What Makes A Michelin Star Restaurant So Special?

By
Abigail P
-
Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

You are probably familiar with the term “Michelin Star”. You are also probably aware that getting your restaurant classed as a “Michelin Star restaurant” is a big deal and eating at a Michelin Star restaurant is a big treat. But what exactly is Michelin Star and what makes these restaurants so special?

Who Are The Michelin Reviewers?

Michelin reviewers are carefully selected by the Michelin tier company. They must have an exceptional eye for detail and must be able to blend in at a restaurant. It is important that the evaluation process is done anonymously.

For a star to be awarded, all the reviewers must come together to discuss their experiences and decided which restaurants are truly worthy of the elite Michelin star.

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“The MICHELIN Guide inspectors and I have just learned with great sadness of the passing of Pierre Troisgros at the age of 92. An emblematic figure of the great French cuisine, Pierre Troigros was one of those chefs whose name has become an international reference in gastronomy. A precursor of Nouvelle Cuisine, Pierre Troigros took over the reins of the family establishment in Roanne in 1954 with his brother Jean. The restaurant has shone for 52 years with three stars in the MICHELIN Guide. Within this house, Pierre embodied the transmission and innovation that has always permeated the kitchens of the establishment. My most sincere and affectionate thoughts go out to the teams and to the family of Pierre Troisgros, especially his sons Michel and Claude and grandsons César, Léo and Thomas, who, at the head of the family restaurants in France and Brazil, are now working to cultivate an incredibly rich culinary heritage. Photo credit: Eric Préau

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Michelin Star Ratings

Michelin stars are awarded on a scale of 0 to 3 by anonymous Michelin reviewers. The reviews are solely based on the food. Decor, ambiance, and all non-food related factors are not taken into account.

These are the official measures of what earning a Michelin Star means.

One Star: A good place to stop on your journey, indicating a very good restaurant in its category, offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.

Two Stars: A restaurant worth a detour, indicating excellent cuisine and skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality

Three Stars: A restaurant worth a special journey, indicating exceptional cuisine where diners eat extremely well, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

Due to the strict criteria for earning stars, very few restaurants achieve the honor of earning one, let alone three, Michelin stars. And that’s what makes receiving Michelin star status so special.