Michelin is coming to Boston. This year, the company announced it would be adding two new cities, Boston & Philadelphia, to its Northeastern guide. The decision comes after months of extensive “food” campaigning from MeetBoston, the city’s top tourism board, which featured the city’s top chefs and restaurants through multi-channel programming across the city.

“The Boston restaurant scene has reached new heights, a fact validated by The MICHELIN Guide’s entrance into our market,” said Martha J. Sheridan, President & CEO of Meet Boston. “Long known for distinguished and unparalleled farm-to-table and sea-to-table cuisine, Boston now boasts an expanded portfolio of epicurean excellence, underpinned by our great diversity of offerings and contributions from a global diaspora of culinary creators.”

The guide, which arrived in America in 2005, previously limited its coverage to New York, Washington D.C, and Chicago.

With the new expansion, will Boston finally get a Michelin Star?

Why Doesn’t Boston Have Michelin Star Restaurants?

It’s not because of the food. According to an Eater article from 2023, Michelin “city” guides aren’t chosen at random; they’re paid for by the featured city. As the magazine reported, “Florida got a statewide guide starting in 2022 because Visit Florida banded together with local tourism boards in Orlando, Tampa, and Miami and reportedly shelled out about $1.5 million to Michelin over a three-year period to make it happen.”

In prior years, MeetBoston wasn’t too keen on paying the fee. Reportedly, the company’s vice president of communications, Dave O’Donnell, inquired about bringing a Michelin guide to Beantown, though backed out once “he realized it was a pay-to-play situation.”

In the years since, it’s seems like Donnell changed his mind.

What Kinds of Restaurants Are Usually Reviewed by Michelin?

As the Michelin guide states, restaurants are awarded a star based on a strict criteria: quality of ingredients, outstanding cooking, a harmony of flavors, and the personality of the chef as expressed through the menu. Typically, French and Japanese restaurants are more likely to receive a Michelin star, though it’s not always guaranteed. In 2016, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, a dimly-lit food stall in Singapore, received one-star for its golden noodles.

How Can My Boston Restaurant Get a Michelin Star? 

At Avery Restaurant Consulting, we can help your Boston restaurant get on Michelin’s radar with our top-rated consulting services. Whether your restaurant needs a new signature dish, cocktail, or silver spoon training, our team is on it. Contact us today on our website or call us at (617) 970 – 8566.