Michelin Guide awards prestigious star ranking to Boston restaurant for the primary time ever

The Michelin Guide revealed its 2025 “Northeast Cities” version Tuesday night time, and for the primary time ever it spotlighted eating places within the Boston space. The record included a Japanese restaurant in Boston’s South End, which grew to become the primary ever enterprise within the metropolis to obtain a Michelin star ranking.

Earlier this 12 months, the Meet Boston tourism company announced it had partnered with the Michelin Guide to convey the information to “all 23 Boston neighborhoods, plus the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and beyond.” 

The prestigious information e book has been awarding its coveted stars to eating places for almost a century. Earning a star can convey immediate, world notoriety to a restaurant. Michelin says one star signifies “high quality,” two is for “excellent cooking” and three is for “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey!”

Boston’s first Michelin star restaurant

Just one Boston restaurant obtained a Michelin star ranking. Located within the metropolis’s South End neighborhood, 311 Omakase was amongst 9 eating places from the northeast to obtain a one-star ranking. 

Kasama in Chicago and Joo OK in New York obtained two Michelin stars, whereas Sushi Sho in New York was the one restaurant to obtain the highest ranking of three stars.

According to their web site, 311 Omakase is a 10-seat restaurant that provides an 18-course menu beginning at $250 per individual. 

Travis Chou lives within the South End and has eaten on the now Michelin-rated restaurant.

“It’s pretty small in there. It’s catered toward you and nine other people who are sitting around the sushi counter. It’s a very detailed experience,” stated Chou, who was excited to listen to in regards to the Michelin ranking. “I think it is awesome. The food scene here in Boston is really good so it is great to see the food is being recognized here.” 

Michelin Guide acknowledges Boston eating places

In addition to star scores, Michelin honored different northeast eating places.

Several companies within the Boston space have been named Bib Gourmand eating places. According to Michelin, “The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value – often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time.”

The following Boston space eating places obtained Bib Gourmand designation:

• Bar Volpe – 170 W. Broadway, Boston
• Fox & The Knife – 28 W. Broadway, Boston
• Jahunger –  272 Brookline St., Cambridge
• Mahaniyom – 236 Washington St., Brookline
• Pagu – 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• Sumiao Hunan Kitchen – 270 Third St., Cambridge

Michelin additionally listed a number of a number of institutions as “recommended.” 

• Asta – 47 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
• Carmelina’s – 307 Hanover St., Boston
• Giulia – 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• La Padrona – 38 Trinity Pl., Boston
• Lenox Sophia – 87 A St., Boston
• Moëca – 1 Shepard St., Cambridge
• Mooncusser – 304 Stuart St., Boston
• Neptune Oyster – 63 Salem St., #1, Boston
• Nightshade Noodle Bar – 73 Exchange St., Lynn
• Oleana – 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge
• Pammy’s – 928 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• Select Oyster Bar – 50 Gloucester St., Boston
• Somaek – 11 Temple Pl., Boston
• Thistle & Leek – 105 Union St., Newton Centre
• Toro – 1704 Washington St., Boston
• Urban Hearth – 2263 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• Wa Shin – 222 Stuart St., Boston
• Woods Hill Pier 4 – 300 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston
• Zhi Wei Cafe – 104 South St., Boston

Abby Taylor is the supervisor at Urban Hearth. Taylor stated the enterprise is “over the moon” to be advisable.

“We are so thrilled to be recognized in this way, for the very first time in Boston by Michelin. We are astounded,” Taylor stated. “I think that the food scene here is world class and it is great to finally see some recognition for that on an international playing field. It’s about time.” 

How does Michelin charge eating places?

Restaurant homeowners and cooks informed WBZ-TV again in May that they have been enthusiastic about Boston’s inclusion.

“The Michelin Guide coming is something we’ve all been looking forward to for a very long time,” stated Mitchell Randall, who runs the Mediterranean restaurant Ostra within the Back Bay. “Great for the city and I think there’s many restaurants in the city that deserve this exposure on the global level.”  

In 2023, CBS Sunday Morning reported on how Michelin charges its eating places. Gwendal Poullennec, the Michelin Guide’s worldwide director, stated incomes a star is all in regards to the high quality of the meals, not the service or setting.

“The quality of the products, the mastery of cooking techniques, the harmony and balance in flavors, the personality of the chef as expressed on the plate, and last but not least, the consistency both over time and throughout the menu as a whole,” Poullennec stated.

Michelin’s announcement occurred throughout a ceremony in Philadelphia.  

“This new guide reflects our work to spotlight the culinary excellence of Boston, Cambridge, and the surrounding region,” Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston stated in an announcement. “Our efforts have ranged from constructing sturdy digital content material round our restaurant, farm, seafood and beverage companions, to bringing native cooks on world commerce missions in key worldwide markets. We know that guests will journey right here particularly to expertise our MICHELIN-recognized eating places, and whereas right here, they’ll uncover that Boston’s culinary tradition extends far past these choices.