Michelin stars align for its Southern culinary guide celebration — here’s where

Well Charlotte, it’s official.

The city is another step closer to potentially having its first MICHELIN star restaurant.

After announcing the MICHELIN Guide American South, a date has been set to reveal which culinary gems across the region will be spotlighted with the coveted honor of a MICHELIN star. 

The inaugural ceremony for the new edition of the Guide will be held in the Carolinas on Monday, Nov. 3 in Greenville’s Peace Center. 

“We are excited to honor and celebrate the talented culinary community of the American South in just a few months,” Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, said in a media release. “South Carolina is home to southern staples, fresh seafood and a homegrown culinary community full of passion and innovation, making it the perfect place to celebrate the region’s culinary talents. Our anonymous Inspectors look forward to finally sharing their discoveries with the world.” 

‘Coming to the American South’

Up until this point, North Carolina’s only MICHELIN mention has been for several outstanding hotels. But that could change for any additions to its MICHELIN Guide recognition of world-class restaurants. 

In an effort to “better uncover the authentic food culture of the American South,” this version of the guide will showcase restaurants in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and the pre-existing Atlanta Guide.

“We are excited to embark on this new journey for the MICHELIN Guide as this will be the first time since the Guide’s North American debut in 2005 that we are launching a regional selection,” Poullennec previously said in an announcement about the guide.

“The cuisine of the American South is a unique product of diverse influences creating an iconic array of specialties prepared by proud and impressive culinary talent.”

Methodology behind MICHELIN guides

According to Michelin, there are five universal criteria that restaurant selection, which is determined by anonymous inspectors, will be based on: 

• Quality products
• The harmony of flavors
• The mastery of cooking techniques
• The voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine
• Consistency between each visit and throughout the menu

Each restaurant is inspected several times a year.

The upcoming ceremony is when invited chefs will learn whether their restaurants have received a MICHELIN Star or another MICHELIN Guide distinction. 

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.

This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 10:24 AM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription