How the Michelin Guide rates restaurants

First published in France in 1900, The Michelin Guide has been awarding stars to restaurants for about 100 years. Today, it rates the work of chefs around the world, including in the United States. Correspondent Kelefa Sanneh talks with an anonymous Michelin restaurant inspector, and with chefs at a restaurant with a coveted Michelin star.
‪@MICHELINguideInternational‬
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[@williamcheung7060]

I went to 8 Michelin restaurants over this year. I have to agree with all of their ratings. It’s a true delight going to each and every Michelin establishment.

[@___Anakin.Skywalker]

Bro nega stop being pretentious LMAO 😂 I swear to god you people are too much

[@williamcheung7060]

@@___Anakin.Skywalker all sub $30 meals except for the one 2 star one I went to.

[@dirkbulinckx9974]

@williamcheung7060 I can't agree with that. I did about 20 this year (in 9 different countries) and often I prefer the 1-stars to the 2 or 3-stars. There are of course exception. If I look at my top 5, I do see that there are 3 1-stars, 1 2-star and 1 3-stars. (1. Lido 84 (Italy) * - 2. Hisa Franko (Slovina)*** - 3; L'Air Du Temps (Belgium) ** - 4. Rantree (Netherlands) * - 5. DaVinci (Netherlands) *). The rest of the top 10 are all 1-star, the other 2 and 3-stars are did are below that. However I do look at more than just the food (like Michelin officially does), for me the experience includes hospitality too.

[@omorado]

I love that service is not part of the star rating. I’m sure service is very good at all these places… but food is why I go anywhere.

[@geoffreyk9164]

It’s not part of the rating system for a one star, but it is for two and three star restaurants that are expected to have excellent to exceptional service.

[@omorado]

@@geoffreyk9164 ahh. That makes sense.

[@marekvselicha7093]

there is a saying in the hospitality world that goes - "you come for the food, you return for the service.."

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

I had no idea the tire company was also the food rating company.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

The name is the given, to travel by car, to find good food? In Singapore, street food vendor has been awarded

[@Marylandbrony]

What's next, a Piano company making Dirt Bikes? An electronics company building container ships, the company that made the SS uniforms going into Streetwear?

[@thomaskim477]

I love that they didn’t even change his voice…

[@JustinCase780]

Sometimes the star is a curse to clients paying too much $ going to a restauant that had their one hit wonder moment and they promote their star forever.

[@carolynturk-hu7je]

@Justin Case Don't forget they can have the stars taken away. And if they do not get the star again the next year, can not advertise or have the signage as a Michelin star restaurant.

[@geoffreyk9164]

Exactly, receiving a star usually takes some time- most restaurants will be open for a while unless they’re opened by a chef who is already associated with one or more restaurants possessing a star or more and I only know of one (Plénitude in Paris) that went directly to three stars. Once you get a star and it is taken away, it’s usually a clear indication that the quality has gone downhill and it would be a bad look to claim to be a ‘former Michelin star restaurant’.

[@visittavee7773]

Money talks?

[@geoffreyk9164]

@@visittavee7773, If you’re suggesting that stars can be bought, you are sadly mistaken.

[@visittavee7773]

The expensive one .not the cheapest one most of the time . Nobody perfect?

[@mililaniman]

Dining out is so expensive, so the Michelin guide is very helpful.

[@AlkalineGamingHD]

If you want over priced - overly pretentious french cooking sure I guess. Nothing like spending $120 for a slice of apple served under a sugar glaze dome.

[@jeromeibanez6069]

@@AlkalineGamingHD Out of curiosity - How many Michelin starred restaurants have you been to?

[@AlkalineGamingHD]

@@jeromeibanez6069 Enough to know I'd rather go to a decent local joint 3-4 times for the same cost. Most people I know who end up wanting to or end up going to these places want to do the fancy cool stuff not the simple steak, potatoes, and greens which can be more reasonably priced.

[@Typical.Anomaly]

Know what's even more helpful? Learning how to cook like a chef. It's fun and way cheaper, too.

[@CptDuck]

this is so interesting to see tourist guide became guide for the best restaurant for dining experience for each country...

[@AlkalineGamingHD]

By a company who's main profit vector for decades is selling car tires.... See a connection? 🤣

[@McGirtUK]

​@@AlkalineGamingHD I don't drive, so it's been a useful guide for me to seek out special treats when I've been travelling. Whether it's a cheap hawker stand in Singapore, ramen joint in Japan or fine dining in Spain.

