The best restaurant in the world according to Michelin. No star. La Pergola - Rome, Italy

Everyone knows that if a restaurant is awarded famous Michelin stars, it automatically ranks among the most prestigious on the planet. But how is the choice made and why is it so difficult to get the Red Guide mark? The editors of the ZagraNitsa portal thoroughly studied the topic in different cities of the world, and also found out why there is still not a single restaurant with a Michelin star in Russia.

What is Michelin?

Michelin (French Michelin, Le Guide Rouge), also known as the Red Guide, is the most famous and influential restaurant guide in the world. For example, Michelin's circulation is six times that of its closest competitor in France, the Gault Millau directory. The publication was founded in 1900, when Andre Michelin decided to help travelers navigate gas stations, roadside cafes and motels. Soon a guide appeared in every bistro, and after a while its authors developed an entire evaluation system and switched to elite cuisine.


First edition of the guide, 1900. Photo: www.michelin.com

What does the number of stars mean?

Three Stars means that a trip to such a restaurant is akin to visiting the Louvre! The cuisine, wine, decor, service and bill will be at a cosmic level. Some establishments are only accessible by appointment.

Two stars indicate that the restaurant is worth visiting, even if you weren’t planning a visit. The cuisine and service are luxurious and sometimes exceptional.

One star means that if a restaurant catches your eye on the road, it’s worth stopping by, but you don’t need to make a special trip here. Such establishments guarantee high-quality cuisine in a pleasant environment.

In addition to stars, the Red Guide gives out other distinctions and awards. Crossed knives and forks (up to five in number), coins indicating the price level, or simply a mention in the guide are also a compliment from Michelin. But this is more of an advance, because nothing compares to a real star!


How do you get Michelin stars?

Stars are awarded to restaurants every 18 months. They are not only difficult to obtain, but also easy to lose.

For a year and a half, gourmet experts travel incognito, assessing the quality of establishments. But not the prices, the interior and service, not the atmosphere, but only the cuisine. Therefore, the guide’s verdict depends on the chef. Only after the assessment the experts inform the staff about their visit.

Not only applicants for stars are under surveillance, but also those who already have an award. No restaurant can have it forever. But he can easily lose his mark as soon as his cuisine ceases to be special. When a chef quits, he can transfer his Michelin star to the restaurant where he now works. Harsh but fair.

Boris Critic, gastronomic columnist on why there is no Michelin in Russia:

There are many answers and they are all correct. For us, Michelin is the sun in the sky, but this is just one of the awards, albeit a respected one. These guides cover only 24 countries, so Russia is not alone. For example, a guide to New York was published only in the 2000s. We must not forget that this is a guide or “road map”, a book with which you travel by car. Neither roads nor tourism in Russia have yet reached the required level. You can award one particular Russian scientist or writer the Nobel Prize, but with restaurants it’s different. Even because there are five excellent restaurants in Moscow, according to Michelin standards, they will not publish a guidebook, regularly monitor their quality of service, track the “movement” of chefs and menu changes. There should be ten times more worthy restaurants, both to award stars and simply to be mentioned in the directory - there is such a “degree” in the Michelin universe.

In the village of Pyshma they can also meet you, give you shelter, and feed you delicious food, but that’s not the same. It is possible to write a good book “Russian Literature of the 19th Century”, but it is difficult to write a smart edition “Russian Literature of 2013”.

Another point - there is no sampling. There is no mass from which to choose and control. Yes, one restaurant made the top 23 list, but why? This is not a list of “the best”, but what members of the board most often say from whom they are cheating. If you spend a lot of money on promoting women's perfumes, both men and beggars will recognize its name, and when asked to name the brand of perfume, they will name it. But this does not mean quality. This is a huge mistake in honoring the “Rabbit” now (the Moscow “White Rabbit” for the first time took 23rd place in the “Pelegrino TOP-50”; before that, only in 2011 the Moscow restaurant “Varvara” by Anatoly Komm entered the TOP-50 for the first time among Russians, taking 48 place - editor's note).

Next: Michelin is conservative. All the talk about the importance of the brand of crystal on the table or textiles is not idle chatter. Yes, the kitchen and the chef are paramount. But a star is also a sign of quality, like the level of a restaurant. And our market is still in its infancy in this regard. In fact, 10-15 years have passed since the tavern was the main and main format of establishments. By European standards, our market is a baby who has not learned to go potty on his own. He is “sausage”, he has not reached maturity.

