Highest-rated restaurants in Utica 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 say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% 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 social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Utica, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. Iconic
- Rating: 4.1/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 102 Lafayette St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Salad
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#29. Pho Mekong House of Noodles
- Rating: 4.1/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 601 John St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Vietnamese, Noodles
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#28. Sunny Restaurant Asian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.1/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 530 Albany St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Thai, Chinese, Cambodian
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#27. Joel's Spanish Food
- Rating: 4.1/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1225 Park Ave. Utica, New York
- Categories: Spanish
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#26. Mi Casa Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1315 Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Dominican, Latin American, French
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#25. El Barajo Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 672 Bleeker St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Dominican, Breakfast & Brunch
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#24. Utica BBQ
- Rating: 4.2/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 244 Roosevelt Drive Utica, New York
- Categories: Barbecue
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#23. Sheri's Eastside Diner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 2199 Bleecker St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Diners
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#22. The Willows
- Rating: 4.3/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 Culver Ave. Utica, New York
- Categories: Italian, New American
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#21. Ventura's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 787 Lansing St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Italian
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#20. Rick's Famous
- Rating: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 421 Broad St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Burgers
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#19. The Tailor and the Cook
- Rating: 4.5/5 (350 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 311 Main St. Utica, New York
- Categories: New American, Bars
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#18. Willie's Bagel Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 219 North Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Sandwiches
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#17. One Arabian Night - Marib Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 706 Varick St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Halal
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#16. Motus
- Rating: 4.6/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 234 Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Gastropubs, New American
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#15. Joe's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 927 Jay St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Bars, Italian
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#14. Tramontane Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1105 Lincoln Ave. Utica, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
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#13. Daniele 's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1556 Mohawk St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Italian, American
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#12. Nina's Pizza
- Rating: 4.6/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
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#11. Joey's 307
- Rating: 4.6/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 307 Mohawk St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#10. Craylee's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 237 Bleecker St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#9. Mello's Subs
- Rating: 4.7/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 242 Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: American, Turkish, Sandwiches
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#8. Roma Sausage
- Rating: 4.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2029 Bleecker St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Meat Shops, Bakeries, Italian
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#7. Ambassador Restaurant
- Rating: 4.8/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 537 Albany St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Italian
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#6. Rooster's
- Rating: 4.8/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 51 North Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: New American, Burgers
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#5. Zeina's Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 607 Varick St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Turkish
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#4. Nanabi
- Rating: 4.9/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 106 Bleecker St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Bubble Tea, Chicken Shop
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#3. Trattoria Calabria
- Rating: 4.9/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 706 Culver Ave. Utica, New York
- Categories: Italian
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#2. Golden's
- Rating: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 244 Genesee St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Creperies
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#1. Yummilicious Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 5.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 1600 Rutger St. Utica, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
