Michelin Star restaurants in the United States worthy of your time
For fine dining aficionados, a dish must always be considered in relation to the entire experience – from the presentation of the dishes to the ambience and the mastery of flavor.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is finding the perfect culinary destination that suits your preferences and taste. With the abundance of choice available today and a plethora of mixed reviews to sift through, the Michelin Star rating system can give guests an indication of whether a fine dining establishment is not worth visiting or if it offers an exceptional experience not to be missed.
The Michelin Guide came into existence in 1900, when French tire business owners Andre and Edouard Michelin published a pamphlet to give away to motorists. It included maps, instructions on general automobile maintenance, and a list of restaurants, hotels and mechanics throughout France.
Originally intended as a way to encourage car owners to drive further and therefore boost the profits of their tire business, the brothers’ handbook soon gained popularity as an essential guide to the best places to dine out.
By 1931, the three-star system as we know it today was established, and later, the Michelin Guide began to offer ratings for restaurants outside of France. However, it wasn’t until 2005 that the guide included the United States. Another change to the system was in 2020, with the introduction of a green star, indicating the level of sustainability of the restaurants.
Today, Michelin Star restaurants are heavily concentrated in France, Japan, Italy, Germany and the United States. And while the prestigious Michelin rating system does not reflect the quality of the service or the decor, it is believed that these more subtle aspects of fine dining still subconsciously impact the anonymous reviewer.
Whether or not this holds true, three-star Michelin restaurants are a rare occurrence that offer a unique atmosphere, excellent service and an incredible fine dining experience.
Here, we look at the top players in the United States that have been awarded by the Michelin Guide team, and explore how this is influenced by the personality and skills of the head chef.
Atelier Crenn
Michelin stars: three plus one Green Star
Cuisine: Contemporary French
Location: San Francisco
Atelier Crenn offers a pescatarian multi-course dining experience in a luxurious setting. Dominique Crenn, Chef and Owner, was the first female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars. Through Atelier Crenn, she’s been able to express her heritage and propel her vision for modern French fine dining to greater heights. Crenn’s team includes talented pastry chef Juan Contreras. Next door, the French culinary adventure lives on through Bar Crenn, a 1930’s Parisian-inspired wine bar with more poetic creations to choose from.
Benu
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Contemporary Asian
Location: San Francisco
Chef Corey Lee’s signature restaurant – of which there are three in San Francisco – features a Zen-like courtyard and a relaxed service that ensures a welcoming and serene fine dining experience. Lee’s fixed menu is inspired by Korean, Japanese and Chinese culinary traditions, featuring meat, seafood and vegetables. Expect mussels paired with glass noodles and vegetables or quail egg served with ginger and cabbage – dishes that are impeccably presented and flavorsome. And be sure to choose from the restaurant’s wide selection of wines from around the world.
Quince
Michelin stars: three plus one Green Star
Cuisine: Contemporary Californian
Location: San Francisco
Nestled in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square, Quince serves its guests tasting menus that change every night and reflect what’s available during a particular season. With Chef and Owner Michael Tusk at the helm, artfully presented contemporary Californian dishes are infused with Italian and French influences. In 2010, Tusk and his partner Lindsay opened Cotogna, an Italian restaurant, adjacent to Quince. In addition to its three-star rating, Quince was awarded a Green Star from Michelin for its partnership with a nearby farm that operates sustainably.
SingleThread
Michelin stars: three plus one Green Star
Cuisine: Contemporary Californian
Location: Healdsburg
This farm-restaurant-inn is led by highly accomplished Chef Kyle Connaughton and his partner and Co-Owner Katina Connaughton. The Japanese-inspired restaurant is set within an exclusive boutique hotel with five luxurious guest rooms where guests are treated to exceptional customer service, based on the well-known Japanese philosophy of omotenashi, or ‘wholeheartedly caring for guests’. An expert in clay pot cooking (also known as donabe), Connaughton specializes in fish dishes that are brought to life by fresh, seasonal ingredients grown on his wife’s farm. SingleThread was named one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2018.
"Our five-acre [two hectare] organic farm grows 70 percent of our produce and uses no municipal water; over 100 olive trees produce all the olive oil used; 100 percent of the floral material used in the LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certified dining room and inn is grown on our farm or gathered from the surrounding forest," Kyle Connaughton explains.
The French Laundry
Michelin stars: three plus one Green Star
Cuisine: Contemporary French
Location: Yountville
Legendary Chef Thomas Keller is the author of multiple cookbooks and restaurants that set a new standard in the hospitality industry, thanks to Keller’s exceptional culinary skills, flawless food and attention to detail. He is the first American chef to own more than one restaurant with a three-star rating from the Michelin Guide and has a string of prestigious accolades under his belt.
"Our chefs are meticulous about culinary details, fundamental techniques and a kitchen that delivers the very best products of the earth to the table," Keller insisted.
Since opening in 1994, The French Laundry has undergone a US$10 million renovation, but still retains its classic elements today. This also holds true for the menu, which continues to serve a tiny cone filled with a scoop of cool salmon tartare to every guest as soon as they arrive at the restaurant.
Addison
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Contemporary Californian
Location: San Diego
With a nine-course tasting menu that showcases the best of Californian gastronomy and celebrates regional ingredients, Addison reflects Chef William Bradley’s distinct approach to Southern Californian cuisine. Highlights on the menu include koshihikari rice served with sesame and applewood-smoked sabayon or kumamoto oysters with pickled green strawberry. There is also an extensive selection of global and California vintages to choose from.