[@invisi6l339]

​@@AlkalineGamingHD They said the idea was that when you are driving around with their tires, you might want to stop for a meal so they offered this restaurant guide to you. It's barely a connection lmao. Companies will try new ideas and experiment to help with business, even though it's outlandish. Well that went well for them

[@geoffreyk9164]

While I appreciate that multiple inspectors will visit a restaurant over the course of a year, there are a number of restaurants that I question their worthiness of a star.

[@adenkamath4027]

Untrue. Michelin does rate restaurants in Brazil. As for the other countries, their tourism boards simply haven't paid the Michelin guide to come.

[@geoffreyk9164]

@@adenkamath4027, Oh, wow, this is news to me. I stand corrected and can confirm that this is true- it looks like there are now 10 one star restaurants and 3 two star restaurants in Brazil. Thanks for the update. It appears Michelin started covering Brazil in 2015 and it has been 10 years since I was last there, hence I wasn’t up-to-date on the publication. It’s is still curious that the guide would be in Brazil before Peru and Mexico, arguably two countries more highly regarded in the gastronomical world, but as you suggest, if the national tourism boards aren’t paying to get restaurants inspected it must be cost prohibitive to simply publish a guide for the sake of having a guide.

[@AlkalineGamingHD]

@@geoffreyk9164 Because Michelin is a blend of true to form overtly French cuisine restaurateur critics and marketing masterminds. The guide is meant to highlight French cuisine spots while encouraging you to drive many, many miles on your Michelin brand tires!

[@geoffreyk9164]

@@AlkalineGamingHD, Historically, yes, but the inspectors today are operating within local markets by and large.

[@AlkalineGamingHD]

@@geoffreyk9164 Hm? I dont think you understand my comment. They dont care about the inspectors driving many miles. Its the guide followers who will do the majority of the driving..... Secondly inspectors are tied to their local communities could have a vested interest in an establishment. Local inspectors are more easily swayed than a "big wig" from two counties over.

[@PaulGruendlerBeau]

Stars!

[@Acvasq]

Sign me up to be an inspector! 😅

[@AjitKumar-yp2on]

Good to know how they rate the restaurants

[@mlistro]

I certainly appreciate Michelin but this felt like a bit of a softball interview. I’ve been to many, many Michelin restaurants that were downright not good, and I know many people that agree and now completely ignore Michelin. The guide feels relatively antiquated, valuing a very specific genre of cooking. The interview feels like a bit of a puff piece instead of raising genuine questions about the guide’s relevance today.

[@suzannederringer1607]

Totally agree

[@patkurs]

The epitome of exquisite taste!♥️💋♥️

[@CBD7069..]

A lot of 1 star Michelin restaurants in LA are too expensive for what they serve.

[@HeatherValentineMsFoodie]

THANK YOU I have always joked about it being a tire guy…. Now we know ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ABSG7]

I want that Michelin job lol

[@TamTranTriZzle]

I know the stars are a HUGE deal in the culinary world, and it's influence is enormous. But... when you strip everything down, it ultimately boils down to the OPINIONS of several people. Think about that. It is the OPINION 3 or 4 people. THAT's IT! And as an aside, if a restaurant has pics of "important" diners to look out for, then that is actually not a good restaurant, because I would want the level of the experience to be the same for everyone at a place, and by having a lookout for certain people, does that mean those select few get "special" treatment" over the average diner? That actually makes a place look bad...

[@geoffreyk9164]

You make some good points and, indeed, the approach to service should be to treat every guest like they might be a Michelin inspector, but these inspectors do have a generally good knowledge of the culinary world so it is not like their opinion is as basic as the average dinner. As for the “lookout”, I think this is more for local food critics for say the New York Times because if they don’t like something and then turnaround with such a huge microphone, then it could be a significant blow for a restaurants so it is more of a mitigation measure from what I understand.

[@izenkixiron5173]

The inspectors are anonymous, so I don't think they have pics of "important" diners.

[@TamTranTriZzle]

@@izenkixiron5173 I was referencing the part n the video where the restaurant had that wall of pics of "important diners"

[@geoffreyk9164]

@@izenkixiron5173, It’s true that restaurants have photos of local and national food critics so staff, particularly front of house can look for them (even though some famously try to disguise themselves). It’s also true that inspectors are supposed to be anonymous so while restaurants might have suspicions, it is most likely that they do not know for sure.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Looking nice.

