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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
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Yelp
#7. Lorenzo's Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.6/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1753 East University Ave. Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
Yelp
#6. Sunset Grill
- Rating: 3.7/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1274 Golf Club Road Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: Bars, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
Yelp
#5. India Hut
- Rating: 3.8/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1605 South Solano Drive Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
Yelp
#4. Luna Rossa Winery and Pizzeria
- Rating: 3.9/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1321 Avenida De Mesilla Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: Italian, Wineries, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
Yelp
#3. Sí Señor
- Rating: 3.9/5 (394 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1551 East Amador Ave. Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: Mexican, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
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Yelp
#2. Salud de Mesilla
- Rating: 4.0/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1800 Avenida De Mesilla Ste B Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
Yelp
#1. Habanero's Fresh Mex
- Rating: 4.5/5 (326 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 East Amador Ave. Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Categories: Mexican
- 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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