The Priciest Restaurant In Every State For A Truly Unforgettable Meal

America’s culinary landscape offers more than just burgers and fries – every state boasts at least one jaw-dropping restaurant where luxury meets flavor.

These aren’t your everyday dinner spots; they’re temples of taste where chefs transform ingredients into edible art.

Get ready to explore menus that cost more than your monthly grocery bill and discover what makes these dining experiences worth every penny.

1. Highlands Bar & Grill (Alabama)

Birmingham’s crown jewel has been wowing diners since 1982 with French-inspired Southern cuisine that’ll make your taste buds sing. Chef Frank Stitt crafts dishes using local ingredients, transforming Alabama’s bounty into plates worthy of Instagram fame.

Expect to drop around $100 per person before wine, but the stone-ground grits with shrimp alone justify the splurge. This James Beard Award winner proves Southern cooking can be both fancy and soulful.

2. Crow’s Nest at Hotel Captain Cook (Alaska)

Perched on the 20th floor, this Anchorage hotspot serves up killer views alongside Alaskan king crab and fresh halibut. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame mountains and water, making every meal feel like a celebration.

Dinner here runs about $150 per person, but you’re paying for more than food – it’s an experience. The wine list features over 10,000 bottles, so sommelier guidance is basically mandatory.

3. Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass (Arizona)

Arizona’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant celebrates Native American culture through innovative cuisine that honors the Pima and Maricopa tribes. Located on the Gila River Indian Community, Kai means “seed” in the Pima language.

Chef Ryan Swanson creates tasting menus around $200 per person featuring indigenous ingredients like tepary beans and cholla buds. The intimate 32-seat space guarantees personalized attention throughout your culinary journey.

4. Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse (Arkansas)

Little Rock’s premier steakhouse sits inside a historic bank building, serving USDA Prime beef that’ll convert any vegetarian (okay, maybe not, but it’s that good). The restored 1906 architecture adds old-world charm to your carnivorous adventure.

Plan on spending $100-$150 per person for perfectly aged steaks and sides that could be meals themselves. Their wine cellar holds 20,000 bottles, because apparently Arkansas doesn’t mess around.

5. The French Laundry (California)

Thomas Keller’s legendary Yountville restaurant is basically the Beyoncé of fine dining – everyone knows it, everyone wants in, and reservations are impossible. The nine-course tasting menu changes daily, showcasing California’s seasonal ingredients with French technique.

At $350 per person (before wine, tax, and tip), it’s a mortgage payment on a plate. But people book months ahead anyway, because eating here is bucket-list territory.

6. Frasca Food and Wine (Colorado)

Boulder’s Frasca brings Northern Italian cuisine to the Rockies, earning a James Beard Award and Michelin recognition along the way. The name references the traditional Italian tavern, though this spot is way fancier than any rustic wine bar.

Tasting menus hover around $135 per person, featuring house-made pasta and Colorado ingredients prepared with Friulian flair. The wine program focuses on Italian varieties, naturally, with over 200 selections available.

7. Winvian Farm Restaurant (Connecticut)

Nestled on 113 acres of Connecticut countryside, Winvian Farm offers farm-to-table dining that takes the concept seriously – they literally walk to their garden for ingredients. The intimate restaurant seats just 50 guests, ensuring everyone gets VIP treatment.

Expect to invest $150-$200 per person for multi-course meals that change with the seasons. The property also features quirky luxury cottages, so you can sleep off your food coma in style.

8. Bardea Steak (Delaware)

Wilmington’s newest heavyweight champion opened in 2021, proving Delaware’s dining scene deserves respect. Chef Antimo DiMeo combines Italian heritage with American steakhouse tradition, creating dishes that honor both.

Dinners run about $120 per person, featuring dry-aged beef and handmade pasta that’ll make you rethink everything. The cocktail program is equally impressive, with mixologists who take their craft as seriously as the chefs.

9. Victoria & Albert’s (Florida)

Hidden inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, this AAA Five Diamond restaurant is where adults go to remember that not everything at Disney involves mouse ears. The dress code is strictly enforced – no shorts or flip-flops allowed.

The multi-course tasting menu costs around $300 per person, with a Chef’s Table option pushing $400. Despite the Disney location, this is seriously sophisticated dining with impeccable service and zero cartoon characters.

10. Bacchanalia (Georgia)

Atlanta’s Bacchanalia has been setting the bar high since 1993, moving locations but never compromising on quality. Chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison create seasonal tasting menus that celebrate Georgia’s agricultural abundance.