[@AfroSamurai1089]

I wish you'd delved into how restaurants are selected for assessment, especially in the Global South. The entire continent of Africa for example has zero Michelin starred restaurants- is that something the organization wants to remedy I wonder. Likey not.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Singapore, Hong Kong street food vendor have been awarded. It's on KZbin

[@geoffreyk9164]

It’s a good point, but it’s not unique to Africa. Apart from Rio and São Paulo, there is not a single Michelin starred restaurant in the Southern Hemisphere.

[@adenkamath4027]

Untrue. Michelin does rate restaurants in Brazil. As for the other countries, their tourism boards simply haven't paid the Michelin guide to come.

[@NhlanhlaMathe]

Had no idea it was the tyre company behind the ratings, lol

[@alifputra9985]

you guys didnt ask about the scandal ?

[@pangkaji]

The more people drive to the restaurants, the more they wear out their tires 👍

[@AlkalineGamingHD]

I laugh but am also scared at the amount of people who are oblivious when they sing praise about the guide. 'Isnt it great a tire company is saving us the trip and letting us know that 273 mile trip is TOTALLY worth it!'

[@kessler1kessler811]

But what qualifies a Michelin judge/ creditors?!

[@Typical.Anomaly]

It's a-me, Mario! I've a-got a hundred and twenty stars! Come a-try a-me a-mushrooms!

[@bmiller949]

I guess he never ate at the right hotdog stand in New York City. I will drag him to Wall Street where the fine street dining begins.

[@semipenguin]

That’s nice and all, but I’d rather eat at a restaurant that’s been on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”, like Donatelli’s, in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Excellent place to eat before a concert in St Paul.

[@kimmickal]

Don't forget ECUADOR and JAPAN 😊!

[@geoffreyk9164]

What are you talking about Ecuador and Japan? Tokyo has the most Michelin starred restaurants of any city on the planet and there is no guide for any of Latin America (not to mention the fact that food in Ecuador is nothing close to Peru, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, or even Colombia).

[@kimmickal]

@@geoffreyk9164, You are correct about Ecuador. I live in Ecuador. May their cuisine improve.

[@geoffreyk9164]

@@kimmickal, There are a few good restaurants in Quito (and I’d imagine in Guayaquil and Cuenca), but they don’t compare to the other countries in Latin America that I mentioned.

[@kimmickal]

@@geoffreyk9164 , so true.

[@cameronquinn4972]

Stars or die

[@billybob2372]

Burger king or Michelin, it all comes out the same, in the end of course

[@christinacascadilla4473]

Should have cut this segment in half. It seemed like the longest six minutes ever.

[@danieldumas7361]

Question: Has anyone ever dropped a Candy-Apple-Red Michelin Star business card accidentally/on purpose (while pulling my phone out of my pocket) just to insure that they get the Best Service EVER?!? Just asking.

[@TheGoonSquadd]

😂 this guy is embarrassed to be associated with tires and it’s so funny for some reason. literally all major corporations branch into different markets.

[@chrisfinch8637]

I’ve heard of Michelin Tires, but certainly not one that rates certain restaurants. Maybe Zagats or other restaurant rating companies have some competition.

[@bigjimmy428]

The Michelin guide has been around since 1900. They started the guide so people driving around knew where to go.

[@milhouse14]

Isn't it pronounced Miche-LAN?

[@chiangweytan5937]

Michelin rate restaurants. Not chefs. Isn't Michelin starred chef a misnomer? If I worked as a chef at a Michelin starred restaurant and due to my lack of skill or maybe the restaurant's deteriorating service, they lose a star during my tenure, by the misunderstanding and popularizing of the term 'micheline starred chef' I would be elligible to call myself a Michelin starred chef and carry the perceived reputation it is attributed even though I may or may not have the skills to back it up... Stop calling chefs, Michelin starred chefs. They may own and run Michelin starred restaurants and in those cases, the recognition is warranted but I many cases, they just happen to work at one and allowing them to parade that title is extremely misleading especially to potential investors...

[@jaydibernardo4320]

Skip all that pricey gourmet stuff, go to In & Out Burger! Now that's a 4 Star dining establishment. And youll have money leftover for dessert somewhere. Heck, coffee too.

[@pawpatrolnews]

🍔

[@DangerousParent]

I'd like to find "authentic" Chinese food in Richmond, Virginia, and I don't mean cooked by Mexicans or Puerto Ricans🙄 Any recommendations Critics?