This is just a small part of the dozen reasons. However, I would venture to conclude: it’s good that Michelin is not yet in Russia. It’s too early to evaluate the baby, even if individual restaurants could qualify for a “mention.” Well, I can’t help but complain... about everyone. Stop using Michelin Chef. There are no such. There are those who received stars while working in a particular restaurant. If you worked for a month at the Machine Tool Plant named after. Lenin, this does not mean that you have the Order of Lenin forever. Yes, it is possible and even important to mention, but just like this: “I worked in a restaurant when it received Michelin stars.” It's an honor, but nothing more.

Where are the most Michelin-starred restaurants?

It's no secret that France has always been a paradise for gourmets. It is this country that holds the record for the number of “star” restaurants: there are 621 of them. In Paris alone there are more such establishments than in Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Ireland, Poland, Portugal and Sweden combined ! However, the capital of France was surpassed by... Tokyo. There are 9 restaurants with three stars, 25 with two and 117 with one star.

By the way, there are a lot of Michelin-starred restaurants in Hellas. Look for stellar establishments in Greece on ZagraNitsa. Athens"!


Photo:

The history of the Michelin star begins in 1900 with one seemingly unremarkable event. Andre Michelin, who together with his brother founded the Michelin tire production company (its symbol is the familiar inflatable man Bibendum), decided to compile a kind of guide for traveling motorists.

Vesta Romashova

Restaurant critic

“Initially, the Michelin rating included eateries where you can have a quick lunch, as well as roadside hotels where it is most convenient to stay overnight. In addition, the nearest parking lots and gas stations were listed there. It is noteworthy that such books were distributed free of charge to anyone at gas stations and repair shops.”

Two decades later, the first changes were made to the road guide. The list of catering establishments began to include restaurants indicating the average bill. At the same time, the most expensive of them were marked with a star. It was only in the 1930s that the final concept of the Michelin Red Guide was formed and the name known throughout the world was established. It has turned into a kind of guide to choosing restaurants, depending on the level and quality of the cuisine. And the awarded stars have become the main indicator of the institution’s status.

Today, the mention of a restaurant in the “Red Guide” is indisputable evidence of the impeccable quality of the cuisine, the professionalism of the chef and exemplary service. To top it all off, this opens up the direct and shortest path to financial success and prosperity of the restaurant for many years.

Classified as "Top Secret"

Paradoxically, who exactly and by what criteria gives out Michelin stars in restaurants still remains a closely guarded mystery. Rumor has it that there are at least 14 evaluation criteria, but only those initiated into trade secrets can list them. Only one fact is known for certain: the dishes offered are the first to be subjected to the closest scrutiny.

The assessment process takes quite a long time and takes place in several stages. “Every year, Michelin experts travel around the world and incognito visit restaurants that claim the high title, usually several times,” explains Vesta Romashova. — Absolutely any visitor can turn out to be an expert. And the conclusion he draws up, in addition to the kitchen itself, can be based on anything, from the presentation of napkins to the temperature of the wine in the glass.”

The matter is never limited to a one-time visit to formidable experts. Even to be awarded just one Michelin star, the expert must visit the restaurant at least 4 times. Two stars can be awarded only after ten visits, because you need to thoroughly study the cuisine and delve into all the nuances. But in order to get three stars, the most prestigious award, candidates will have to endure a real marathon lasting several months. In this case, a whole international team of experts gets down to business, carries out a rigorous impartial selection and makes a final verdict.

What the stars hide

We figured out how many Michelin stars there are. Now let's find out in more detail what they mean. Since the Red Guide has been and remains the most authoritative expert in the restaurant business, even a simple mention of a restaurant separated by a comma on its pages is considered a great achievement.

One star rating is a testament to the excellent food, helpful service and overall fun concept. Two stars automatically make the establishment a reference. If you are planning a trip to any country, a visit to such a restaurant will leave a lasting impression. Only restaurants with haute, signature cuisine can receive three stars. As a rule, they employ hereditary chefs, successors of famous culinary dynasties. Needless to say, you will have to book a table a couple of months in advance, and dinner will cost a considerable amount.

Even as the owner of the coveted award, star restaurateurs have no right to relax. Losing a Michelin star is incomparably easier than winning one. There are known cases when the award was canceled based on complaints received from visitors and subsequent additional anonymous checks. “In the entire history of the Red Guide, only two chefs managed to defend the right to have three stars,” says Moscow restaurateur Eldar Tamazov. “Paul Bocuse and Paul Eberlin, recognized culinary legends in France, retained the highest title for forty years.”

