Can Restaurants Lose Their Michelin Star?

The Michelin Guide is a prestigious arbiter of culinary excellence, evaluating restaurants annually to determine their star ratings. But what happens when a restaurant's quality no longer meets the stringent criteria for maintaining its coveted star?

The Annual Evaluation Process

A Michelin star is not a lifelong award; it is an evaluation of a restaurant's performance over the past year. If the Michelin inspectors assess that a restaurant has fallen below the necessary standards, the star may be withheld for the subsequent guidebook. In the guide's terms, stars can be taken away rather than removed permanently.

Common Reasons for Star Loss

There are several reasons why a restaurant might lose its Michelin star:

Changes in Kitchen Staff: A change in the culinary team can affect food quality and overall dining experience, leading to a drop in the restaurant's rating. Decline in Food Quality: Consistency in the quality of dishes is crucial. A noticeable decline in the dining experience can result in a star being lost. Shifts in Management: Changes in the management team can often lead to inconsistencies in service, which may impact a restaurant's star rating. Extended Closures or Major Renovations: If a restaurant is closed for an extended period or undergoes significant changes, it may not meet the standards set by the Michelin Guide.

Voluntary Star Revoke

Interestingly, chefs can choose to lose their stars intentionally. One common way is to change the menu, which renders the previous star evaluation irrelevant.

Challenges in Maintaining a Star

The Michelin Guide is clear that a restaurant cannot "give back" stars simply by asking for them or removing themselves from the guide. However, some famous chefs have attempted to do so, with varying results.

Michelin has refused to withdraw stars for restaurants that have faced difficulties in maintaining them. For instance, Bras, the former three-star restaurant in Laguiole, requested to be removed from the guide due to concerns about losing its third star. Despite their efforts, Bras was reinstated with two stars in the following year, suggesting that their initial request was likely a strategic move.

Recent Case Studies

Two notable cases illustrate the complexities involved in maintaining Michelin stars:

Sushi Saito in Tokyo

Sushi Saito, which has held three stars since 2008, became exceptionally popular, ranking number one for sushi in Japan on Tabelog. However, their popularity led to a scarcity of seats for non-regular diners. To address this, Saito stopped taking reservations in mid-2019. This decision was fair and understandable, given that the restaurant is now a private club with no need for new customers. Michelin responded by dropping the restaurant from the 2020 guide.

Jiro in Tokyo

Analogous to Sushi Saito, Jiro, another highly popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo, faced difficulties due to its limited availability. Despite being highly regarded on local guides and still taking reservations via some hotels, Michelin dropped it from the 2020 guide. The reasons given for the removal were disputed, as Jiro continues to take reservations.

Conclusion

While the Michelin Guide remains a benchmark for culinary excellence, the process of maintaining a star requires continuous effort and commitment. Restaurants that fail to meet the stringent criteria set by the guide may face the loss of their stars, even if they are beloved by their regular patrons.