I love feeling fancy. Dressing up, doing my hair, and picking out the perfect jewelry to compliment the outfit almost feels like getting to be someone else for the night. Historically, I liked to attend the symphony and I even picked up ballroom dancing, all in the name of feeling elegant. When I moved to San Francisco in 2021 and discovered the incredible food scene, I found a new outlet. I had never eaten at a Michelin star restaurant before, and after looking at the prices and thumbing through the many menus, I settled on one. What a life changing experience! I am no stranger to good food, I like to think of myself as a versatile and skilled cook. Laughable- It was like seeing a new color. I tasted flavor combinations that I could never have thought up. Eating such high-quality food was a novel experience. I never wanted the dinner to end. I usually inhale my food with the speed and gusto of a hungry dog attacking an unattended steak, but this made me linger. In that manner I passed a pleasurable few hours and paid the bill happily; my belly full and my mind delighted by my new favorite pastime. 

Previously I had not lived in an area or had the income to pursue a Michelin star meal, but now that I have tried it, I am here to encourage everyone to try it as well… and to impart some wisdom that I have picked up along the way. Aside from my enthusiastic recommendation, I feel like dining at Michelin star restaurants can get a bad rap. Eating a fine meal doesn’t necessarily mean a $500 bill, tiny portions, or a wacky, (dare I say unappetizing), presentation. All that is needed is a little research ahead of time, a budget, and a discerning eye.

What is the Michelin Star System?

So Michelin (yes the tire manufacturer) started a campaign in 1900 with the goal of highlighting different restaurants and hotels, to encourage people to drive more and as a result buy more tires. They started publishing and distributing their free guide all over France. In 1926, the Michelin Guide started to award different restaurants with “stars” for their excellence. Over time, the system standardized on awarding  1, 2, or 3 stars, with Michelin hiring anonymous inspectors to try out the restaurants and review them. While the types of Michelin awards a restaurant can earn has expanded, the guide and rating system are still regarded as a reliable measure of quality.

Where are Michelin star restaurants located?

In short, all over the world. But large numbers of them congregate in cities famous for their food: Paris, New York, Mexico City, Bangkok, etc. You can consult the Michelin Guide website for a list of restaurants, their locations, and their ratings. Keep in mind that not every city will have a Michelin-rated restaurant. The city of San Francisco, where I live, has twenty eight, whereas the entire state of Florida only has five. I have found that the restaurants and Michelin star restaurants in a “food scene” tend to be better than their lone counterparts in the middle of nowhere. This is not always true, but it is a good rule of thumb.

How many stars does it have?

The more stars the better the food and experience, but it also means a drastic increase in price. I have found that the sweet spot is 1-star restaurants. They still give you a mind-blowing meal and an exemplary experience, but you can get away with spending more reasonable amounts of money – roughly $150 per person (not including alcohol). Additionally, the more stars the restaurant has the more “out there” the chefs tend to be with their creations. But, if licking citrus foam off a plaster cast of the chef’s mouth is your idea of a good time, go for it! (link)

What do the reviews say?

As when selecting any other restaurant, check the reviews. You can glean a lot of useful information from reading other people’s experiences. Once you see if dining there seems like a good time, you can also get an idea of portion size, house specialties, seasonal specials, dress code, and type of cuisine served. (Perusing the restaurant website can also answer many of these questions.)

No suit, no pearls, no problem.

While I enjoy the pomp and circumstance surrounding fine dining, that doesn’t mean everyone does. If you like the idea of eating flavor combinations your brain couldn’t dream up without divine intervention but would rather not have to rent a ballgown for the occasion, fear not. Michelin star restaurants come in all forms, from food stalls in Thailand, to dives in Mexico City. Finding a less formal, but still internationally recognized eatery is very possible. When you find a Michelin restaurant check out their website. The way they present themselves online will give you a good idea of the general atmosphere. Furthermore, any dress code or rules will be posted there. You can also look at reviews, or give them a call and ask. 

I just can’t afford it

It is true, Michelin restaurants are expensive. And if you are looking to travel and eat on a budget then blowing hundreds of dollars on a single meal can be hard to justify. Plan ahead: some restaurants have cheaper seasonal menus, or have a more reasonably priced prix fix menu. You can also ditch the drinks. Nothing inflates a bill like alcohol. Go elsewhere afterwards if you want to party. Or, if you are really looking for a fine cocktail, stop by for just drinks and appetizers. Lastly, look for bargains. If you are traveling to a location and there is a Michelin-star restaurant there that you know you want to try, look for groupons, coupons, or other discounts online. My last tip is perhaps the least palatable, but save up for it. As much as I love to eat at these restaurants, I do not go often. I save for each one and have a budget going in. If I go in knowing I can spend $200, I can relax a bit rather than spoiling the wonderful meal with indigestion from viewing the unexpectedly large bill afterwards. 

Recommendations? 

My personal favorite is Mourad, a Moroccan-Persian fusion 1-star restaurant in SF. Unfortunately it closed its doors in 2022. I have also been to Turntable at Lord Stanley, a pop-up restaurant that brings new Michelin star chefs each season to craft a menu, and State Bird Provisions (which I would crown as my second favorite), a dim sum style experience that had incredibly reasonable prices. 

Food is such a big part of many cultures- it is central to the human experience. If you are traveling to a place that places a lot of emphasis on cuisine, it would be worth trying the best of what they have to offer. Eating at the food carts, hole-in-the wall restaurants, and local hot-spots is important too. But that tends to happen naturally. If you want to experience food as an art, not just as fuel, give a Michelin-star restaurant a try.