Pantheon of Selected Masters

Strictly speaking, it is not so much the restaurant that receives a Michelin star, but the restaurant. And if he decides to leave the establishment, the star will go with him to a new place of work. That's why professionals value this exclusive distinction so much. And sometimes it takes the form of insanity. In 1966, French chef Alain Zick committed suicide after learning that his restaurant had been stripped of its star. His colleague Bernard Loiseau did the same, based only on rumors about the removal of the star. The most tragic thing is that they were never confirmed.

The rating of restaurants with Michelin stars contains truly unique establishments. In Italy, the only three-star restaurant is the Enoteca Pinchiorri restaurant. At the helm is a female chef named Annie Feolde, who specializes in Italian and French cuisine. The pride of Spain is the Roca brothers restaurant El Celler de Can Roca with three stars. Here you can taste classic Spanish and trendy molecular cuisine. Gordon Ramsay's London restaurant also managed to achieve three Michelin stars. In total, the “hellish” chef’s ten restaurants have 16 stars – no one has yet been able to repeat such a success in Foggy Albion. In the homeland of Michelin, Pavillon Ledoyen, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, opened in 1792, reaps star laurels. Legend has it that this is where Napoleon and Josephine met.

The Michelin Red Guide is a restaurant rating that has been issued since 1900. One Michelin star means that the restaurant is very good at its type of cuisine. Two stars say that the restaurant has excellent cuisine, for which a traveler should make a slight detour from the route. Three stars is the highest Michelin award, which signifies the excellent work of the chef and even invites you to make a separate trip for the awarded restaurant. Our top 10 restaurants with 3 Michelin stars will tell you about the ten lucky establishments that received this award.

10 Steirereck

This restaurant is located on a beautiful square in the center of Vienna, Austria. The establishment is surrounded by a city park, and a river flows nearby. The Steirereck menu includes dishes of modern Austrian cuisine. The menu includes both traditional dishes (schnitzels, strudels, etc.) and moderately innovative ones. The desserts are simply amazing, and the wine list pleases with its variety.

9 De Librije


This restaurant is located in the city of Zwolle, in the Netherlands. The establishment is located in the library of a 16th-century Dominican monastery. Visitors are transported to and from the restaurant by boat. The restaurant has a special atmosphere of home comfort. This establishment received its first star in the year of its opening - in 1992. And in 2004, “De Librije” already received the highest Michelin award. The restaurant menu is very varied: you can choose French, Belgian or traditional Dutch dishes.

8 Hof van Cleve


This restaurant is located in Kruyshoutem, Belgium. The establishment is located in an old farmhouse. The dining room can accommodate approximately 40 guests. On the walls there are paintings by Belgian artists. The chairs are made to order by master cabinetmakers. The restaurant received its first Michelin star in 1994, and in 2005 it won three stars. The menu includes impressive and innovative dishes from around the world.

7 Schloss Schauenstein


This restaurant is located in Fürstenau, Switzerland. The establishment is located in a building from the 12th century. The decor retains the local and historical traditions of mountainous Switzerland. The small restaurant room seats 16 guests during lunch and 26 visitors during dinner. There are also 6 comfortable rooms in the building.

5 Pavillon Ledoyen


This restaurant is located in Paris, France. The establishment is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris - it was opened in 1792. The interior of the establishment reflects the fascinating atmosphere of ancient Paris. The restaurant received the highest Michelin award in 2015. The menu includes dishes that combine exemplary classic cuisine, high technology and amazing workmanship.

4 Nihonryori RyuGin


This restaurant is located in Tokyo, Japan. Located in the busy and expensive area of ​​Roppongi, the establishment has a colorful interior. Nihonryori RyuGin houses a unique collection of chef Seiji Yamamoto's plates. They depict dragons. The menu combines classic cuisine and original dishes.

3 Eleven Madison Park


This restaurant is located in the USA. The second floor hall offers a stunning view of Madison Square Park. The menu in this establishment is built around the main ingredients. When choosing them, visitors further rely on the skill of the award-winning culinary specialist. The internal bar offers an impressive wine list. Classic seasonal cocktails are available.

