Does that make these the six best restaurants in the Hoosier State?

Restaurant Reviews and Ratings

Have you ever checked reviews before you decided to try a new restaurant? I know I have, but reviews aren't always accurate. Just last weekend, I tried a place I had never been that had awesome reviews online, and I left convinced that the folks who left those reviews did not eat the same food I did. But I understand that regarding food, likes and dislikes are subjective and change person to person. So it can be hard to find which restaurants are worth your while just based on reviews. Some of my favorite places to eat have little to no reviews online, while some places that I think are just "meh" have rave reviews.

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Because food is subjective to each person's particular taste buds, there are certain distinctions restaurants can earn based on rating systems. These different distinctions can quickly tell you if a restaurant is worth your time (and money)!

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One popular rating system is the AAA Diamond rating, and if a restaurant has this particular distinction, you know it's going to be good!

What is the AAA Diamond Rating?

AAA created a rating system for hotels and restaurants based on certain criteria. According to AAA's website, the diamond rating system shows that restaurants and hotels have passed their specific inspection.

Hotels and restaurants that pass inspection are designated as AAA Inspected & Approved. This indicates they offer clean, comfortable, hospitable places for members to stay and dine - whether they're motels, diners or resorts. There's only one level of AAA Inspected & Approved.

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According to AAA, restaurants must pass 13 minimum requirements to be approved as a diamond restaurant, with 57 elements included in the score that will determine the diamond level.

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How Many AAA Diamond Ratings Are There?

Restaurants can receive up to a Five Diamond rating, and that distinction means the best of the best. No restaurants in Indiana have received the coveted AAA Five Diamond rating, but a few restaurants have come close, with six restaurants in the Hoosier State holding AAA Four Diamond ratings. The higher the diamond rating, the better the experience.

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Which Restaurants in Indiana Have a AAA Four Diamond Rating?

Each year, AAA updates its diamond-rated restaurants, and as of 2025, six Indiana restaurants have received the AAA Four Diamond distinction, which means you can expect the following when you visit these establishments:

Distinctive fine dining, well-serviced amid upscale ambience.

The six restaurants in Indiana with the AAA Four Diamond distinction are:

Artisan in Elkhart was awarded a AAA Four Diamond Rating in 2015
Essence Restaurant + Bar in Elkhart was awarded a AAA Four Diamond Rating in 2024
Vida in Indianapolis was awarded a AAA Four Diamond Rating in 2016
Joeseph Decuis in Roanoke was awarded a AAA Four Diamond Rating in 2005
LaSelle Grill in South Bend was awarded a AAA Four Diamond Rating in 1996

You can find the full list of AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurants in the country here.

If You Grew Up in the '70s and '80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy

From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these 'fancy' childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

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