Why doesn't St. Louis have any Michelin-starred restaurants?
Michelin stars have only been awarded to 260 of the country's top eateries for their "outstanding" cooking, but despite a diverse culinary scene in St. Louis, a restaurant in the city has yet to receive one.
ST. LOUIS -- Michelin stars have only been awarded to 260 of the country's top eateries for their "outstanding" cooking, but despite a diverse culinary scene in St. Louis, a restaurant in the city has yet to receive one.
According to the "Michelin Guide," critics take into account five areas of criteria, including quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastered techniques, personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine, and consistency across the menu and over time.
Despite St. Louis' vast culinary scene, the reasoning behind the vacancy of a Michelin star is not due to the city's restaurant food quality, but that the city has not been put on inspectors radars as it is not included in the "Michelin Guide."
According to NewsNation, restaurants that have received Michelin honors are concentrated in large metro areas within New York, California, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, and throughout Texas, Florida, and Colorado.
As of 2025, the Michelin Guides only include cities across seven states and D.C., but have stated they are looking to expand only after specific standards are achieved. Even after that criteria is reached, some state tourism boards have gone as far as paying Michelin to cover the cost of expanding its inspections across their states.
The New York Times reported in 2024 that California's tourism board paid Michelin $600,000 to cover the cost of expanding its inspections.
Some states have even given up the opportunity for a Michelin Guide after their tourism boards were demanded payment from Michelin for inspections.
According to the Michelin Guide, restaurants can request consideration for inclusion in the guide, but whether or not they are truly considered for a star may be a further reach than just providing quality food.
If included in the guide, a restaurant can receive up to three Michelin stars, and each star represents different criteria of cooking. The Michelin Guide states that one star is awarded to restaurants that use top-quality ingredients and prepare with a "constistently high standard."
Two stars are awarded when the personality of the chef is revealed in the food. Three stars are awarded to chefs at the peak of their profession when cooking "is elevated to an art form."
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