Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in the Chicago Area by Diners

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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Chicago area by diners

Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all 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 and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, 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 chefs' 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, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Chicago area using data from . 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 June 25, 2025.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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#29. Alla Vita

- Rating: 4.4/5 (713 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 564 West Randolph St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
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#28. Kumiko

- Rating: 4.4/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 630 West Lake St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Japanese, Cocktail Bars
-

#27. Alinea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2714 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1723 North Halsted St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Modern European
-

#26. Ocean Prime

- Rating: 4.4/5 (406 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 87 East Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
-

#25. Sapori Trattoria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2992 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2701 North Halsted St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
-

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#24. Girl & The Goat

- Rating: 4.4/5 (10467 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 809 West Randolph Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Bars, Bakeries
-

#23. La Grande Boucherie

- Rating: 4.4/5 (509 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 431 North Dearborn St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, French, Cocktail Bars
-

#22. Wagyu House by The X Pot

- Rating: 4.4/5 (731 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1147 South Delano Court East Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Hot Pot, Japanese, Barbecue
-

#21. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

- Rating: 4.4/5 (3147 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 60 East Grand Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
-

#20. Indienne

- Rating: 4.4/5 (255 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 217 West Huron St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Cocktail Bars
-

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#19. Aba

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1825 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 302 North Green St. Floor 3 Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mediterranean, Tapas/Small Plates
-

#18. Monteverde

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1415 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1020 West Madison St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Wine Bars
-

#17. Eden

- Rating: 4.5/5 (406 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2734 West Roscoe St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars
-

#16. Butcher and the Bear

- Rating: 4.5/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2721 North Halsted St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Burgers
-

#15. Kasama

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1168 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1001 North Winchester Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Filipino, Bakeries, New American
-

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#14. EVER

- Rating: 4.5/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1340 West Fulton St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American
-

#13. EL Ideas

- Rating: 4.5/5 (395 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2419 West 14th St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American
-

#12. Trivoli Tavern

- Rating: 4.5/5 (794 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 114 North Green St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: American
-

#11. Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3366 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 218 West Kinzie Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Bars
-

#10. Gretel

- Rating: 4.5/5 (402 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2833 West Armitage Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Speakeasies
-

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#9. The Evie

- Rating: 4.6/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 537 North Michigan Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: American, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
-

#8. Dear Margaret

- Rating: 4.6/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2965 North Lincoln Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: French, Comfort Food, Desserts
-

#7. jeong

- Rating: 4.6/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1460 West Chicago Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Korean, New American
-

#6. Goosefoot

- Rating: 4.6/5 (343 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4520 North Lincoln Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American
-

#5. Ciccio Mio

- Rating: 4.7/5 (564 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 226 West Kinzie Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
-

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#4. Amaru

- Rating: 4.7/5 (449 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1904 West North Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Latin American, Caribbean, Cocktail Bars
-

#3. Teatro ZinZanni

- Rating: 4.7/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 32 West Randolph St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Dinner Theater, Music Venues, Comedy Clubs
-

#2. Oriole

- Rating: 4.7/5 (424 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 661 West Walnut St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: New American
-

#1. Penumbra

- Rating: 4.8/5 (987 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3309 West Fullerton Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Wine Bars, Seafood, Steakhouses
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.