2 El Celler de Can Roca


This restaurant is located in the city of Girona, Spain. The establishment has glass walls, which allows visitors to dine in the building, but enjoy the view of the greenery of the trees growing around the restaurant. The menu includes mainly traditional Spanish and so-called molecular cuisine. The food is both farm and industrial.

1 Gordon Ramsay


This restaurant is located in London, UK. Wide windows and a color scheme combining various shades of brown and beige make the interior of the establishment quite pleasant. The restaurant was able to receive three Michelin stars in just 3 years. The menu offers European cuisine, combining haute French and Italian dishes. Visitors are offered not only delicious delicacies, but also a wide selection of wines.

The Michelin Red Guide allows gourmet tourists to plan their trip and choose from a variety of restaurants offering the most exquisite dishes.

Every restaurant in the world dreams of getting a Michelin star and does everything to make this aspiration become a reality, because its presence will reinforce the unspoken status of a place with exclusive cuisine among gourmets. The best restaurants with Michelin stars are always popular, but they also charge extremely high prices for their services, although this situation, fortunately, is not an axiom. Below are restaurants that have more than deservedly received Michelin stars, but whose visit will not leave a hole in the budget of the gourmet traveler.

A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until August 31:

  • AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
  • AFTA2000Guru - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Thailand from 100,000 rubles.

And you will find many more profitable offers from all tour operators on the website. Compare, choose and book tours at the best prices!

Restaurant Krizman, Bib Gourmand Michelin (Monrupino, Italy)

Monrupino is a relatively small Italian commune, which is located on the shores of the sun-warmed Andriatic. Bright greenery, ancient atmospheric streets and salty air warmed by the sun - this is the scenery in which the Krizman restaurant is located, decorated in the rustic style characteristic of this region. Cozy wooden panels, ethnic decorative elements, open terraces and an illuminating breeze - this restaurant makes you want to return. This desire to plunge back into the atmosphere of home is intensified by remembering the aromas and tastes that this place offers: loin served with pomegranate salad, juicy lamb chops, strudels, as well as such unusual desserts as fried flowers served with various types of wines , or horseradish ice cream.

Website: www.hotelkrizman.eu/ristorante

Restaurant Tim Ho Wan, 1* (Hong Kong, China)

This Hong Kong restaurant scene is truly exclusive. It is noteworthy that initially the eateries from this chain, although they had a good reputation, could not qualify for Michelin stars, but everything changed with a change in management. Despite the fact that today Tim Ho Wan restaurants are the cheapest of all those included in the Red Guide, getting here is not so easy - there are only twenty seats in the restaurants, and there is no reservation service. Long before the opening, queues of people wishing to try one of the twenty sets, which are updated monthly, appear in front of the doors. It is believed that everyone who visits Tim Ho Wan simply must try wontons - pies stuffed with baked pork. This dish belongs to the traditional cuisine of Guangdong Province.

Restaurant Olo, 1* (Helsinki, Finland)

The Olo restaurant is a remarkable place, since the cuisine offered by chef Jari Vesivalo can easily claim the title of intellectual or conceptual. Each dish is based on a certain idea, which the culinary master himself talks about with pleasure. Questions can be raised not only by the ideological component, but also by the manner of preparing a particular dish. The fact is that the chef is really a fan of experiments, and therefore the usual semolina porridge is generously seasoned with deer heart, and fried chocolate and sea buckthorn are boldly added to the oats. The restaurant operates on the principle of serving ready-made sets, and you can choose an option consisting of thirteen dishes that fully reveal the character of this establishment.

Restaurant Ze Kitchen Galerie, 1* (Paris, France)

The restaurant is located in the most gastronomically vibrant quarter of Paris. The Left Bank of the Seine, overshadowed by the famous Notre Dame Cathedral with its chimeras and stained glass windows, was the best choice for the unusual gallery, which has been operating for more than ten years. Local dishes are designed in fusion style. The influence of the Eastern culinary tradition is clearly felt. Each dish is an independent masterpiece - in terms of color and style of decoration, they successfully contrast with the numerous works of art that are exhibited here. You should not leave Ze Kitchen Galerie without trying the signature dessert - a mousse based on white chocolate, whose taste is complemented by the spicy notes of Japanese wasabi.

