Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Lexington 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鈥攁 French style of serving with a set menu鈥攂ecame 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 Lexington 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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#30. Texas de Brazil

- Rating: 4.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 151 Larue Ste 150 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Brazilian, Venues & Event Spaces
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#29. The Tulip Bistro & Bar

- Rating: 4.0/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 355 Romany Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Desserts, Diners, Cocktail Bars
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#28. Pasta Garage Italian Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (447 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 962 Delaware Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Vegan
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#27. Smithtown Seafood

- Rating: 4.1/5 (282 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 West 6th St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Seafood
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#26. Dudley's on Short

- Rating: 4.1/5 (297 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 259 West Short St. Ste 125 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Diners, Cocktail Bars
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#25. Malone's Hamburg

- Rating: 4.1/5 (514 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1920 Pleasant Ridge Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
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#24. Merrick Inn

- Rating: 4.1/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1074 Merrick Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
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#23. Ted's Montana Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2304 Sir Barton Way Ste 170 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Burgers, American, Steakhouses
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#22. Winchell's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 348 Southland Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Sports Bars
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#21. A P Suggins Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 345 Romany Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: New American, Burgers
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#20. Windy Corner Market

- Rating: 4.2/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4595 Bryan Station Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Delis, Gluten-Free
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#19. Distilled On Jefferson

- Rating: 4.2/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 157 Jefferson St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Southern, Bars
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#18. Epping's on Eastside

- Rating: 4.2/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 264 Walton Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Bars, New American
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#17. J2C Sichuan Bistro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 561 South Broadway Ste 140 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Szechuan
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#16. Thai Street Food Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3340 Clays Mill Road Ste 110 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion, Soup
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#15. Cheng's Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3101 Clays Mill Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Chinese
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#14. Bella Notte

- Rating: 4.2/5 (596 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3715 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian
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#13. Good Foods Co-op

- Rating: 4.3/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 455 Southland Drive Ste D Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Grocery, Buffets, Health Markets
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#12. Tony's of Lexington

- Rating: 4.3/5 (572 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 401 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
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#11. Harry's Hamburg

- Rating: 4.3/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1920 Pleasant Ridge Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Sports Bars, Burgers
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#10. Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano

- Rating: 4.3/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4456 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Beer Bar
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#9. Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (268 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3146 Mapleleaf Drive Ste 110 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Indian, Buffets, Seafood
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#8. Coles 735 Main

- Rating: 4.4/5 (304 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 735 East Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: New American
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#7. Sushi Blue

- Rating: 4.4/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 185 Pasadena Drive Ste 130 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen
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#6. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Lexington

- Rating: 4.4/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 101 West Vine St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, Seafood
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#5. Rosemont Station

- Rating: 4.5/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 Rosemont Garden Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Fast food
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#4. Carson's Food & Drink - On Main

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 362 East Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Steakhouses
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#3. Bella Cafe and Grille

- Rating: 4.6/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 890 East High St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#2. Minton's 760

- Rating: 4.6/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 701 National Ave. Kentucky, Kentucky
- Categories: New American
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#1. Dad's Favorites

- Rating: 4.8/5 (461 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 820 Lane Allen Road Ste 148 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Delis, Soup
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.

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