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Try to find the nearest Chinatown 😊 luckly we have many choices in California

[@DangerousParent]

@@___beyondhorizon4664 I Googled "nearest Chinatown" and found a place 7-miles away: thanks for the GREAT suggestion👍

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

@@DangerousParent when you get there, observed if there are many Chinese customers, it's most likely decent restaurants. I don't trust Yelp reviews 🙃

[@DangerousParent]

@@___beyondhorizon4664 I didn't do "Yelp, "but instead Googled your "Chinatown" suggestion and their restaurant's website came up. The photos look decent: no peas and carrots in the shrimp fried rice, I hate peas and carrots in shrimp fried rice😝 Will do on "Chinese customers," I'm planning on going there in person Friday. It's GOT to be better than these pop-ups with every race but Asians cooking "Chinese" food😕

[@lonelybanana1]

Fancy way to charge for a lump of well dress fried chicken

[@evilish888]

Star? Looks more like a flower...still valuable, but..?

[@jorgevillavicencio427]

I'm sick of the snobbery of Micheline rated restaurants. Furthermore, that duck "entree" ENTREE! really? 3 bites and it's gone. Overly pretentious and ridiculously small portions. Being a retired executive chef myself, when I go to an expensive restaurant, I want to walk away satisfied. Not having to eat again less than 2 hours later.

[@geoffreyk9164]

This is absurd and you know it. If you order three courses from an a la carte or do a pre fixe menu you will be plenty full by the end of the meal unless you’re an absolute glutton. Yes, a long form tasting menu will have smaller portions, but after 7-18 you are full. I’ve had many three course lunches at Michelin starred restaurants in Paris for roughly €40 (drinks not included of course) and was very satisfied.

[@leardvr]

You've just gone to the wrong ones. There are several in Hong Kong where you can eat your fill for less than $10 while locals help there kids do homework at the next table.

[@jorgevillavicencio427]

@@leardvr thanks! Probably won't happen for another 2 years. I'll be in Paris for the Olympics next year. I retired from the culinary world after 32 years of working. Now I cook only for myself and family. Occasionally I create recipes and teach a caregiver how to cook these recipes for people with specific nutritional requirements.

[@geoffreyk9164]

@@leardvr, Yep, there’s Kam’s in HK (I haven’t been to others), there are the famous street hawkers in Singapore (Hill Street and Liao Fan), and there is Jay Fai in Bangkok, whose prices have gone up significantly, but still possible to have a meal for under $40. My previously comment was referring to starred restaurants in the US and Europe mostly though, where you can also go to one Michelin starred restaurants, especially in Europe for under $50 for a three course meal, which is not bad compared to what you pay at most decent non-starred restaurants.

[@BelfastManUtdTherapy]

i just think fair play, its more than cooking its art and excitement, but I think every restaurant with a michelin star should have to pay a 5% on profits each year into a local charity in the area for food banks, this would greatly help those who struggle to pay for food to feed their families and 5% wouldnt be missed by the restaurant and would be an extra incentive to the chefs knowing that while they create and experiment with food to come up with amazing fine dining, they know they're impacting not just their customers but others. Just an idea 🙂

[@Tornado180886]

there is NO michelin chef. there are only michelin star restaurants/kitchen. its not the chef who gets the star.

[@RoolSkool]

Has a star ever been given to a restaurant with bad service?

[@stepan1226]

Yes it might happen in one starred, but pretty rarely. In 2 starred it will almost never happen. In 3 star it's 100/100 times perfect service

[@geoffreyk9164]

There are food carts with a star. As stated in the segment, the service is not a criteria to achieve one star status.

[@adenkamath4027]

Yeah. Harveys (2 stars) and Restaurant Marco Pierre White (3 stars), run by the infamous and explosively temperamental Marco Pierre White.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

All you have to do is bribe them, and they give you a star.

[@geoffreyk9164]

This is completely false. While I do think that there are plenty of undeserving restaurants with one star around the word, it is impossible to bribe the inspectors. First of all you would have to know who they are (multiple different inspectors have to visit the restaurant multiple times throughout the year) and you would have to bribe them all.

[@_danymal]

In this time and age, SERIOUSLY, who gives a f about Michelin...

[@elizabethhayden7656]

None

[@DickNasty480]

Over priced

[@geoffreyk9164]

Many of the Michelin starred restaurants in the US are overpriced, but you can find probably 10-15 one star restaurants in Paris and London for example and have a three course meal (drinks not included) for $50.