- What you should know
- Three Philadelphia restaurants were awarded Michelin stars Tuesday night at the Kimmel Center — Her Place Supper Club, Friday Saturday Sunday, and Provenance.
- 21 Philly restaurants were added to the “Michelin Recommended” category, while Ian Graye at Pietramala won a Michelin Green star for demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.
- Which Philly restaurants deserve Michelin stars? Let us know what you think.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 9:42pm
Map of Philly restaurants recognized by Michelin
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// Timestamp 11/18/25 9:11pm
Philly earns three Michelin stars
For the first time ever, Philadelphia has a Michelin star. Three, in fact.
Chefs Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp won a prestigious Michelin star for Her Place Supper Club. She started in the biz by cooking for friends at her Penn campus apartment. The second star went to Chad and Hanna Williams’ Friday Saturday Sunday. And the third restaurant to earn a star was Nicholas Bazik’s Provenance.
Michelin added 21 Philadelphia restaurants to their “Michelin Recommended” category: Ambra, Forsythia, High Street, Hiroki, Honeysuckle, Illata, Kalaya, Laser Wolf, Laurel, Little Water, Mish Mish, My Loup, Pietramala, River Twice, Roxanne, Southwark, Suraya, Vedge, Vernick Food & Drink, Vetri Cucina, and Zahav. The broader Recommended (or “Selected”) category includes restaurants deemed noteworthy and reliably good.
Ian Graye at Pietramala won a Michelin Green star. This distinction is given to restaurants that demonstrate commitment to sustainability.
Below the star level is the Bib Gourmand, highlighting restaurants offering high-quality food at good value, usually in a more casual format. Philadelphia also got strong representation in that category. Angelo’s, Dalessandro’s, Del Rossi’s, Fiorella, El Chingon, Dizengoff, 4th Street Deli, Pizzeria Beddia, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, and Sally all were awarded Bib Gourmands.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 9:05pm
Cheesesteaks dominated Philly’s surprising list of Bib Gourmands
Of all the Michelin choices, the most surprising category was the Bib Gourmands.
There are three cheesesteak specialists on the list — Angelo’s, Dalessandro’s, and Del Rossi’s — but only El Chingon as representative for the city’s huge Mexican scene.
Fiorella also seems like an odd choice for a Bib — sure, it’s “high quality food at a moderate price” but it’s in a difference price bracket than say, Dizengoff.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 9:00pm
Restaurants Inquirer readers thought deserved a Michelin star
Last week we asked readers what local restaurants should win a Michelin Star. Here’s how accurate you were:
Of the three restaurants that actually received a star, only Friday Saturday Sunday received a majority of their vote, with 63.3% of readers saying they’ll win one.
Her Place Supper Club (34.9%) and Provenance (37.8%) fared much better in the real awards than readers gave them credit for.
A majority of Inquirer readers also gave stars to Royal Sushi & Izakaya (65.9%), Kalaya (59.3%), and Zahav (51.4%) – all three received recommendations but no stars.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:47pm
What Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan thought of tonight’s Michelin star winners
It’s hard to overstate the broader influence of Her Place Supper Club, with its frequently changing tasting menus, TED Talk-like course narrations, and Instagram-stoked reservation scrambles that helped launch Amanda Shulman’s star. But the James Beard-nominated chef has never lost sight of the goal of making her original 24-seat gem into one of Philly’s most exquisitely polished dining experiences, with a thoughtfully concise drink program, an ever-whimsical vibe, and hyper-seasonal menus with French, Italian, and nostalgic Jewish influences, crafted together with chef de cuisine Ana Caballero and sous chef Santina Renzi. Whether it’s a refreshing red drum crudo over chilled cucumber-honeydew gazpacho, smoky lamb merguez with eggplant and chanterelles, or delicate caramelle dumplings stuffed with sweet corn over creamy blue cheese sauce, the dishes here are a pitch-perfect collaboration of an all-female kitchen locked in sync. Cultivating that team has been essential as Shulman’s gone on to open My Loup with husband Alex Kemp and readies another project on Fitler Square. Her Place’s continued success very much reflects that Shulman has allowed it to become their place, too.
