Michelin has included Pensacola restaurant A Mano Panino in its prestigious Michelin Guide.
The guide only expanded into the entire state of Florida this year, and A Mano Panino has already received a special distinction as a “Bib Gourmand,” equating to “good quality and good value cooking.”
MICHELIN’S excerpt on A Mano Panino includes the following:
“Located in the East Hill neighborhood within the converted, historic Sacred Heart Hospital, this fast-casual spot from husband-and-wife duo Alex and Ashley Lamonte is all about sandwiches, especially on their signature schiacciata bread. Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce this Tuscan-style bread that’s similar to focaccia but thinner and crunchier — it’s delicious either way. Notable considerations include the La Cadenza, combining tender roast beef, horseradish, mustard seed cornichon relish and finished with a demi-glace. La Cantabile, layered with ahi tuna confit, caper mayonnaise, tapenade and giardiniera is another must-order. It’s all packaged to go but a seat on their patio is always a good choice.”
The Lamontes had a long history of culinary excellence in the Pensacola area before A Mano Panino was born, including a wildly popular fine-dining pop-up, TROUBADOUR, which they maintained from 2019 to 2022.
The menu was designed to keep guests on their toes, with some of the crowd favorite dishes being the blue crab salad with ratatouille, lamb remoulade and the wagyu beef wellington. However, diners could not get too attached to their favorites, because the menu would change again in another two months.
After getting married, they began focusing their energy on developing two new, adjacent concepts: A Mano Panino and Lamonte Gelato, inspired by their travels to Italy.
The two were so captivated by the small street sandwich shops—with customers lined out the door, lured in by the tantalizing smell of freshly-baked bread spilling into the streets—that they were inspired to create their own.
“When we were walking through Florence, everything smells like fresh bread. It’s just magical. And so, we just wanted to bring a little bit of that back home,” Ashley Lamonte told the News Journal in a previous interview. “With the gelato shop, we thought it was perfect with the sandwiches, it’s a perfect pairing. So, we always want these two concepts ideally to be paired together, because we feel like they complement each other.”
At first glance, the more casual concepts seemed like a stark difference from their usual style. But looking deeper, you’ll find all the evidence of the Lamontes’ craftsmanship, from the homemade, small-batch gelato scooped in flavors of fior di latte and amaretto black cherry, to the hand-crafted Tuscan bread on the paninis.
Now it’s more than an East Hill hidden gem, but a culinary landmark on a global scale.
“Alex and I are so thrilled to be featured in the 2026 Florida Michelin Guide. To win a Bib Gourmand for our sandwich concept, A Mano Panino, feels truly unreal. We are honored to represent Pensacola (and Northwest Florida) in the culinary excellence that the Michelin Guide represents,” Ashley Lamonte told the News Journal May 28. “We are so proud of the work that our team and ourselves have put into every loaf, every slice and every ingredient. It feels like a dream come true. We didn’t go into this business thinking this was even a possibility, given that our location is outside of the major culinary hubs that Michelin reviews. But with the Guide’s full state expansion, this recognition is truly incredible and we could not feel more blessed. “
Michelin Guide expands to Florida
Starting in 2026, the Michelin Guide expanded to become a “state-wide selection covering all of Florida,” now allowing some of the Panhandle’s most innovative dining establishments the opportunity to shine.
The News Journal spoke with Alex Lamonte in October about what the expansion could mean for the area, unaware that not even a year later, his business would be included on the list.
“Expanding the Michelin Guide throughout the entire state of Florida will have a significant impact on the culinary industry, specifically in smaller cities like Pensacola,” Lamonte said at the time. “For decades, the Michelin Guide has had great influence in the field of world travel, creating destinations out of sometimes unsuspecting locations. By decentralizing the major culinary hubs that have brought large cities advantages such as heightened tourism, food culture, and a strong workforce, the guide now brings this potential to peripheral towns and cities that have yet to be heard.”
He sees opening Pensacola up as a way to elevate the area’s dining scene as a whole.
“Whether or not a restaurant in Pensacola receives a star or is mentioned in the guide right away, I believe it will benefit our food community by establishing new set of standards and goals. It could also bring in new restaurants to the area with chefs moving away from oversaturated food hubs that the guide has been hyper focused on, such as Miami,” Lamonte said. “As a Michelin-trained chef and entrepreneur, I look forward to seeing how the guide will enhance our industry and food culture in Pensacola.”
Is the Michelin Guide the same as a MICHELIN star?
No. The Michelin Guide encompasses a broader range of local dining experiences, including establishments without Michelin stars. However, the guide is considered prestigious, and restaurants selected for the Michelin Guide are considered for Michelin stars, which are much more elusive.
“If the restaurant is currently in the Michelin Guide, then they don’t need to apply for a Star, as all the restaurants in the guide are re-assessed regularly. Any restaurant can ask us to consider them for inclusion in the Michelin Guide, and we love receiving recommendations from our readers, too,” Michelin shared on its website.
Michelin Guides also factor in information such as types of cuisines, price range, contact details, signature offerings, sommelier notes, service experience and ambiance reviews, according to a Michelin analysis conducted by OpenTable. Michelin-starred restaurants have a narrower focus on the quality and technique of the food.
Are only formal restaurants considered for Michelin stars?
No, according to Michelin “one of the great misconceptions about our guide” is that only formal restaurants are considered, as they encompass a variety of styles of restaurants.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: First Pensacola restaurant added to prestigious Michelin Guide
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