Restaurant WY by Bart de Pooter, 1* (Brussels, Belgium)

This restaurant was simply bound to be a hit in the restaurant business. Its ideological inspiration was a man who had already received two Michelin stars, and one of the Mercedes car dealerships, which was located in the central part of Brussels, was chosen as the location for the potential restaurant. This became a successful marketing ploy - everyone doesn’t mind casually mentioning that they had lunch at the only car showroom in the world that was awarded a Michelin star. Despite the presence of rather bold graffiti and bright neon lighting, this place has become the most popular among businessmen who are planning a business meeting. The menu is quite varied, but the classics are the sea bream, served with sorrel, beetroot and quinoa, followed by a delicate creme brulee with notes of bergamot, mango and a distinct peppery aftertaste - Nepalese pepper.

Restaurant Varoulko, 1* (Athens, Greece)

Fans of classic Mediterranean cuisine simply must visit this small restaurant, which is located in the calm bay of Mircolimano Marina. This section of the Athens coastline is distinguished by the presence of a “sleepy” sea and an embankment along which the most luxurious yachts in Greece are moored. This restaurant is distinguished by the simplicity of the cuisine offered - this is the principle that the local chef has put into the basis of his work, creating dishes based on three fundamental ingredients - olive oil, various seafood and only the freshest vegetables, which are brought directly from the surrounding farms. Even convinced fans of meat dishes, tested by hundreds of restaurants, respect the fish, squid and octopus that are grilled in this establishment.

Restaurant Tickets, 1* (Barcelona, ​​Spain)

The creators of this Barcelona restaurant modestly call their creation a tapas bar, however, in few tapas bars it is difficult to book a table even six months before the intended visit. Essentially, Tickets consists of three independent zones, each of which represents its own version of the kitchen. So, here you can try creative molecular cuisine dishes, all kinds of desserts prepared in accordance with the Spanish tradition, and classic snacks for Mediterranean cuisine. True, the portions here are tiny, so you should be prepared to order up to ten tapas to really fill yourself up. Regular guests of Tickets also note that it is better to order drinks directly at the bar, rather than from the menu when choosing dishes for the evening - it turns out cheaper.

Restaurant Onyx, 1* (Budapest, Hungary)

This Hungarian restaurant best represents the classic idea of ​​what a Michelin star restaurant should be. This includes the pure whiteness of the tablecloths, the blinding shine of the cutlery, and the perfectly trained waiters - impeccably polite and always ready to help with choosing dishes for the evening. The restaurant is designed in the style of the royal baths that can be seen today in Budapest - real luxury in the fullest reading of the word. The menu offered by the restaurant consists of traditional Hungarian dishes presented in a new way. Each guest is free to independently choose to prefer barbecue or venison with vegetables, to give his favor to one or another brand of wine - fortunately, the restaurant offers more than two hundred names, however, it is still worth ending the evening with a glass of Tokaj - traditions are sacred.

Restaurant Shinjukukappo Nakajima, 1* (Tokyo, Japan)

In 2008, Michelin released its first guide to the capital of Tomorrowland, instantly turning it into a new citadel of the gastronomic world - surprisingly, Tokyo managed to get ninety-three more stars than Paris, the world-recognized culinary center. Either way, today Shinjukukappo Nakajima is considered one of the most affordable restaurants in Tokyo to have been awarded a Michelin star. It is located in the most hectic area of ​​the business capital - Shinjuku, but even its location in a tangle of alleys does not prevent connoisseurs from lining up in front of the doors of this small establishment. The restaurant's menu is represented by two types of dishes - dishes of haute Japanese classic cuisine or kaiseki and a more budget option of dishes made from iwashi, that is, sardines. You shouldn’t assume that “budgetary” equates to “bad” - after all, we are talking about an exclusive establishment.

Restaurant Alcron, 1* (Prague, Czech Republic)

The Prague restaurant Alcron is decorated in an easily recognizable Art Deco style and fully conveys the atmosphere of mystical Prague, for which many tourists go to the Czech Republic. True, this is where the traditional Prague component ends - the Russian tradition begins, which you would not expect to find in the citadel of classicism and baroque. However, this is true - the local chef is a native of Russia. It was his outstanding talents that allowed the restaurant to receive the coveted star of the Red Guide. Oxtail with rosemary, lobster bisque or pumpkin cheesecake, vividly reminiscent of scenes from the story of Harry Potter - the dishes perfectly complement the atmosphere reigning here.