The buzz might seem impossible to live up to for Friday Saturday Sunday after being named most outstanding restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation in 2023. But with one astounding bite after another on the recent tasting menu — starting with a shatteringly crisp, thimble-sized cup of nori pastry filled with a tartare duo of veal and tuna, all crowned with caviar — Chad and Hanna Williams are clearly not resting on any laurels. Their townhouse oasis off Rittenhouse Square, already the most exciting fine dining experience in Philly, has only gotten better. The airy beignet stuffed with braised oxtail and smoked yam purée was so ethereal, I wished it was more than just a singular “snack.” Pastry chef Amanda Rafalski’s strawberry tarte may also be the most beautiful strawberry confection I’ve ever eaten. It was so vivid, we needed to pause on the way out for a celebratory drink at the ground-floor Lovers Bar, whose leopard-print stools are designated for walk-ins only. It’s a worthwhile stop on any visit to spin Paul MacDonald’s brilliant cocktail carousel for a lucky mystery drink, sip through several obscure amari, and conclude (once again) that the hype for Friday Saturday Sunday is absolutely legit.
When you’re paying $225 to sit down for a 2½ hour dinner (figure between $700 or $800 for two all-in with tip and tax, depending on what you drink), there isn’t much room for error. And there are still too many menu missteps at Provenance, where only about half of the 47 compositions I tasted over two meals were a complete success.The focal point of Provenance is an 11-seat counter wrapped around a gleaming steel kitchen that is also a stage — where chefs and servers are the protagonists. And the drama is high at Provenance, the most ambitious French fine-dining project to open in Philly since Jean-Georges in 2019.Such a grand tasting should, ideally, paint a picture with a compelling narrative and a distinct point of view. For Bazik, who has spent 15 years in local kitchens, including Fork, Bistrot La Minette, Good King Tavern, and Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, that portrait is clearly of his passion for updating French classics with influences from the Korean pantry, introduced to him by his wife, Eunbin Whang.Details, however, too frequently marred the bigger picture. With such intricate compositions, where there are bull’s-eyes of sauces within sauces within sauces, the slip of a knife, the rapid cooling of a protein meant to be served hot, or the miscalculated intensity of any one element, can tip the balance.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:37pm
Notable Michelin snubs include Kalaya, Royal Sushi & Izakaya
Giving Kalaya and Vetri Cucina a recommended but not a star was a notable snub. But perhaps the spiciest choice of the night was awarding a Bib Gourmand to Jesse Ito’s Royal Sushi & Omakase, long considered a star contender.
One wonders if the inspectors had trouble getting into the vaunted omakase.
Another notable snub: Phila and Rachel Lorn, owners of Mawn and Sao, were nowhere to be seen. Nor was Northeast restaurant impresario Stephen Starr.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:25pm
Provenance, open less than a year, awarded a Michelin star
Provenance, chef Nicholas Bazik’s hushed atelier across from Headhouse Square, was awarded a star — a stunning development for a restaurant open less than a year.
Michelin international director Gwendal Poullennec asked Bazik what his inspiration was. He pointed to his wife, Eunbin Whang.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:19pm
Friday Saturday Sunday awarded a Michelin star
Friday Saturday Sunday, run by chef Chad Williams and his wife, Hanna, earns a star.
Good thing they’re expanding their Rittenhouse townhouse next door.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:16pm
First-ever Philly Michelin star goes to Her Place Supper Club
For the first time ever, Philadelphia has a Michelin star.
Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp won the prestigious Michelin star for Her Place Supper Club. She started in the biz by cooking for friends at her Penn campus apartment.
Shulman started in the biz by cooking for friends at her Penn campus apartment.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:15pm
Angelo’s, Dalessandro’s among Bib Gourmand winners
Here is the list of Philly restaurants awarded the Bib Gourmand, which highlights “high-quality food at a moderate price”:
- 4th Street Deli
- Angelo’s
- Dalessandro’s
- Del Rossi’s
- Dizengoff
- El Chingon
- Fiorella
- Pizzeria Beddia
- Royal Sushi & Izakaya
- Sally
// Timestamp 11/18/25 8:09pm
Laser Wolf, Vetri Cucina among Philly restaurants recommended by Michelin
Here is the lengthy list of Philadelphia-area restaurants recommended by Michelin but not awarded a star:
- Ambra
- Hiroki
- Illata
- Laurel
- High Street
- Kalaya
- Forsythia
- Honeysuckle
- Laser Wolf
- Little Water
- Mish Mish
- My Loup
- Pietramala
- River Twice
- Roxanne
- Southwark
- Suraya
- Vernick Food & Drink
- Vedge
- Vetri Cucina
- Zahav
// Timestamp 11/18/25 7:57pm
Ian Graye of Pietramala awarded Michelin Green Star
Chef Ian Graye of Pietramala, never one to get fancy, traded his chef coat for a biker jacket tonight.
