Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Cleveland by diners

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(STACKER) — 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.

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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 Cleveland 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!

#21. Turn Bar + Kitchen

– Rating: 3.7/5 (66 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1515 West Third St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Lounges, Wine Bars
– Read more on Yelp

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#20. Fahrenheit

– Rating: 3.7/5 (468 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 55 Public Square Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#19. Lago East Bank

– Rating: 3.9/5 (373 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1091 West 10th St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Italian, Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

#18. Red The Steakhouse

– Rating: 3.9/5 (354 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 417 Prospect Ave. East Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses, Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#17. Fat Cats

– Rating: 4.2/5 (457 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2061 West 10th St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Asian Fusion, Cocktail Bars
– Read more on Yelp

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#16. Avo Modern Mexican

– Rating: 4.2/5 (198 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2058 West 25th St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: New Mexican Cuisine, Cocktail Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#15. Jukebox

– Rating: 4.5/5 (126 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1404 West 29th St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Bars, Vegan, Gluten-Free
– Read more on Yelp

#14. Cleveland Chop

– Rating: 4.0/5 (493 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 824 West St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
– Read more on Yelp

#13. Acqua Di Luca

– Rating: 4.0/5 (85 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 500 West St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Seafood, Mediterranean, Wine Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#12. Osteria Italian

– Rating: 4.0/5 (178 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1801 East 9th St. Floor 1 Ohio Savings Plaza Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#11. Michaelangelo’s

– Rating: 4.0/5 (157 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 2198 Murray Hill Road Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#10. Dante

– Rating: 4.1/5 (437 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 2247 Professor Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: New American, Italian, Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#9. The Standard

– Rating: 4.1/5 (220 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 779 East 185th St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: French, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Moroccan
– Read more on Yelp

#8. Blue Point Grille

– Rating: 4.2/5 (560 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 700 West St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

#7. Casa La Luna

– Rating: 4.3/5 (462 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 2100 Superior Viaduct Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Italian, Bars, Gluten-Free
– Read more on Yelp

#6. Mia Bella Restaurant

– Rating: 4.3/5 (1003 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 12200 Mayfield Road Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Mediterranean, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#5. L’Albatros

– Rating: 4.4/5 (955 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 11401 Bellflower Road Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: French
– Read more on Yelp

#4. Amba

– Rating: 4.4/5 (215 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1430 West 28th St. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Indian
– Read more on Yelp

#3. Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar

– Rating: 4.4/5 (812 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 623 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Sushi Bars
– Read more on Yelp

#2. Il Venetian

– Rating: 4.6/5 (211 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 100 St. Clair Ave. Northeast Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean
– Read more on Yelp

#1. EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute

– Rating: 4.7/5 (343 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 13101 Shaker Sq Cleveland, Ohio
– Categories: French, Specialty Schools
– 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. Read more on this story at Stacker.com.

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