Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Appleton 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 Appleton 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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1 / 27

#27. Good Company

- Rating: 2.9/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 North Richmond Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
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2 / 27

#26. Pullmans At Trolley Square

- Rating: 3.2/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 619 South Old Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Pizza, Tapas/Small Plates
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3 / 27

#25. Victorias Italian Cuisine

- Rating: 3.4/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 503 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
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4 / 27

#24. The Machine Shed - Appleton

- Rating: 3.5/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 Fox River Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts
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5 / 27

#23. George's Steak House

- Rating: 3.5/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2208 South Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Piano Bars, American
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6 / 27

#22. TJ Thai & Japanese Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.7/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4025 East Lorna Lane Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Japanese, Thai
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7 / 27

#21. Vince Lombardi's Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.7/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 333 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses
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8 / 27

#20. The Melting Pot

- Rating: 3.8/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2295 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Fondue
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9 / 27

#19. Zacatecas Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 145 West Wisconsin Ave. Neenah, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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10 / 27

#18. Cinders Charcoal Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 221 South Kensington Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Burgers, Steakhouses, Bars
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11 / 27

#17. Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (294 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 West Water St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, New American, Pizza
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12 / 27

#16. Katsu-ya of Japan

- Rating: 3.9/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 338 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
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13 / 27

#15. Red Ox Seafood and Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.9/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2318 South Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
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14 / 27

#14. Zuppas Market Cafe and Catering

- Rating: 3.9/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1540 South Commercial St. Neenah, Wisconsin
- Categories: Delis, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
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15 / 27

#13. Stone Arch Brewpub

- Rating: 4.0/5 (435 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1004 South Olde Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Gastropubs, Breweries
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16 / 27

#12. Rye

- Rating: 4.0/5 (185 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 308 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Comfort Food
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17 / 27

#11. Nakashima of Japan

- Rating: 4.1/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4100 West Pine St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sushi Bars
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18 / 27

#10. Sangria's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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19 / 27

#9. India Darbar Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2333 West Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Indian
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20 / 27

#8. Draft Gastropub

- Rating: 4.3/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 664 West Ridgeview Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Gastropubs
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21 / 27

#7. Basil Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1513 North Richmond St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vietnamese, Thai, Asian Fusion
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22 / 27

#6. Town Council Kitchen and Bar

- Rating: 4.4/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 133 West Wisconsin Ave. Neenah, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, New American
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23 / 27

#5. Mai's Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (254 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 South Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Delis, Asian Fusion, Thai
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24 / 27

#4. Carmella's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (472 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 716 North Casaloma Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
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25 / 27

#3. OB's Brau Haus

- Rating: 4.6/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 523 West College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Dance Clubs, German, Gastropubs
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26 / 27

#2. Apollon

- Rating: 4.6/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 207 North Appleton St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
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27 / 27

#1. Author's Kitchen + Bar

- Rating: 4.8/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 East College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, American
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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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