.2/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 550 North Van Buren St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Birch
- Rating: 4.2/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 459 East Pleasant St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Five O'Clock Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.2/5 (609 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2416 West State St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Movida
- Rating: 4.2/5 (634 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 600 South 6th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Buckley's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (394 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 801 North Cass St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. The Diplomat
- Rating: 4.3/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 815 East Brady St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Tess
- Rating: 4.3/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2499 North Bartlett Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Braise
- Rating: 4.3/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1101 South 2nd St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro
- Rating: 4.3/5 (390 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3133 East Newberry Blvd. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Zarletti
- Rating: 4.3/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 741 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Strange Town
- Rating: 4.3/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2101 North Prospect Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vegan, Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Amilinda
- Rating: 4.3/5 (254 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 East Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Portuguese, Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Saffron Modern Indian Dining
- Rating: 4.3/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 223 North Water St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Carnevor Steakhouse Moderne
- Rating: 4.4/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 718 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Lupi & Iris
- Rating: 4.4/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 777 North Van Buren St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wine Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Third Coast Provisions
- Rating: 4.4/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 724 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 925 East Wells St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#9. La Merenda
- Rating: 4.4/5 (760 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 East National Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Ardent
- Rating: 4.4/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1751 North Farwell Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Sorella
- Rating: 4.5/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2535 South Kinnickinnic Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Sanford Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (262 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1547 North Jackson St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Odd Duck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (958 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 939 South 2nd St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Vegetarian, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Story Hill BKC
- Rating: 4.6/5 (780 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5100 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Lebnani House
- Rating: 4.6/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5051 South 27th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Arabic
- Read more on Yelp
#2. EsterEv
- Rating: 4.6/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2165 South Kinnickinnic Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Morel
- Rating: 4.6/5 (299 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 430 South 2nd St. Milwaukee, 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.
