Philadelphia could soon see its first Michelin Star restaurant
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Philadelphia restaurants have their first crack at prestigious Michelin Guide Stars and other honors on Tuesday.
Why it matters: The guide's selections are the ultimate restaurant rec that bring financial rewards, cultural cache and worldwide recognition.
Driving the news: Michelin will dole out its culinary awards for its "2025 Northeast Cities Guide" at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday.
- The guide includes the established Michelin cities of Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C., while Philly and Boston are freshman members this year.
What they're saying: Tim Dearing, chef-owner of the supper club Ūle, tells Axios he hopes Michelin highlights underdog restaurants that are "very deliberate and intentful with what they're doing."
- 1 example: Pietramala, a vegan spot that sources hyper-local produce (which Dearing has worked with).
And Jamie Harrison Rubin, wine director for Ambra Restaurant Group, tells Axios that he expects Michelin in Philly will "elevate our city even further into the national discussion than we are, and it will bring us into the conversation worldwide."
Meanwhile, Axios Philadelphia readers have their own thoughts on which restaurants deserve stars — from Zahav in Old City to Kalaya in Fishtown.
How it works: Anonymous Michelin Guide Inspectors have dined at restaurants in Philly and those Northeast cities several times throughout the year
- Michelin also uses public recommendations to help determine which restaurants are initially inspected.
- Plus: Inspectors critique a restaurant's food on five criteria — quality of ingredients, flavors, cooking technique, the chef's voice and personality as reflected in the cuisine, and consistency.
- Those dining experiences form Michelin's elite list of recommendations.
What Michelin star ratings mean
🏆 Stars are the top prize. Ranging from 1-3 Stars, they're the highest honor awarded by inspectors in the guide.
- ⭐️ Michelin Star = Worth a stop
- ⭐️⭐️ = Worth a detour
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Worth a special journey
Other honors
🤑 Cheaper eats: The Bib Gourmand highlights restaurants that offer food at more reasonable prices, with an easy-to-eat, simpler style of cooking.
💚 Sustainability: A Green Star is for those restaurants with top-level sustainability practices, like where ingredients are sourced from and the use of seasonal produce.
✅ "Recommended": For restaurants that don't quite rise to Bib or star-level dining.
- These picks are the "sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well cooked; simply a good meal," Michael Ellis, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, said on the group's website.
How to watch the ceremony
Only a select few got invites to the ceremony in Philly. (Axios Philly's must have gotten lost in our inbox.)
- The event begins Nov. 18 around 7pm.
- But you can live stream the event on 6abc.com.