Four-course dinners start around $125 per person, featuring organic ingredients from their own Summerland Farm. The open kitchen lets you watch culinary magic happen, which is basically dinner and a show combined.

11. La Mer at Halekulani (Hawaii)

Waikiki’s most elegant restaurant pairs French haute cuisine with Hawaiian ingredients and Pacific Ocean views that’ll distract you from your plate. The name means “the sea,” which you’ll definitely notice through those massive windows.

Tasting menus run about $250 per person, blending foie gras with local fish in ways that somehow make perfect sense. Jacket required for gentlemen, because even in paradise, some standards remain.

12. Chandlers Steakhouse (Idaho)

Boise’s premier steakhouse has been serving perfectly cooked beef since 1985, earning a reputation that extends far beyond Idaho’s borders. The restaurant occupies a historic building downtown, adding character to your carnivorous experience.

Dinners average $100 per person, featuring USDA Prime steaks and an extensive wine list with over 400 selections. The crème brûlée alone has a cult following, so save room for dessert no matter how stuffed you feel.

13. Alinea (Illinois)

Chicago’s Alinea isn’t just a restaurant – it’s a three-hour culinary performance where food defies physics and your Instagram followers lose their minds. Chef Grant Achatz pioneered molecular gastronomy in America, turning dinner into edible art.

Tickets (not reservations – tickets) start around $400 per person for the full experience. Courses might arrive on custom serviceware, suspended in mid-air, or painted directly onto your table. Yes, really.

14. St. Elmo Steak House (Indiana)

Operating since 1902, this Indianapolis institution is famous for its shrimp cocktail that’ll clear your sinuses faster than any decongestant. The horseradish-heavy sauce has made grown men cry, but people keep ordering it anyway.

Expect to spend $100-$125 per person for perfectly aged steaks and that infamous appetizer. The vintage atmosphere transports you to old-school dining days when steakhouses meant dark wood and zero apologies for indulgence.

15. 801 Chophouse (Iowa)

Des Moines’ 801 Chophouse proves Iowa knows beef better than most people realize. The restaurant dry-ages its steaks in-house for 28 days, developing flavors that justify the premium prices.

Dinners run about $100 per person, featuring corn-fed Iowa beef that’s tender enough to cut with a butter knife (though they provide steak knives anyway). The wine cellar houses 20,000 bottles, because apparently Iowa doesn’t play around with pairing options.

16. The Restaurant at 1900 (Kansas)

Kansas City’s hidden gem (technically in Mission Woods) occupies a historic building where every detail screams sophistication. Chef Nathan Strandell crafts seasonal menus that change frequently, keeping regulars guessing and excited.

Tasting menus hover around $135 per person, showcasing local ingredients prepared with French technique and modern creativity. The intimate 50-seat space means reservations are essential—this isn’t walk-in territory, folks.

17. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse (Kentucky)

Louisville’s most theatrical steakhouse feels like stepping into a 1940s supper club where Frank Sinatra might start crooning any minute. The over-the-top décor includes crystal chandeliers, live piano music, and service that borders on psychic.

Plan on $150 per person for perfectly prepared steaks and sides that could feed small armies. The lobster bisque is legendary, and their signature dessert arrives with actual sparklers because subtlety isn’t really their thing.

18. Restaurant R’evolution (Louisiana)

New Orleans’ French Quarter houses this culinary powerhouse where Death & Taxes meets haute Creole cuisine (that’s a foie gras dish, not a Benjamin Franklin quote). Chef John Folse and Rick Tramonto reimagine Louisiana classics with refined technique.

Expect to invest $125-$150 per person for dishes that honor Creole traditions while pushing boundaries. The historic Royal Sonesta Hotel location adds French Quarter magic to your already spectacular meal.

19. The White Barn Inn Restaurant (Maine)

This converted barn in Kennebunk delivers romance and refined New England cuisine in equal measure. The rustic-elegant setting features soaring ceilings, candlelight, and service so attentive you’ll feel like royalty.

Four-course prix fixe menus run about $125 per person, showcasing Maine’s incredible seafood alongside local produce. The restaurant has earned AAA Five Diamond status, proving that barns can absolutely be fancy when properly motivated.

20. Charleston (Maryland)

Baltimore’s Charleston has been collecting accolades since 1997, including a James Beard Award for its wine program. Chef Cindy Wolf creates seasonal menus that showcase mid-Atlantic ingredients with French technique and Southern influences.

Tasting menus start around $125 per person, changing frequently to highlight the best available ingredients. The 18,000-bottle wine cellar means you’ll need serious time to review the list – or just trust the expert sommeliers completely.

