The Michelin Guide on Wednesday added 10 restaurants to the Florida guide, including restaurants in Miami and Orlando but none in Tampa.
The announcement noted six new eateries in Miami and four in Orlando, which are listed in the online guide as “recommended” restaurants, ahead of the elite ranking system’s annual star reveal in April.
The recommendations, which are often released in January, are not the same as stars or Bib Gourmand recognition — they are merely meant to “highlight as new” certain additions to a city’s restaurant scene. But being included in the guide does appear to better a restaurant’s chance of getting one of the coveted star ratings later on.
So, what does this mean for Tampa restaurants? Not very much. If anything, it’s a bit of a snub. Last January, Michelin added six new restaurants to its recommendations for Tampa: Streetlight Taco, Supernatural Food & Wine, Predalina, The Pearl, Kosen and Ebbe. Of those restaurants, Streetlight Taco went on to get a Bib Gourmand and both Kosen and Ebbe snagged one-star ratings during the guide’s annual star ceremony. Rocca, Lilac and Koya each have one-star ratings as well, bringing the number of restaurants with Michelin stars in Tampa to five.
Does this mean Tampa won’t receive additional stars this year? Maybe. But nothing’s for certain with the guide’s elusive, highly secretive process.
Michelin first arrived in Florida in 2022 and has released three subsequent guides in the state since, following hefty financial investments from Visit Florida and tourism boards in Orlando, Miami and Tampa. Collectively, tourism agencies in the state shelled out roughly $1.5 million to get the elite ranking system to the state, part of a three-year contract. It’s a shift from how things used to work, when the guide would rate restaurants in places like New York City and San Francisco on their own dime. The new process has received a healthy amount of criticism.
Michelin’s long-standing practice of favoring expensive, upscale restaurants over more affordable options has come under scrutiny, too. The type of restaurant they reward with stars is typically tasting menu-only, or a fine dining establishment with elevated multicourse meals.
The guide’s foray into Florida has been met with enthusiasm from many diners, chefs and tourism leaders. They credit the development for spurring an increased interest in Tampa’s culinary landscape.
Wednesday’s announcement implies that the Michelin Guide plans on keeping its presence in Florida, though no information on timeframe or contracts was immediately available. When asked whether Michelin had renewed contracts with any Florida cities, a Michelin Guide spokesperson declined to confirm any extension, but said that “once the guide arrives in a destination the intent is for it to remain there.”
Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada confirmed that the contract with Tampa has been extended, but said negotiations were “still in process.”
“Our restaurateurs are still super excited about it and engaged and would like it to continue,” Santiago said.
Visit Florida’s president and CEO Dana Young also confirmed that “Michelin is still working through their contracts with the individual destinations.”