Graye was awarded a Michelin Green Star at its ceremony at the Kimmel Center Tuesday night.
Michelin awards its Green Star to restaurants “at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices.”
// Timestamp 11/18/25 7:53pm
Philly shut out in individual Michelin awards
Here is a rundown of the individual honors awarded by Michelin Tuesday night in Philadelphia:
- Cocktail Award: Boong Boonnak of Mahaniyom in Brookline, Mass.
- Sommelier Award: Annie Shi of Lei in New York City
- Service Award: Amy Cordell of Ever in Chicago
- Best Young Chef Award: India Doris of Markette in New York
- Chef Mentor Award: José Andrés of Minibar in Washington, D.C.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 7:22pm
What it looks like inside the Kimmel Center
// Timestamp 11/18/25 7:13pm
Watch live: Michelin awards ceremony in Philly
// Timestamp 11/18/25 6:50pm
Jean-Georges Vongerichten hopes to add to his Michelin star collection
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten drew a crowd of onlookers.
Vongerichten is one of the most decorated restaurateurs ever, and recalled his first Michelin experience in 1973 when his parents took him to dine at the three-starred Auberge de l’Ill in Alsace.
I asked him how many Michelin stars he had among his restaurants and he said, “I don’t know. My whole head is full of stars. I hope to pick up more tonight.”
// Timestamp 11/18/25 6:26pm
Kimmel lobby getting crowded ahead of Michelin ceremony
The Kimmel lobby is becoming a crush of people, photographers, and cater-waiters, handing out wine and hors d’oeuvres.
There is a lot of French being spoken in the crowd, befitting Michelin.
“I always get nervous before an awards ceremony,” said chef Marc Vetri, here with his wife and a crew of five people, including his business partner, Jeff Benjamin.
“These events are great,” Vetri said. “I can say, ‘hey, chef,’ and not worry about their name.”
// Timestamp 11/18/25 6:17pm
‘I’ve been nervous all month’
We ran into Nicholas Bazik of Provenance and his wife, Eunbin Whang.
Nervous, Nich?
“I’ve been nervous all month,” he told me. “Now I have no reason to be.”
// Timestamp 11/18/25 6:13pm
The Michelin Man has arrived in Philly
The Michelin Man is here.
His name is Bibendum, or Bib for short. That explains why one category of the awards is Bib Gourmand.
According to Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan, the Bib Gourmand is supposed to represent a “step below a star.” The award represents “high-quality food at a moderate price,” often with a focus on casual dining.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 4:04pm
How many Michelin stars will Philly get?
There are a lot of factors at play, but to get an estimate, let’s look at how other cities fared in 2024’s guides.
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With almost two decades of guides under its belt and a population of almost 8.5 million, it’s no surprise that New York City topped the list of cities with the most starred restaurants in 2024. New York City was the first American city to get a Michelin Guide, in 2006.
In this top ten both Atlanta and Washington, D.C., serve as a better comparison to Philly. Atlanta, with about 513,000 residents, earned five one-star ratings in 2023, the first year that Michelin awarded stars there. Washington’s population was about 700,000 in 2017, the same year the Michelin Guide was introduced there and awarded 15 restaurants with star ratings. Population isn’t always a good indicator though. Houston, with 2.3 million residents, earned six stars in its first year.
Kiki Aranita, a food writer (and former chef and restaurateur) for The Inquirer, predicts four or five Philadelphia restaurants will earn a Michelin star this year. She also thinks we might see a Bib Gourmand or two.
Will Philly get any two- or three-star ratings?
Paula Forbes, a senior writer and restaurant critic at Texas Monthly who has reported on the Michelin Guide in Texas, says that “generally speaking, I think that there is sort of an attitude towards, you have to kind of grow into it. You have to get your first star, then your second star, and then your third star.”