"I grew up in Southern California; it’s where I discovered my passion for the craft of cooking and where I found my culinary voice," Bradley said. "Over the years, I’ve increasingly drawn inspiration from this region and aspire to respect my roots through the experience at Addison."
Alinea
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Contemporary
Location: Chicago
Separating its restaurant into distinct dining areas of The Kitchen Table, The Gallery and The Salon, Alinea offers its guests choice before they even consider the menu. The restaurant is recognized as a culinary destination where innovation is at play and the dining experience becomes a theatrical performance artfully prepared by Chef Grant Achatz and his team. Guests can expect scented vapors and culinary tricks that enhance the modernist creations on offer and delight the senses.
The Inn at Little Washington
Michelin stars: three plus one Green Star
Cuisine: Regional American
Location: Washington
Self-taught, award-winning Chef Patrick O’Connell established The Inn at Little Washington more than 40 years ago, where he pioneered regional American cuisine, partnering with local farmers and producers. Over the years, the Inn has become a leading international culinary destination and O’Connell himself has had the honor of cooking for the late Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Virginia in 2007. The restaurant may be extravagant with its lush interiors, but it’s also forward-thinking with a committed team of two farmers, five gardeners and a beekeeper. "We utilize our own greenhouses for herbs and lettuces; and a beekeeper takes care of hives which supply our own honey," O’Connell explained.
Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Contemporary
Location: New York City
This three-starred fine dining experience surprisingly takes place at the back of the Hudson Yards grocery market. Small but beautifully presented dishes – mostly fish-based – are prepared by Chef Cesar Ramirez and served to guests by a black-suited team. Guests have the option to be seated at a walnut counter to observe the culinary team at work.
Eleven Madison Park
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Contemporary
Location: New York City
This elegant plant-based restaurant overlooks Madison Square Park and captures the spirit of modern dining. The establishment is owned by Swiss Chef Daniel Humm, whose culinary journey began at age 14. In 2017, Eleven Madison Park ranked first in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2017 and it has received seven James Beard Foundation Awards.
Le Bernardin
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Seafood
Location: New York City
Chef Eric Ripert earned his reputation as a celebrated chef in both New York City and internationally through his early experiences working at La Tour D’Argent in Paris and learning from Jean-Louis Palladin at the Watergate Hotel in Washington. While seafood is his specialty, guests who dine at Le Bernardin will find a selection of vegetarian options that range from fava bean casserole to a vegetable risotto served with warm artichoke panache.
Following a redesign in 2011 by Bentel and Bentel, the restaurant received the James Beard Award a year later for Best Restaurant Design. "You must always evolve. If the restaurant was still like it was the day we opened, it would be old! You must always change – but subtly," affirmed Le Bernardin Co-Owner Maguy Le Coze.
Per Se
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: French
Location: New York City
At Chef Keller’s second three-Michelin-starred restaurant, the layout allows for each guest to enjoy a view and to choose from a comprehensive award-winning wine list, totaling more than 2,000 bottles. Guests are invited to try a nine-course chef’s tasting menu or a vegetable tasting menu where no ingredient makes a second appearance, ensuring plenty of variety. Both menus end with a final dessert which includes classics like the cappuccino semifreddo.
Masa
Michelin stars: three
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: New York City
Chef Masa Takayama spent his childhood surrounded by fish, working for his family’s fish market in Tochigi Prefecture, 100 kilometers north of Tokyo. Later, he undertook an apprenticeship with sushi master Sugiyama Toshiaki in Japan’s capital. This training informs the dining experience at Masa, which is famous for its sushi and quickly prepared dishes. The philosophy that underpins this approach is that each guest should enjoy the food in its freshest state.
Harbor House
Michelin stars: two plus one Green Star
Cuisine: Californian
Location: Elk
For those who are seeking a menu that has strong ties to the local environment, this restaurant offers a creative interpretation of the Mendocino coastline and nearby forests. Locally foraged ingredients, and a highly original menu that is never the same on any given night, highlight the values that inform Chef Matthew Kammerer’s style of cooking.
"The ability to forage for seaweed, mushrooms, herbs and edible weeds in our backyard and the surrounding coast and forest has shaped the cuisine to be a true local snapshot of our area," Kammerer said.
Whether a humble seaweed or a highly-prized sea urchin has made its way onto your plate, Kammerer’s gift is to turn these ingredients into delectable creations. On the menu, you could find smoked black cod, or sourdough bread served with cultured butter and sea lettuce.
Lazy Bear
Michelin stars: two
Cuisine: Contemporary
Location: San Francisco
Warm hospitality and communal dining add a unique flair to the typical fine dining experience guests would normally encounter. Chef David Barzelay’s story is also unusual; he used to work as a lawyer and would host extravagant dinner parties in his spare time. After being retrenched, Barzelay decided to follow his passion. He launched an underground restaurant before upgrading to a warehouse in a secret location and eventually establishing an official restaurant in the Mission District in San Francisco. Within just a year of opening, Lazy Bear was awarded its first Michelin Star. Today, the menu is inspired by American nostalgia with seasonal ingredients that are sourced from the Bay Area.