The Michelin Guide has become the gold standard of resources for epicureans seeking out the world’s most dynamic culinary experiences. Next year, more than 135 years since the first guide was printed, Michigan restaurants will have the opportunity to be featured in a guide for the first time.
Though the guides are well known for the fine dining establishments that fill their pages, the name behind the Michelin Guide comes from more humble beginnings — the Michelin tire company, founded by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin in 1889. The inaugural guidebook was published a little over a decade later as a ploy to encourage the few auto drivers in France to utilize their vehicles more. The book was filled with practical information for travelers, such as maps and instructions on how to change or fix a tire, as well as a listing of pit stops, like gas stations, restaurants and hotels.
The Michelin Guide has evolved significantly, transitioning from a free booklet circulated throughout France, to a resource that ranks more than 30,000 establishments across Europe, Asia and North and South America, using its signature star system. Today, tourism agencies pay hundreds of thousands — millions even — to bring the Michelin Guide to their region, giving local restaurants a shot at earning stars.
Six cities have banded together to get Michelin’s famously anonymous inspectors in front of restaurants in Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh, creating the Great Lakes Guide, debuting next year.
The inner workings of the Michelin Guide are complex, and notoriously mysterious. Here, we’ll demystify the details as we anticipate the 2027 launch of the Great Lakes Guide.
Who are the Michelin Guide inspectors?
The Michelin Guide began enlisting people they called “mystery diners” to evaluate eateries under consideration for the guide. These diners are now known as “anonymous restaurant inspectors,” and they evaluate their dining experiences based on the same criteria developed in the 1920s.
According to a Michelin Guide press release, the inspectors asses food quality, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, consistency and whether the personality of the chef is reflected in the cuisine. Like traditional restaurant critics, inspectors pay for their meals in full — no freebies, no compliments of the chef.
Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, confirmed in the release that the inspectors are already scouting metro Detroit’s dining scene: “Our anonymous Inspectors have begun canvassing these cities for impressive culinary talent and are eager to share their experiences with you in the inaugural selection next year.”
Are there physical copies of the Michelin Guide?
In 2021, after printing hard copies of each guide for more than 120 years, the Michelin Guide ceased much of its printing operation to focus its efforts on a digital-only approach. Diners can access a library of guides from around the world via guide.michelin.com, or the Michelin Guide app. In 2024, Poullennec told Bon Appétit the company would continue publishing some of the iconic paper books in France, Italy, Spain and Japan, “because there is still a market for them.”
Why didn’t Detroit have any restaurants with stars?
Prior to the Great Lakes Guide reveal, no Michigan restaurant has held a Michelin star. That’s not to say no Michigan restaurant is deserving. To earn a star, first, there must be a guide designated to the city, state or region. In 2024, Detroit became the 10th U.S. city to get a Michelin Green Guide. (More on that below.) But the resource for restaurants, known as the Red Book after the little red book published in the 1900s, has not yet hit Michigan.
The cost of bringing the Michelin Guide to a region is pricey, and can require collaboration among multiple entities to pool funds. Generally, tourism organizations are behind these negotiations, seeing the opportunity to attract travelers with Michelin-recognized restaurants as a worthy investment. The Great Lakes Guide is a collaboration between Destination Cleveland, Visit Detroit, Visit Indy, Visit Milwaukee, Meet Minneapolis and Visit Pittsburgh.
How much did Visit Detroit pay to bring the Michelin Guide to the city?
Visit Detroit declined to share the amount paid to be included in the Great Lakes Guide. The organization’s Senior Director of Communications Brett McWethy acknowledged, however, that it was worth the investment. “… there are so many advantages to having the Michelin brand associated with your brand,” he said, “so we absolutely are thrilled about that, and we think it’s going to make a difference.”
Meet Minneapolis shelled out $750,000 in a deal that runs from 2027-2029, Visit Milwaukee will contribute $450,000 and Destination Cleveland is paying $450,000.
What is the Michelin Green Guide?
Michelin’s Green Guides are designed for sightseeing, highlighting cultural attractions, shopping outlets, historic sites, lodging and more. The guides follow a similar rating system as seen in the Red Guide — three stars indicate that an establishment is “worth a special journey,” two stars make it “worth a detour” and one star means it’s “worth a visit.” Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, the Detroit Institute of Arts, downtown Detroit, the Guardian Building, and The Henry Ford museum each earned three stars in the Green Guide.
What is the rating system for the Red Guide?
The Red Guide also operates on a three-star system. A one-Michelin-star restaurant is an establishment that utilizes quality ingredients and creates distinctly flavorful dishes “to a consistently high standard.”
Two Michelin stars go to restaurants that bring their own unique flair to the food, while maintaining integrity. These are restaurants serving “food that is both refined and inspired.” Restaurants that are awarded three stars have earned Michelin’s “highest honor.” Here, there are typically chefs at the helm who are stars in their own right, preparing meals as if they are works of art and dishes that become canonized over time. Think Joël Robuchon’s Pommes Purée, which first showed up on the menu at the former three-Michelin star restaurant Jamin in Paris.
When will the Great Lakes Guide launch?
The inaugural class of restaurants included in the Great Lakes Guide will be revealed next year at the Michelin Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony. The date and location for the ceremony have not yet been announced.
Is it possible for metro Detroit restaurants to walk away with no Michelin stars?
It is not guaranteed that any restaurant in a given region will earn a star — no matter how much money a tourism board has forked over. Though it is not likely that no restaurant will walk away without a star, it is a possibility. The only certainty is that inspectors will search the region for establishments that meet Michelin’s standards. In Philadelphia, where there is a robust culinary scene in a large metropolitan area, just three restaurants landed one-star ratings.
Does a restaurant have to be a fine dining establishment in order to earn a star?
Michelin restaurant inspectors only evaluate the food that is presented during their dining experiences — not the quality of service, nor the ambience of the restaurant. That means, any style of restaurant can be considered for earning a star. Fine dining establishments tend to reflect the high quality ingredients, skill level and artistry worth of a star rating, however, there are small, casual, affordable restaurants bearing Michelin stars. In 2024, for example, Holbox, a Mexican seafood stall at a Los Angeles food hall, was awarded one Michelin star.
Can a restaurant be featured in the guide without earning a star?
Yes. There are other meaningful opportunities to be recognized by Michelin, and any mention in the guide is impressive. The Bib Gourmand is a designation for restaurants offering “good quality food for a good value,” according to a Visit Detroit press release. These are restaurants that tend to be among the inspectors’ personal favorites when dining on their own accord. The Michelin Green Star recognizes restaurants following sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Recommended restaurants and special professional awards also offer an opportunity for establishments to be featured in the guide without a star designation.
What cities are included in the Great Lakes Guide for Detroit?
With Visit Detroit as the Michigan partner, the inaugural selection of the Michelin Great Lakes Guide will focus on the counties within the tourism agency’s purview. That includes cities in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. Restaurants in Ann Arbor, for example, will not be considered.
Contact Detroit Free Press Dining and Restaurant Critic Lyndsay C. Green at: LCGreen@freepress.com. Follow @LadyLuff on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for extras and insider scoops on Detroit-area dining.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What we know about mysterious Michelin Guide restaurant rating system
Reporting by Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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