Michelin Guide to give 6 Great Lakes cities a shot at coveted stars

Some of the globe's best-traveled diners will soon be planning trips to the heart of the United States.

The Michelin Guide announced April 8 it plans to partner with six cities to publish an American Great Lakes Edition, set to release annually starting in 2027, giving restaurants in Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh a shot at arguably the highest honor in the culinary world.

"The MICHELIN Guide is committed to fostering a culture of travel and dining by helping people discover unforgettable culinary experiences in new destinations,” Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, said in a news release. “We are excited to finally be putting a stake in the ground in the Great Lakes region, spotlighting the talent and food cultures across these six great cities. Our anonymous Inspectors have begun canvassing these cities for impressive culinary talent and are eager to share their experiences with you in the inaugural selection next year.”

Michelin, the French tire company, has published some form of travel guide since the early 1900s, initially to encourage more car travel and thus more tire purchases. By the late 1920s the guide had shifted its focus from auto shops to restaurants and hotels. In 1931 the Michelin Guide debuted its star rating system: one star for "a very good restaurant in its category," two stars for "excellent cooking, worth a detour" and three stars for "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

The Guide's other distinction is the Bib Gourmand, given to restaurants that offer skillful cooking at an accessible price — essentially, your best bang-for-buck picks. Each Guide also lists a number of "selected restaurants," which are spots with noteworthy cooking that do not receive stars or Bib Gourmand awards.

Per the Michelin Guide's website, stars are awarded based on five core criteria: ingredient quality, harmony of flavors, the mastery of culinary techniques, how the chef’s personality shines through their cuisine and consistency across the menu and over time. A team of full-time Michelin Guide Inspectors visit candidate restaurants "as many times as it takes to get the complete picture" before compiling each year's Guide.

Full-time Michelin Inspectors first came stateside in 2005 with the New York City Guide, followed by Los Angeles in 2007 (later discontinued) and Chicago in 2010. Over the last year, Michelin has also announced or released guides for Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, the American South and the American Southwest.

A city's participation in the Michelin Guide does not guarantee that any of its restaurants will receive distinction. In 2025 the Guide issued stars to 276 restaurants in the United States, more than half of them New York City, Chicago or California. And since 2019, each newly added region has paid a substantial sum to help cover the costs associated with expansion; the tourism bureau in Denver paid in the neighborhood of $100,000 per year starting in 2023 to have a chance at a Michelin star, while Boston and Atlanta have forked over up to $1 million for three-year contracts.

Still, the mere possibility of receiving Michelin accreditation could be a boon for the tourism and hospitality industries of mid-sized American cities. A 2025 Ernst and Young study reported 74% of travelers consider Michelin-starred restaurants a "decisive criteria" when choosing a destination, and 76% will extend a stay to visit a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Bradley Hohulin covers food and restaurants at the Indianapolis Star. You can contact him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram @BradleyHohulin.