21. Menton (Massachusetts)

Boston’s Menton brings Relais & Châteaux elegance to the Seaport district, courtesy of celebrity chef Barbara Lynch. The name references the French Riviera town, and the cuisine delivers that Mediterranean sophistication.

Tasting menus run about $200 per person, featuring French technique applied to New England’s seasonal bounty. The Forbes Five-Star restaurant maintains standards so high that even Bostonians – who’ve seen it all – remain impressed.

22. Prime + Proper (Michigan)

Detroit’s comeback story includes this stunning steakhouse that opened in 2017, proving Motor City’s culinary scene is accelerating fast. The restaurant dry-ages beef in Himalayan salt-tiled rooms, because apparently regular aging isn’t extra enough.

Dinners average $150 per person, featuring Japanese A5 wagyu alongside American Prime beef. The cocktail program is equally ambitious, with mixologists who treat spirits like the chefs treat steaks – with reverence and creativity.

23. Demi (Minnesota)

Minneapolis’s Demi occupies a tiny 20-seat space where Chef Gavin Kaysen serves elaborate tasting menus that’ll ruin you for regular restaurants. The name means “half” in French, referencing the intimate size and personalized experience.

Tickets cost around $200 per person for multi-course meals that showcase seasonal ingredients with French technique. The chef’s counter seating lets you watch the culinary team work their magic, which is basically theater with better snacks.

24. Mary Mahoney’s Old French House (Mississippi)

Biloxi’s oldest restaurant operates in a home built in 1737, serving Gulf Coast seafood in surroundings that ooze Old South charm. The massive live oak outside has survived hurricanes and centuries, much like Mississippi’s culinary traditions.

Dinners run about $100 per person, featuring Gulf shrimp, oysters, and fish prepared with French-Creole influences. The historic atmosphere adds gravitas to your meal – you’re literally eating history, which tastes surprisingly delicious.

25. Tony’s (Missouri)

St. Louis’s Tony’s has been the city’s special-occasion destination since 1946, earning AAA Five Diamond status for its impeccable Italian cuisine. The Bommarito family has maintained standards so high that three generations later, reservations remain essential.

Expect to spend $150-$200 per person for Northern Italian dishes prepared with ingredients flown in from Italy. The wine list features over 1,000 selections, because pairing options matter when you’re spending this much on dinner.

26. Everett’s 8800 (Montana)

Big Sky’s Everett’s 8800 serves elevated comfort food with Rocky Mountain views that’ll make you forget your credit card bill. The name references the elevation, reminding you that you’re dining pretty darn high up.

Dinners average $100-$125 per person, featuring Montana beef, wild game, and seasonal ingredients prepared with contemporary technique. After skiing all day, this is where you celebrate survival with wine and perfectly cooked elk.

27. 801 Chophouse (Nebraska)

Omaha’s 801 Chophouse sits in the historic Paxton Hotel building, serving Nebraska beef that reminds you why this state’s agricultural reputation is well-deserved. The restored 1920s architecture adds character to your carnivorous celebration.

Plan on $100-$125 per person for perfectly aged steaks that justify Nebraska’s beef pride. The wine program features 20,000 bottles, because apparently choosing between three reds isn’t nearly challenging enough for serious diners.

28. Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand (Nevada)

Las Vegas’s most expensive restaurant (in a city full of expensive restaurants) serves French haute cuisine in a purple-and-gold fantasy that feels like dining inside a jewelry box. The late Joël Robuchon held more Michelin stars than any chef ever.

Tasting menus start around $400 per person, featuring caviar, truffles, and ingredients you can’t pronounce but definitely want to eat. The 16-course option exists for people who view restraint as weakness.

29. Hanover Street Chophouse (New Hampshire)

Manchester’s premier steakhouse occupies a renovated mill building, blending industrial architecture with refined dining. The restaurant dry-ages its beef for 28 days, developing flavors that make the premium prices feel reasonable.

Dinners run about $100 per person, featuring USDA Prime steaks and New England seafood options. The craft cocktail program deserves equal attention, with bartenders who take their Old Fashioneds as seriously as the chefs take their ribeyes.

30. Restaurant Latour at Crystal Springs (New Jersey)

Hidden in New Jersey’s wine country, Restaurant Latour overlooks vineyards and countryside that’ll make you forget you’re technically still near New York City. The Forbes Four-Star restaurant emphasizes seasonal ingredients and impeccable technique.

Tasting menus hover around $150 per person, showcasing local farms and Crystal Springs’s own produce. The wine program naturally emphasizes the property’s own vintages, though the 800-bottle list includes plenty of other options too.