Restaurant Hand and Flowers, 2* (Marlow, UK)

A trip to London tires many people - the atmosphere of prim busyness in the classic surroundings of Sherlock Holmes simply needs to be somewhat diluted. So why not go to the cozy town of Marlow, which is located not far from the capital? Moreover, the local guest house has the only pub in the world that has managed to receive two Michelin stars, and this already says a lot. The restaurant's chef works with inherently simple ingredients, but at the same time manages to create real masterpieces: sweet garlic puree, chicken fried in beer, caramelized cauliflower, various gravies. The real hit is the dessert, which even sounds amazingly delicious - a pudding made of delicate white chocolate, in which there are pieces of lime. And this sweetness melting on the tongue is filled with chocolate glaze, completing the overall picture.

Restaurant Lafleur, 2* (Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

Frankfurt is a city with a big name and a rather long history, however, today these undeniable advantages often remain underestimated, since it has turned into a kind of transit point on the way to other European cities. But if you suddenly have a couple of free hours between flights, and you are not ready to waste precious time contemplating the clean halls of the airport, you can safely go to the central part of the city to the Palmengarten hotel complex, on the territory of which the Lafleur restaurant is located. A local chef with the memorable surname Rabbit has developed his own cooking technology, during which a variety of seafood, for example, shellfish or fish, act not as the main dish, but as a seasoning for classic meat recipes. Thus, beef with goose liver and anchovies and other equally unique dishes are popular.

Restaurant Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, 2* (Milan, Italy)

This restaurant is located some distance from the tourist trails of Milan, but this does not prevent it from being one of the best establishments in the city, for which it is definitely worth making a detour and setting aside three or four hours for a full visit to the restaurant. The fact is that this establishment serves dishes of classic Tuscan cuisine, which has absorbed all the colors of Lombardy. The ingredients chosen by the chefs seem almost deliberately simple, however, their combinations and the method of cutting allow the fullest flavor palette of each dish to be revealed. A long meal with numerous changes of dishes in a relaxed Italian style - you can start with breadsticks prepared personally by the chef, and towards the end of the dinner try sorrento with the most delicate almond milk and sour lemon cream.

Restaurant Cheval Blanc, 3* (Basel, Switzerland)

It took Bavarian chef Peter Nkohl a lot of effort to win three Michelin stars for the restaurant, which is a real gem of Basel. Wide terraces overlooking the calm waters of the Rhine and familiar Mediterranean dishes presented in an unusual Austrian “processing” make an excellent tandem. Guests not only from Europe, but also from Canada or even Australia often come here to enjoy carrot puree, lobster carpaccio and a refreshing dessert of ginger and apple in natural yoghurt, which will be the perfect final note to the overall symphony of the meal at Cheval Blanc.

Restaurant Jean-Georges, 3* (New York, USA)

This restaurant is located just one block from the notorious Central Park, described by Salinger. It is the superb creation of chef Vongerichten, who managed to achieve the perfect combination of all the parameters necessary to receive three Michelin stars. Today in the restaurant you can try three types of cuisines - Asian, American and French. Sit back on the cozy deck and indulge in Maine lobster, chili paste and horseradish oysters.

Restaurant Noma, 2* (Copenhagen, Denmark)

The restaurant is located in an atmospheric former warehouse building in the center of Copenhagen. For years, whale oil, skins and fish were stored here in preparation for export to Europe. Unsurprisingly, this restaurant serves pure Scandinavian cuisine, and the name itself is an acronym for the merger of the words “nordic” and “cuisine”. Despite the strong cultural underpinnings of the restaurant's dishes, the local cuisine should still be understood as a modern variation on the Danish classic, as the old version contains ingredients such as bone marrow, moss or lichen in some dishes. The Michelin Red Guide rated this establishment two stars, but the British magazine Restaurant has already named Noma the best restaurant in the world after a thorough comparative analysis of thousands of restaurants.

Steirereck (Austria, Vienna)

On the territory of the main city park there is the most fashionable restaurant in the capital, which serves exclusively Austrian cuisine, for example, chamois meat dishes, lamb ribs or an unusually beautiful and light dessert made from rose petals. This restaurant is famous for its more than thirty thousand wine collection, one of the richest bread lists in Europe and an impressive cheese cellar. The restaurant's interiors are designed in snow-white tones with beam elements taken straight from the Styrian castles. The windows offer views of the Danube and the majestic St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Restaurants with Michelin stars can be counted on one hand. After all, getting even one of the three is a great honor and a lot of work. Michelin critics visit establishments in secret and evaluate literally every little detail. This is not only the quality of the cuisine, but also the level of service, ambiance, comfort and even the atmosphere that reigns in the establishment itself.

