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 Hattiesburg 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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#5. Bourbon On Front

– Rating: 3.3/5 (12 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 206 West Front St. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
– Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Whiskey Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#4. Patio 44

– Rating: 3.9/5 (217 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3822 West 4th St. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
– Categories: Cajun/Creole, New American, Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

#3. Glory Bound Gyro

– Rating: 4.0/5 (131 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 6174 US Hwy 49 Hattiesburg, Mississippi
– Categories: Salad, Falafel, Desserts
– Read more on Yelp

#2. Half Shell Oyster House

– Rating: 4.2/5 (167 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 6555 Hwy 98 West Ste A Hattiesburg, Mississippi
– Categories: Seafood, Southern, Cajun/Creole
– Read more on Yelp

#1. Jutamas Thai Restaurant

– Rating: 4.5/5 (270 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 910 Timothy Lane Hattiesburg, Mississippi
– Categories: Thai
– 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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