31. Geronimo (New Mexico)

Santa Fe’s Geronimo operates in a 1756 adobe building called the Borrego House, serving global cuisine with Southwestern influences. The historic setting features thick walls, low ceilings, and atmosphere that centuries-old buildings uniquely provide.

Expect to spend $100-$125 per person for dishes that blend Asian, European, and New Mexican flavors into surprising combinations. The intimate candlelit rooms make every meal feel romantic, whether you’re on a date or just really love food.

32. Masa (New York)

New York’s Masa is basically the Mount Everest of sushi restaurants – exclusive, expensive, and requiring serious commitment. Chef Masa Takayama serves omakase that costs around $750 per person (yes, you read that correctly).

There’s no menu, just whatever Chef Masa decides you’re eating that night based on the day’s best ingredients flown in from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market. The minimalist 26-seat space ensures every piece receives proper attention and reverence.

33. The Fearrington House Restaurant (North Carolina)

Pittsboro’s Fearrington House occupies a renovated 1920s farmhouse on a 200-acre estate complete with famous belted Galloway cows. The AAA Five Diamond restaurant serves contemporary Southern cuisine that honors regional traditions while pushing boundaries.

Tasting menus run about $150 per person, featuring local ingredients prepared with French technique and artistic presentation. The wine program has earned Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, meaning serious oenophiles get equally excited.

34. 40 Steak + Seafood (North Dakota)

Fargo’s 40 Steak + Seafood brings big-city dining standards to North Dakota, proving you don’t need coastal zip codes for excellent food. The contemporary space features an exhibition kitchen where you can watch chefs work their magic.

Dinners average $100 per person, featuring USDA Prime beef and fresh seafood flown in daily. The craft cocktail program shows equal ambition, with bartenders who muddle, shake, and stir like they’re auditioning for cocktail competitions.

35. Boca (Ohio)

Cincinnati’s Boca has been setting culinary standards since 2001, earning national recognition for its European-inspired cuisine. Chef David Falk creates seasonal menus that change frequently, keeping regular customers guessing and excited.

Tasting menus hover around $125 per person, showcasing local ingredients prepared with French and Italian techniques. The intimate 65-seat space ensures personalized service, making every diner feel like the most important person in the room.

36. Vast (Oklahoma)

Perched on the 49th floor of Devon Tower, Vast offers Oklahoma City views that compete with the food for your attention. The contemporary American menu showcases local ingredients, because apparently Oklahoma produces more than just oil and tornadoes.

Dinners run about $100 per person, featuring seasonal dishes that change with ingredient availability. The sunset views are free with your meal, making the prices feel slightly less painful when you’re literally dining above the clouds.

37. RingSide Steakhouse (Oregon)

Portland’s RingSide has been serving perfectly cooked steaks since 1944, earning a reputation that extends far beyond Oregon. The onion rings are so legendary they’ve overshadowed many steaks – crispy, enormous, and basically a religious experience.

Expect to spend $100-$125 per person for USDA Prime beef and those famous rings you’ll dream about later. The old-school atmosphere feels refreshingly straightforward in a city known for aggressively weird food trends.

38. Vetri Cucina (Pennsylvania)

Philadelphia’s Vetri Cucina serves Italian cuisine so authentic that Italians probably get homesick eating here. Chef Marc Vetri’s tasting menus showcase regional Italian traditions with seasonal ingredients and technique that borders on obsessive.

The fixed-price tasting menu costs around $165 per person, featuring handmade pasta that’ll ruin you for boxed varieties forever. The intimate 35-seat space means reservations book weeks ahead – spontaneity isn’t really an option here.

39. Gracie’s (Rhode Island)

Providence’s Gracie’s occupies a historic building where Chef Matthew Varga creates seasonal menus that celebrate New England’s ingredients. The restaurant’s commitment to local sourcing borders on fanatical, with relationships spanning dozens of regional farms.

Tasting menus run about $125 per person, showcasing Rhode Island seafood and produce prepared with contemporary technique. The wine program emphasizes sustainable producers, because apparently even your beverage choices should feel virtuous at these prices.

40. Hall’s Chophouse (South Carolina)

Charleston’s Hall’s Chophouse combines USDA Prime beef with Southern hospitality and live music that makes every meal feel celebratory. The Hall family operates several locations now, but the original downtown spot remains special.

Dinners average $125 per person, featuring perfectly aged steaks and sides that could feed entire families. The gospel brunch on Sundays adds soulful music to your meal, proving that praising the Lord and eating bacon aren’t mutually exclusive.