What Michelin restaurants look like, which still managed to be at the top of such a prestigious rating - read in our article.

1. Restaurant "Noma" (Denmark, Copenhagen)

At first glance, it's hard to believe that this place, located by the pier in former warehouses, tops the Michelin list of restaurants. Noma chef René Redzepi creates recipes exclusively from local, Scandinavian products, paying special attention to their environmental friendliness and high quality.

But the food here is completely untraditional. Instead of conventional methods, cutting-edge molecular technologies are used. It is interesting that in this Michelin restaurant anyone can look at the mystery of cooking - the chefs work behind a transparent glass wall.


The service deserves special attention: if you cannot decide on the choice of dishes and wines, they will pay the right amount of attention and advise you on what to order, taking into account your preferences.


Despite the simplicity of the interior, the atmosphere at Noma is simply amazing: the classic northern style with its restraint, wooden furniture and animal skins as decor creates a truly unique and very cozy environment.

However, to dine here, you will have to think in advance: in the best Michelin restaurant, seats are reserved in 3 months.

2. El Celler de Can Roca (Spain, Girona)

For many years now it has been included in the TOP of the best restaurants with Michelin stars. The owners of this wonderful place are three brothers: chef Joan, pastry chef Jordi and sommelier Josep.


The “highlight” of El Celler de Can Roca is that every little detail in the design of the establishment is symbolic. On the territory of the restaurant there are three beautiful gardens, the dining room has the shape of a triangle, and there are three stones on each table.


The restaurant’s menu contains both traditional Catalan recipes and the brothers’ own creative solutions.


Thanks to unusual combinations of ingredients, each dish can give a completely unique experience.

3. Nihonryori RyuGin (Japan, Tokyo)

Located in one of the busiest and most expensive areas of the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun, this establishment, like all Michelin restaurants, attracts thousands of guests from all over the world.


The colorful interior enchants everyone who steps into Nihonryori RyuGin.


The real “pearl” of the establishment is the collection of exclusive handmade plates with images of dragons.


Chef Seiji Yamamoto has an incredible talent for combining the best of classic traditions and crazy experiments in his dishes. For example, would you like to try "Grilled Wild Duck with Straw Flavor"?

4. Le Calandre (Italy, Rubano)

For his ingenious, albeit eccentric ideas, the chef of the establishment, Massimiliano Alajmo, was awarded the honor of being called the “Mozart of cooking”.


When creating recipes, Alazmo listens only to his imagination. That is why visitors can see on the menu such exclusive items as “black cuttlefish cappuccino” or “saffron risotto sprinkled with cinnamon.”


The minimalist interior and dim lighting allow you to create a special atmosphere in which nothing will distract you from enjoying your food.

5. Steirereck (Austria, Vienna)

The most fashionable restaurant in the Austrian capital is located in the City Park on the site of a dairy farm. And the interior of the establishment seems to remind of these pages of history: snow-white tables and chairs, white walls, white menu - when you cross the threshold, you get the feeling that you have entered a world of impeccable cleanliness.


Friendly waiters will offer you an impressive menu with a huge selection of meat dishes, salads and dozens of types of cheese.


And in the Meierei Café, which belongs to the restaurant, you can order the most amazing breakfasts: for example, warm Vienna Woods cottage cheese strudel or natural muesli with fresh fruit.

Michelin stars and street food

While Michelin-starred restaurants themselves are few and far between, the prestigious award was awarded to the owners of two street food stalls in Singapore.

Who would have thought that critics of the world's most prestigious culinary rating would even risk tasting food from a stall?


One of the lucky ones, Chan Hoi Men, dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a chef. In his small eatery, he sells amazing rice and chicken noodles, and is open until the last customer.


This proves that anyone can earn a Michelin star. The main thing is to sincerely love the culinary business and put your whole soul into it.

Why are there no Michelin restaurants in Russia?

Unfortunately, despite the rapid development of the restaurant business and a huge number of establishments that deserve attention, Michelin restaurants have not yet appeared in Russia.

The guide currently covers 24 countries. It is worth remembering that the rating was initially created for those traveling by car - and therefore it is quite natural that among them are states with a long-existing and well-developed transport infrastructure. And this method of traveling is not very popular among us.


Now Russian cuisine is being revived, and people are actively interested in it in different parts of the world. Therefore, most likely, in the coming years we will hear about Michelin stars in Russian restaurants.

 

It might be useful to read: