What’s the Difference Between a Michelin Plate and a Michelin Star?

Michelin stars and Michelin Plates are two of the most prestigious awards that a restaurant can receive. But what exactly is the difference between a Michelin Plate and a Michelin Star?

Michelin stars are the top award a restaurant can receive from Michelin. A single Michelin star indicates an exceptional restaurant, one that offers cuisine of high quality.

The food must be prepared with skill using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and be presented in an interesting way. Achieving one star can take years of hard work for a chef and their team.

The next level up from one star is two stars, which indicate that this is an exceptional restaurant worth a special journey. The chefs in restaurants with two stars will demonstrate extraordinary culinary skills, as well as consistent standards across each dish they serve.

The highest accolade a restaurant can achieve is three stars. This means that it serves some of the best cuisine in the world and is worth making a special trip to visit. In addition to having outstanding cuisine, these restaurants may also offer features such as creative decor or exemplary service.

Michelin Plates

Michelin Plates are awarded to restaurants for having good food but not necessarily at the same level as Michelin Stars. There are no set criteria for what makes up a “good” dish; it’s entirely up to the judgement of the inspectors who visit restaurants and decide which ones should get plates.

The main difference between a Michelin Plate and a Michelin Star is that plates are awarded to restaurants which offer good food but don’t quite meet the criteria for a higher rating. They may have excellent ingredients or top-notch service but lack an extra something-something which would push them into star territory.

Conclusion:

Michelin Stars are given to restaurants that offer outstanding cuisine of extremely high quality while Michelin Plates are awarded to those restaurants which offer good food, but not at the same level as those receiving stars.