Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Columbus 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 Columbus 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. Awadh India Restaurant

– Rating: 4.6/5 (215 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2584 Bethel Road Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Indian
– Read more on Yelp

#28. Nicola Restaurant and Bar

– Rating: 4.0/5 (205 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 4740 Reed Road Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#27. The Avenue Steak Tavern

– Rating: 4.0/5 (302 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1307 Grandview Ave. 3013 Ste 3013 Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Cocktail Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#26. Lincoln Social Rooftop

– Rating: 4.1/5 (274 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 711 North High St. Floor 9 Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: American
– Read more on Yelp

#25. York Steakhouse

– Rating: 4.1/5 (156 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 4220 West Broad St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

#24. Barcelona

– Rating: 4.1/5 (706 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 263 East Whittier St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp

#23. Veritas

– Rating: 4.1/5 (151 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 11 West Gay St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Cocktail Bars, American
– Read more on Yelp

#22. FYR Short North

– Rating: 4.1/5 (117 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 404 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Latin American, Steakhouses, American
– Read more on Yelp

#21. Marcella’s

– Rating: 4.2/5 (1052 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 615 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Italian, Tapas Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#20. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing

– Rating: 4.2/5 (1119 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 215 North 4th St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Breweries, New American, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp

#19. Sycamore

– Rating: 4.2/5 (453 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 262 East Sycamore St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Bars, American, Salad
– Read more on Yelp

#18. The 1126 Restaurant

– Rating: 4.2/5 (336 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1126 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Sushi Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#17. Watershed Kitchen & Bar

– Rating: 4.2/5 (351 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1145 Chesapeake Ave. Ste D Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
– Read more on Yelp

#16. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – Columbus

– Rating: 4.2/5 (412 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 89 East Nationwide Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

#15. Martini Modern Italian

– Rating: 4.2/5 (607 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 445 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#14. Lupo

– Rating: 4.3/5 (124 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 2124 Arlington Ave. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Tapas/Small Plates
– Read more on Yelp

#13. Service Bar

– Rating: 4.3/5 (139 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1230 Courtland Ave. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#12. High Bank Distillery

– Rating: 4.3/5 (765 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1051 Goodale Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#11. Third and Hollywood

– Rating: 4.4/5 (924 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1433 West 3rd Ave. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: New American
– Read more on Yelp

#10. Mitchell’s Ocean Club

– Rating: 4.4/5 (658 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 4002 Easton Station Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
– Read more on Yelp

#9. Ampersand Asian Supper Club

– Rating: 4.4/5 (288 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 940 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Ramen
– Read more on Yelp

#8. Basi Italia

– Rating: 4.4/5 (398 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 811 Highland St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#7. Rooh Columbus

– Rating: 4.4/5 (249 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 685 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Indian, Cocktail Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
– Read more on Yelp

#6. Pasqualone’s Ristorante

– Rating: 4.4/5 (123 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 5766 Emporium Sq Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp

#5. Plas Food and Drink

– Rating: 4.4/5 (123 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 21 East 5th Ave. Ste 101 Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp

#4. The Refectory Restaurant

– Rating: 4.4/5 (526 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 1092 Bethel Road Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: French, Wine Bars, Lounges
– Read more on Yelp

#3. Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria

– Rating: 4.5/5 (573 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 100 Granville St. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#2. Aubergine Private Dining Club

– Rating: 4.6/5 (9 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1265 Grandview Ave. Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp

#1. Kitchen Social

– Rating: 4.7/5 (938 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 8954 Lyra Drive Columbus, Ohio
– Categories: Cocktail Bars, 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.

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