Is There a 5 Michelin Star Restaurant?

For many, the pinnacle of culinary excellence is a Michelin star. Founded in 1900 by Andre and Edouard Michelin, the Michelin Guide has become an industry standard for assessing the quality of restaurants across the world. The coveted three-star rating is seen as the highest level of recognition, but is there a five-star rating?

The answer is both yes and no. Although technically a five-star rating does not exist within the official Michelin Guide, some restaurants have been awarded four stars plus an additional accolade known as “the Grand Award” or “the Grand Chef Award”. This award was created in 2007 to recognize establishments that demonstrate an exceptionally high standard of cooking across all three meals of their menu.

The first restaurant to receive this honor was La Bernardin in New York City, which was awarded four stars in 2005 and then given the Grand Award in 2007. Since then, eight other restaurants have been granted this distinction: The French Laundry (Napa Valley), Per Se (New York), Alinea (Chicago), Eleven Madison Park (New York), Osteria Francescana (Modena), Geranium (Copenhagen), Central (Lima) and Mirazur (Menton).

It is important to note that these restaurants are not given five stars but rather considered to be on the same level as those with four stars. This means that there is no “highest” rating within the Michelin Guide – all restaurants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while there is no official five star rating within the Michelin Guide, some exceptional restaurants have been granted four stars plus an additional accolade known as “the Grand Award” or “the Grand Chef Award”. These restaurants are recognized for their exceptionally high standard of cooking across all three meals of their menu and are considered to be on par with those with four stars.