Restaurants often don’t earn a two- or three-star rating the first time they achieve a rating and it often takes several years for a restaurant to move up a rank, if at all. Texas has yet to earn a two- or three-star rating. In its third year, Colorado gained its first two-star rating.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 3:00pm
The Michelin effect
City and state tourism boards partner with Michelin — the French-based tire company that has been publishing the influential dining guides for decades — as food tourism plays a growing role in travel planning.
Michelin has expanded rapidly in the United States over the last several years. Besides the American South region — covering Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — there are guides for Texas and Colorado. Atlanta’s 2023 guide has since been rolled into the South. The Florida guide, launched in 2022, now includes Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Internationally, it recently arrived in Qatar, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau cites an Ernst & Young study, commissioned by Michelin, showing the guide’s influence: 74% of travelers consider Michelin’s presence a decisive factor when choosing a destination; 76% say they would extend a trip to dine at a recommended restaurant; and 80% report being willing to pay more for what they view as a Michelin-level dining experience.
For restaurants that receive distinctions, the impact is immediate as restaurants append “Michelin” to their social-media profiles.
The reservations boost can be dramatic. In Charlotte, the 18-seat Counter sold about 900 reservations in the days after earning a star at the 2025 American South ceremony on Nov. 3, booking out through mid-February, chef-owner Sam Hart told Axios. About half the reservations came from out-of-town guests, including some international travelers.
In many U.S. markets, the guide is explicitly part of tourism strategies: Axios has reported that the states included in the South edition are collectively paying Michelin $5 million over three years. PHLCVB has not disclosed how much it paid for Michelin’s partnership, which was announced in May.
Not only can reservations rise, so can menu prices at the winning restaurants. A widely cited 2018 analysis by Carly Shin of George Washington University found that a one-star rating increases menu prices by about 15%, two stars by 55%, and three stars by roughly 80%.
Michelin says that 82% of chefs report increased revenue after receiving a distinction, 60% add new staff, and 58% say a nod boosts team motivation and morale — though anecdotally, some chefs acknowledge enormous pressure to maintain such a high level.
In connection with Michelin, the PHLCVB Foundation is sponsoring the Philabundance Community Kitchen program, a 16-week culinary vocational training and life-skills program for adults with low or no income, offering hands-on kitchen experience, ServSafe certification, and post-graduation employment support in the food service and restaurant industry. The foundation will connect the recognized chefs and restaurateurs to the PCK program.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 1:16pm
Rittenhouse Square weighs in on which spots deserve Michelin stars
// Timestamp 11/18/25 12:20pm
What to expect at tonight’s Michelin ceremony
Awards will be presented live with TV host Java Ingram serving as emcee alongside Gwendal Poullennec, the Michelin Guide’s international director. Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the PHLCVB, will open the evening.
Lillia Callum-Penso, a reporter who covered the American South awards for the Greenville News earlier this month, said she was struck by the atmosphere onstage during the ceremony. Many of the chefs already knew one another from festivals or previous jobs. “There was a lot of conviviality among the chefs when they were called on stage,” she said. “It was kind of moving — that to me was a very telling and interesting part of the ceremony.”
Michelin may be a huge part of the foodie lexicon, but it might not be a household word everywhere. Because Michelin North America’s headquarters are in Greenville, “people in Greenville know Michelin as the tire company,” Callum-Penso said.
Many residents, she said, were surprised to learn “there’s a whole lifestyle component to Michelin.”
Go figure.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 11:23am
Philly in the spotlight as chefs gather for prestigious Michelin awards
Philadelphia will be thrust onto the world culinary stage tonight as chefs, restaurateurs, tourism officials, sponsors, and international media gather at the Kimmel Center for the unveiling of the Michelin Guide’s expanded Northeast Cities edition. It covers restaurants in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and, for the first time, Boston and Philadelphia.
The ceremony, marking a milestone for Philadelphia’s profile as a dining destination, is the city’s highest-profile appearance since 2018, when the James Beard Foundation announced that year’s finalists for its annual chef, restaurant, and media awards.
Given that five cities are involved — with two newcomers — it’s likely that more than a hundred restaurants will be honored tonight overall. The results will appear online only; there will be no published book.
