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

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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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. Vidrio

- Rating: 4.2/5 (602 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 Glenwood Ave. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
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#28. Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing

- Rating: 4.3/5 (502 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 South Boylan Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, New American
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#27. Pro's Epicurean Ristorante

- Rating: 4.3/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 East Chatham St. Cary, North Carolina
- Categories: Modern European, French, Italian
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#26. Glenwood Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (388 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2603 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars, Seafood
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#25. Seasons 52

- Rating: 4.3/5 (536 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4325 Glenwood Ave. Ste 2100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Wine Bars
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#24. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (2060 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4208 Six Forks Road Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Burgers, Bars
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#23. Herons

- Rating: 4.3/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 100 Woodland Pond Drive Cary, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#22. Tazza Kitchen Village District

- Rating: 4.3/5 (633 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 432 Woodburn Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, New American, Cocktail Bars
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#21. Cape Fear Seafood Company

- Rating: 4.3/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2018 Clark Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, Sandwiches
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#20. Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken

- Rating: 4.3/5 (297 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4614 Capital Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Peruvian
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#19. La Santa Modern Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.4/5 (524 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 Glenwood Ave. Ste 107 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
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#18. Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (451 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7400 Six Forks Road Ste 2 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#17. Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie

- Rating: 4.4/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 518 Pershing Road Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, Breakfast & Brunch, Brasseries
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#16. O-Ku

- Rating: 4.4/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 411 West Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion
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#15. Seol Grille

- Rating: 4.4/5 (551 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2310 Walnut St. Cary, North Carolina
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue
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#14. Barcelona Wine Bar

- Rating: 4.4/5 (489 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 430 West Martin St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Wine Bars
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#13. Oak Steakhouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 417 West Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Seafood
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#12. Second Empire Restaurant And Tavern

- Rating: 4.4/5 (708 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 330 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars
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#11. Brewery Bhavana

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1525 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 218 South Blount St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Dim Sum, Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars
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#10. Crawford & Son

- Rating: 4.5/5 (329 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 618 North Person St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Diners, Bars
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#9. The Fiction Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (743 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2409 Crabtree Blvd. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
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#8. St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar

- Rating: 4.5/5 (459 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 223 South Wilmington St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Cajun/Creole
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#7. Bida Manda

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1876 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 South Blount St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Laotian, Asian Fusion, Thai
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#6. Sushi Mon

- Rating: 4.5/5 (424 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3800 Glenwood Ave. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
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#5. Stanbury

- Rating: 4.6/5 (452 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 938 North Blount St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New American
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#4. Karavan by 3 Olives

- Rating: 4.6/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1493 Garner Station Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Uzbek, Pizza, Italian
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#3. City Market Sushi

- Rating: 4.6/5 (364 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 Blake St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars
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#2. A Place At The Table

- Rating: 4.8/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 West Hargett St. Ste 50 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
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