It finally happened. After years of receiving just about every other culinary award imaginable, Cincinnati restaurants are finally eligible for the best of the best: a Michelin star.
Earlier this morning, the MICHELIN Guide announced the addition of Cincinnati to their Great Lakes edition, which is set to launch in 2027. For those unaware, a restaurant being included with one, two or three stars in the MICHELIN Guide is considered the ultimate award a restaurant can receive across the globe.
Initially, the guide was announced with six other cities—Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh—but not Cincinnati, prompting much confusion from the local culinary scene, given the fact that the Queen City had as many James Beard finalists as Chicago did this year.
According to a report in April from the Cincinnati Enquirer, the city’s tourism organization Visit Cincy was contacted by MICHELIN to join the guide but “missed” the email. That error has now been rectified, and our city is now eligible to receive the highest culinary honor on Earth.
Restaurant selections for the region will be unveiled at an official MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony in 2027, with the date and venue to be announced soon. This regional edition will showcase Cincinnati’s exceptional culinary talent alongside the six other cities included in the guide.
“Securing a spot in the newest expansion of the MICHELIN Guide is a huge opportunity for our region,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO of MeetNKY and Interim President & CEO of Visit Cincy. “National and international food critics have already begun tuning in to the unique culinary energy across our community, but this recognition officially solidifies the incredible momentum that has been building here for years. It proves that our food scene is fueled by an authenticity, passion and artistic brilliance that commands a global audience.”
According to Visit Cincy, Michelin’s inspectors are already in the field, and CityBeat can confirm multiple chefs shared with us this morning that they’ve spotted what they suspected to be guide inspectors dining in their restaurants in recent weeks.
As previously mentioned, a restaurant receiving one, two or three Michelin stars certifies exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef.
Restaurants can also be included in the Bib Gourmand list: a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value, and which usually signify personal favorites of the guide’s inspectors when dining on their own time.
The Michelin Guide has been published since 1900 by Michelin—yes, the tire company—and maintains a list of the best restaurants on the planet.
Now that Cincinnati is eligible for the coveted awards, expect our burgeoning food scene to grow exponentially. Soon, the Queen City will become one of the world’s next great epicurean hotspots, just as we all knew it would be.