Michelin, which operates in secrecy, bases the selections on its anonymous inspectors. Stars denote excellence: one star signals very good cuisine that’s “worth a stop,” two stars indicate excellence “worth a detour,” and three stars represent exceptional dining “worth a special journey.” Below the star level is the Bib Gourmand, highlighting restaurants offering high-quality food at good value, usually in a more casual format. The broader Recommended (or “Selected”) category includes restaurants deemed noteworthy and reliably good. There also is a Green Star, given to restaurants that demonstrate commitments to sustainability. Restaurants, not the chefs, get the award.
In Philadelphia, speculation on who will win — and even who was invited to the ceremony — is all chefs have been talking about for the last several weeks. Michelin does not inform winners beforehand (though early this month, the list of the American South winners was accidentally leaked 12 hours before the ceremony in Greenville, S.C.).
Last week, Michelin did inform the owners of three three-star restaurants — Alinea, the Inn at Little Washington, and Masa — that they would each lose a star at tonight’s awards.
As Philadelphia City Hall was lit up in Michelin red last night, the partying began. OpenTable took over Sao, a hot, new South Philadelphia restaurant, for a cocktail reception for chefs who use the reservation platform. Guests included Ian Graye of Pietramala, Omar Tate of Honeysuckle, and Chad and Hanna Williams of Friday Saturday Sunday.
Late this afternoon, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will host a private reception at Jean-Georges Philadelphia at the Four Seasons, with chefs shuttled to the ceremony by private bus. A cocktail hour will precede the awards, and multiple after-parties are scheduled, including a gathering at the Arts Ballroom sponsored by OpenTable and Evian, and a Resy/Amex and Visit Philly takeover at Dancerobot — the new Center City izakaya from Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach — featuring drinks, food, and karaoke.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 10:40am
How to stream tonight’s Michelin ceremony
Top chefs from across the Northeast are flocking to Philadelphia Tuesday for the Michelin Guide’s Northeast Cities ceremony at the Kimmel Center.
Don’t have a ticket? 6abc will stream the event live beginning at 7 p.m. on its website and apps.
- What: Michelin Guide’s Northeast Cities ceremony
- When: Tuesday, Nov. 18
- Where: Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
- Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
- Streaming: 6abc
// Timestamp 11/18/25 10:35am
What are Michelin stars?
A Michelin star is a coveted award among restaurants and chefs and is the most prestigious of the awards the Michelin Guide bestows. Only 259 restaurants in the United States earned a star rating in 2024. In addition to the star ratings, the Michelin Guide also awards the Bib Gourmand to recognize restaurants that are serving high-quality meals at a reasonable price and a Green Star to symbolize excellence in sustainability.
Restaurants are not nominated nor do they apply to be evaluated. Stars are awarded annually and can be lost or gained year-on-year. Michelin keeps most details of the process secret, but we know a few vague details.
Anonymous inspectors visit restaurants multiple times to evaluate the restaurant during different dining periods, different days of the week, and different seasons. Restaurants around the world are evaluated by the same inspectors, to ensure that restaurants are judged by the same standards, and those inspectors make decisions to award stars as a collective.
Inspectors evaluate based on the following criteria:
- Quality of ingredients
- Harmony of flavors
- Mastery of techniques
- Personality of chef expressed through cuisine
- Consistency across menu and time
// Timestamp 11/18/25 10:30am
South Philly weighs in on what spots deserve Michelin stars
What will Michelin mean for the Philly restaurant scene?
Dining rooms in Philly are abuzz with talk of Michelin’s impending arrival in Philadelphia — whose stars (or lack thereof) are set to be announced on Tuesday.
On a recent night, while celebrating my wedding anniversary at the elegant Friday Saturday Sunday, diners at tables on either side of mine discussed the potential of the restaurant winning a star. That same week, at the hushed, luxe soapstone counter at Provenance, where spotlights shine precisely upon the parade of twenty-some courses (which costs $300 inclusive of tax and service charge, but not beverages) placed in front of diners, Michelin was brought up by every single guest to chef Nich Bazik as he made his rounds.
“I’ve been to a lot of Michelin-starred places and they’ve been mediocre. But I think you’re going to get one,” I overheard one diner telling Bazik.
Anticipation is high. But what would getting Michelin recognition actually mean to Philadelphia restaurants? In at least one case, it might translate to survival. For the rest of the city, the guide’s arrival is both foreboding and exciting.
// Timestamp 11/18/25 10:25am
