Michelin is in its expansion era. The guide is moving beyond coastal dining hubs like New York and California, into markets like Florida, Colorado, and, as of this evening, Georgia. At an inaugural Michelin ceremony on October 24, Atlanta became the latest city with a Michelin guide. Five restaurants received a star in Atlanta’s first guide: Atlas, Bacchanalia, Hayakawa, Lazy Betty, and Mujō. No restaurants received two stars, nor the maximum—and most sought-after—three.
It’s not particularly surprising or unusual that only five restaurants snagged a star in Atlanta’s first guide. Michelin is often conservative in doling out stars in new guides; only five stars were awarded in Colorado’s first guide earlier this year and four new stars for Florida’s second guide.
Ten Atlanta restaurants received Bib Gourmands, a distinction that recognizes restaurants that are less expensive than starred spots. Among the recipients were seafood joint Fishmonger, one of Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants of 2023, Filipino restaurant Estrellita, and the Busy Bee, a longstanding soul food restaurant open since 1947. In North America, a meal at a Bib Gourmand restaurant must cost no more than $49 for a starter, main, and dessert—not including drinks. Beyond affordability, restaurants awarded Bib Gourmand status tend to represent a more diverse range of cuisines than the main guide, which disproportionately heralds French, Japanese, and Korean fine dining.
At the ceremony, Bacchanalia and The Chastain took home Green Stars, in recognition of their commitment to sustainability. Juan Fernando Cortés of The Chastain was honored with the Sommelier Award, and Jarrett Stieber of Little Bear received the Young Chef Award. Jason Furst was honored for his cocktail program at BoccaLupo, and Neal McCarthy of Miller Union took home the Service Award.
Ahead of the big night, chefs in Atlanta reacted largely positively to news of Michelin’s imminent arrival. “It’s a big deal,” said Gerry Klaskala, executive chef and owner of American fine dining restaurant Aria in Buckhead, adding that he hoped the guide “will continue to elevate Atlanta’s culinary reputation.” Other local chefs echoed that sentiment. “Early in my career, despite a plethora of great chefs and wonderful restaurants, Atlanta was overlooked,” said chef Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow in Atlanta’s Glenwood Park neighborhood, where dishes are served from rolling carts. “Michelin coming to Atlanta will open the eyes of many people outside of our city, while simultaneously validating the way we Atlantans have felt about our dining scene all along.”
How Michelin charts its expansion remains relatively opaque. Critics across the country have questioned the financial motives underlying Michelin’s expansion strategy; the organization has said that tourism money merely offsets costs, but it also appears to inform where the guide decides to land next.
This tension came to a head in the lead-up to Colorado’s Michelin debut in September, when chefs from Aurora and Colorado Springs publicly expressed disappointment at their cities’ exclusion from the guide. The New York Times reported in the days before the ceremony that tourism offices in cities that did make the cut paid a hefty sum to Michelin, while Aurora and Colorado Springs paid nothing. Gwendal Poullenec, the Michelin guide’s director, responded to the Times report by saying that while Michelin accepts “partnership” money, the vetting process to “assess the maturity” of a prospective market comes first, as well as the “vibrancy” and “dynamic potential” of a dining scene.
Below is a full list of Atlanta’s Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants for 2023.
One-starred restaurants
- Atlas
- Bacchanalia
- Hayakawa
- Lazy Betty
- Mujō
Bib Gourmand restaurants
- Antico Pizza Napoletana
- Arepa Mia
- Banshee
- Bomb Biscuit Co.
- The Busy Bee
- Estrellita
- Fishmonger
- Fred’s Meat & Bread
- Heirloom Market BBQ
- Little Bear