Tears, Triumphs & a New Northeast: Inside the MICHELIN Guide’s 2025 Reset

WHO: MICHELIN GUIDE CEREMONY 2025
WHAT: NORTHEAST CITIES
WHEN: November 18th, 2025
WHERE: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

OFFICIAL MICHELIN GUIDE PRESS RELEASE

In the grand hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia this week, the MICHELIN Guide signaled a shift. With Philadelphia and Boston officially joining the “Northeast Cities” category, and a fresh star system already stirring commentary, this year’s ceremony felt like a pivot point in American dining. A night that surprised with emotion, warmth, and genuine connection.

Why It Felt Different

The Guide made waves last week by moving several three-star institutions — including Alinea (Chicago), Masa (New York), and The Inn at Little Washington (Virginia) — down to two stars.

Now add this geographic expansion, Philadelphia and Boston entering the fold, and you have the ingredients for a much-needed reset. The other pre-existing cities included in this edition of the Guide are Chicago, New York and Washington, DC.

But what no one expected?
How heartfelt the evening would feel.

Y’all wanted a change? Well, the MICHELIN Guide delivered with heart.

6:00 PM – Welcome Reception

The evening opened with a lively welcome reception in the grand main lobby. The Kimmel Center proved to be the perfect location: architecturally dramatic yet warm, with acoustics that made even whispered reactions feel amplified. Yes, I heard that, and that too! Live jazz performers provided the proper backdrop, and the sponsors showed up big with incredible bites and sips at every turn. Not a single corner was left without something tempting. Caviar? On repeat, of course.

It didn’t go unnoticed that both Chef Masa Takayama and Chef Grant Achatz were absent from the ceremony following their respective demotions. But on the opposite end of that spectrum stood Chef Patrick O’Connell of The Inn at Little Washington, who attended with poise, warmth, and unmistakable joy. Despite his own shift from three to two stars, he was spotted laughing, mingling, fully present, and seemingly having the best time of anyone in the room. That is how you do it. That is grace. That is leadership. And it was refreshing to witness.

Glasses of sparkling wine circled the room (oh, that Tokaj was special) as guests mingled and snapped shots with Bibendum. Chefs embraced, everyone whispered predictions, and the buzz of anticipation built with every arrival. And then the background music changed, and the melody played over the speakers. Thee melody. The one that usually precedes every award announcement during the ceremony. And there it was: “Please enter the theater, take your seats, as the ceremony is about to begin.”

7:15 PM – MICHELIN Guide Ceremony

Stage lights, gold and MICHELIN red accents, official announcements. Oh, the nerves!

Guests stepped into the performance hall for the official presentation. The stage glowed as emcee Java Ingram, along with Gwendal Poullennec (International Director of the MICHELIN Guide), announced stars, Bib Gourmands, new additions, and special recognitions.

There was a collective pause and wonder initially, given last week’s emotional rollercoaster. But the night turned out to be safe and void of any further dramatic plot twists.

One of the most unforgettable parts of the ceremony came when Chef Jacob Potashnick of Feld walked onstage to finally receive his MICHELIN Star and Green Star. For anyone who watched his journey unfold on Apple TV’s new docudrama, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, this was his dream delivered before us all. Seeing him hold back tears, overwhelmed and visibly moved, was one of the night’s most joyous moments.

And he wasn’t alone.

The team from Filipino- inspired Kasama, now proudly Two Stars, embraced one another in unfiltered and contagious emotion. There was no ego, no pretense, no performance. Just gratitude.

Moments later, Sushi Sho by Chef Keiji Nakazawa was announced as the newest Three-Star restaurant in New York, and his daughter accepted the award on his behalf. Her quiet and humbled reaction softened the room. A beautiful moment, dignified and pure.

Watching these teams, each with their own battles, sacrifices, and stories, receive such defining recognition moved many of us to tears. Did we cry along with some of the winners? We sure did. These were the kinds of moments that filled the Kimmel Center with something bigger than applause: joy, humanity, and the reminder that behind every star is a lifetime of work.

The Full Scoop

⭐ Three MICHELIN Stars

New York

Sushi Sho (Promoted to 3 Stars)

⭐⭐ Two MICHELIN Stars

Chicago

Kasama (Promoted to 2 Stars)

New York

Joo Ok (Promoted to 2 Stars)

⭐ One MICHELIN Star

Boston

311 Omakase (Inaugural star)

Chicago

Feld (Also received a Green Star)

New York

Bridges
Huso
Muku
Yamada

Philadelphia (Inaugural)

Friday Saturday Sunday
Her Place Supper Club
Provenance

MICHELIN GREEN STARS

Recognizing sustainability leadership:

Feld – Chicago
Pietramala – Philadelphia (vegan restaurant highlighted for its sustainability innovations)

BIB GOURMAND (New for 2025)

(“Good food at a good value.” Only new Bibs listed.)

Philadelphia
4th Street Deli • Angelo’s • Dalessandro’s • Del Rossi’s • Dizengoff • El Chingon • Fiorella • Pizzeria Beddia • Royal Sushi & Izakaya • Sally

New York
Bánh Anh Em • Chalong • La Dong • Laliko • Noreetuh • Olmo • Sal Tang’s • Taqueria El Chato • Yemenat

Boston / Cambridge
Bar Volpe • Fox & the Knife • Jahunger • Mahaniyom • Pagu • Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

Chicago
Mirra • Nadu • Taquería Chingón

Washington, D.C.
PhoXotic • Your Only Friend

MICHELIN SPECIAL AWARDS

Exceptional Cocktails Award: Chompon “Boong” Boonnak – Mahaniyom
Sommelier Award: Annie Shi Lei
Outstanding Service Award: Amy Cordell – Ever
Young Chef / Culinary Professional Award: India Doris – Markette
Mentor Chef Award: José Andrés – minibar

8:30 PM – Celebration Cocktail

Upon conclusion, the crowd relaxed into champagne, MICHELIN analytics, and friendly debates over caviar and bites.

The night ended with a spirited celebration cocktail back in the lobby, where newly starred chefs posed and teams toasted their successes. The mood was relieved and emotional, yet electric… the kind of energy only a MICHELIN awards ceremony can conjure.

Overall, the full selection, including Bib Gourmand restaurants and Recommended eateries, boasts 664 restaurants with 64 cuisine types reflected. The inaugural one stars for Philadelphia (3) and Boston (1) were on the conservative side. I applaud MICHELIN’s approach in not flooding a brand-new guide with stars right out of the gate. Slow and steady truly wins the race here. What’s left to strive for if the Guide hands everything out on night one? New cities need time. Time for restaurants to understand what the Guide values, time to absorb the standards, time for chefs to use this debut as motivation to push harder, refine further, and elevate their craft. By starting intentionally rather than generously, MICHELIN gives the entire dining community room to grow, rise, and meet the moment with purpose. It’s better for the scene, and ultimately, better for diners, too.

Closing out 2025, the results sent a message, loud and clear, to the world: Stars can fall, cities can rise, the Guide can evolve.

For the MICHELIN Guide: a new era has begun, rooted in excellence and softened with heart.

Cheers to that!

PHOTOS: Marc Patrick/BFA.com Todd Rubin/BFA.com, and The Whet Palette Productions.