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

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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Newark 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 Newark 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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#30. Faubourg

- Rating: 4.2/5 (829 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 544 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: French, Wine Bars
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#29. De Novo European Pub

- Rating: 4.2/5 (572 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 275 Bellevue Ave. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: American, Gastropubs
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#28. Giorgio's Ristorante

- Rating: 4.2/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 52 Vose Ave. South Orange, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Sandwiches
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#27. Turtle + The Wolf

- Rating: 4.2/5 (369 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 622 Valley Road Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Comfort Food
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#26. Lorena's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (317 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 160 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, New Jersey
- Categories: French
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#25. MIDSTONE Ventures

- Rating: 4.2/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 243 Elm St. Nwk, New Jersey
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Modern European
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#24. Ristorante da Benito

- Rating: 4.3/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 200 Walton Ave. Union, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian
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#23. Café Bello

- Rating: 4.3/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1044 Avenue C Bayonne, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian
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#22. Cellar 335

- Rating: 4.3/5 (807 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 335 Newark Ave. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Tiki Bars, Pan Asian
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#21. Bello's Pub & Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 376 Market St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: American, Gastropubs
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#20. Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 32 Branford Place Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Delis, Burgers, American
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#19. Laboratorio Kitchen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (488 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 615 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: New American, Gluten-Free, Italian
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#18. Bareli's Restaurant & Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 219 State Rt 3 Secaucus, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian, Bars, New American
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#17. Tops Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (4903 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 Passaic Ave. East Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#16. Artie's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (947 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 Newark Way Maplewood, New Jersey
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
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#15. Matisse 167

- Rating: 4.4/5 (483 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 167 Park Ave. Rutherford, New Jersey
- Categories: New American, French
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#14. 15 Fox Place

- Rating: 4.4/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 15 Fox Place Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian
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#13. Boschetto

- Rating: 4.4/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 Grove St. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#12. Q'tal Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.4/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3 Kearny Ave. Kearny, New Jersey
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Seafood
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#11. Prince & I

- Rating: 4.4/5 (533 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 80 Wayne St. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Thai, Creperies, Noodles
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#10. La Campagnola

- Rating: 4.4/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 520 South 31st St. Kenilworth, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian
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#9. The Bosphorus

- Rating: 4.4/5 (580 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 226 Franklin Ave. Nutley, New Jersey
- Categories: Mediterranean, Turkish, Halal
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#8. Matthew's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (693 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1131 Bloomfield Ave. Clifton, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian, Vegetarian, Seafood
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#7. La Fiamma

- Rating: 4.5/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 440 Harrison Ave. Harrison, New Jersey
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
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