41. Parker’s Bistro (South Dakota)

Sioux Falls’s Parker’s Bistro brings sophisticated dining to South Dakota, proving that excellent restaurants exist beyond coastal cities. The seasonal menu changes frequently, keeping regulars interested and showcasing regional ingredients.

Expect to spend $100 per person for dishes that blend French technique with American ingredients. The wine list features over 200 selections, because apparently South Dakotans take their pairing options seriously despite living in a landlocked state.

42. The Catbird Seat (Tennessee)

Nashville’s Catbird Seat seats just 32 diners around a U-shaped counter where chefs personally serve each course. The theatrical experience combines cooking show, dinner party, and culinary school in one expensive evening.

Tickets cost around $200 per person for multi-course tasting menus that change constantly based on ingredient availability and chef creativity. There’s no menu – you eat what they’re making, which is either exciting or terrifying depending on your personality.

43. Pappas Bros. Steakhouse (Texas)

Houston’s Pappas Bros. Steakhouse proves Texans understand beef at a molecular level. The restaurant dry-ages its steaks for up to 28 days in climate-controlled rooms, developing flavors that justify the premium prices.

Dinners run $150-$200 per person, featuring perfectly marbled beef and sides that could be entrees elsewhere. The 3,800-bottle wine cellar earned Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, because apparently pairing options matter when you’re already spending a fortune.

44. Riverhorse on Main (Utah)

Park City’s Riverhorse on Main serves elevated American cuisine in a historic building on Main Street. The restaurant combines ski-town atmosphere with sophisticated dining, attracting both tourists and locals who appreciate excellent food.

Expect to spend $100-$125 per person for dishes like elk tenderloin and fresh seafood flown in daily. The extensive wine list and craft cocktails help warm you up after a day on the slopes – or provide consolation if you spent the day falling down them.

45. Hen of the Wood (Vermont)

Waterbury’s Hen of the Wood operates in a renovated 1835 grist mill, serving farm-to-table cuisine that celebrates Vermont’s agricultural traditions. The name references a wild mushroom, hinting at the restaurant’s commitment to foraged and local ingredients.

Dinners average $100 per person, featuring dishes that change seasonally based on what local farms provide. The rustic-elegant atmosphere perfectly captures Vermont’s personality – unpretentious but deeply committed to quality and sustainability.

46. The Inn at Little Washington (Virginia)

Virginia’s most famous restaurant operates in a tiny town (population 134) where Chef Patrick O’Connell has earned three Michelin stars. The Inn’s over-the-top décor feels like dining inside a jewelry box designed by someone with unlimited budget and zero restraint.

Tasting menus start around $300 per person, featuring elaborate presentations that blur the line between food and art. Reservations book months ahead, because apparently people will travel significant distances for this level of culinary excellence.

47. Canlis (Washington)

Seattle’s Canlis has been the city’s special-occasion destination since 1950, occupying a stunning mid-century building with views that rival the food. The Canlis family has maintained standards across three generations, earning national recognition and fiercely loyal regulars.

Tasting menus run about $165 per person, showcasing Pacific Northwest ingredients with contemporary technique. The dress code requires jackets for gentlemen, because some traditions deserve preservation even in casual Seattle.

48. Prime 44 West at The Greenbrier (West Virginia)

White Sulphur Springs’s Greenbrier resort houses this upscale steakhouse where history and hospitality meet perfectly cooked beef. The legendary resort has hosted presidents and celebrities since 1778, maintaining standards that modern luxury hotels still chase.

Dinners average $150 per person, featuring USDA Prime steaks and the kind of service that makes you feel important. The historic setting adds gravitas to your meal – you’re eating where presidents ate, which somehow makes everything taste better.

49. Ardent (Wisconsin)

Milwaukee’s Ardent operates in a small Bay View storefront where Chef Justin Carlisle serves elaborate tasting menus that showcase Wisconsin’s ingredients. The 24-seat space ensures everyone receives personalized attention throughout their culinary journey.

Tasting menus cost around $150 per person, featuring dishes that honor Midwestern traditions while incorporating global techniques. The open kitchen lets you watch the team work, which is basically dinner theater where you actually get to eat the props.

50. Snake River Grill (Wyoming)

Jackson Hole’s Snake River Grill has been feeding skiers and celebrities since 1993, serving elevated Western cuisine in a setting that balances rustic and refined. The restaurant occupies a prime location on the town square, making it convenient for post-shopping celebrations.

Dinners run about $100-$125 per person, featuring Wyoming game, fresh seafood, and seasonal ingredients prepared with contemporary technique. The extensive wine list helps you forget how much you spent on lift tickets earlier that day.