2022 Michelin Stars Announced for D.C. Region
By • May 5, 2022 0 1725
In the restaurant industry, perhaps nothing’s more stressful than vying for a vaunted Michelin Star.
It all started in 1889, when brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin founded their tire company in central France at the birth of the auto age. They wanted to create a guide to entice drivers to venture out on the roads with their jalopies and dine along the way.
Today, Michelin’s “little red guidebook” to the best restaurants to try while traveling is the most influential restaurant-rating publication around the world. At any time, restaurateurs know that anonymous inspectors from Michelin might visit to judge their overall quality of produce, mastery of flavors and techniques, chef’s personality, pricing, consistency and other factors.
Yesterday, Michelin released its list of awardees for Washington, D.C.
Clearly, the D.C. food scene continues to flourish. According to Washingtonian Magazine, “the total number of Michelin-starred DC dining rooms” has risen to 24. “The District’s Michelin guide launched in 2016 with 12 starred rankings, and has since doubled in size,” Michelin’s Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, said.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Poullennec said that D.C. area restaurants have continued to up their game. “We haven’t changed their criteria, the restaurants have changed their games,” Poullennec said. “You really feel how strong the culinary scene is becoming, and despite the crisis, the trend continues.” (Washingtonian)
New Michelin One Star winners this year include chef Michael Rafidi’s Albi in Navy Yard, chef Enrique Limardo’s Chef’s Table at Imperfecto in West End, Oyster Oyster in Shaw and Jonny Spero’s Reverie in Georgetown.
In the two-star and three-star categories, no changes this year. The Inn at Little Washington in Rappahannock County, Virginia remains the region’s sole three-star restaurant. Three D.C. restaurants were awarded two stars again this year: Jônt at Logan Circle, chef José Andrés’s Minibar and Pineapple and Pearls on Capitol Hill.
Michelin also announced two new “special awards” and winners this year. Nicole Ramée and Alisa Watts of one-star Spanish restaurant Xiquet won Sommeliers of the Year and the Exceptional Cocktails Award went to Will Patton, beverage director at Bresca and Jônt.
Michelin also released its 2022 Bib Gourmand awards for restaurants that offer “good food at a moderate price.” Four new D.C. restaurants were added to the list: Daru, Dauphine’s, Menya Hosaki, and Honeymoon Chicken.
2022 Michelin Winners:
Three stars:
The Inn at Little Washington
Two stars:
Jônt
Minibar
Pineapple and Pearls
One star:
Albi (NEW)
Bresca
Cranes
The Dabney
El Cielo
Fiola
Gravitas
Imperfecto: the Chef’s Table (NEW)
Kinship
Little Pearl
Masseria
Maydan
Metier
Oyster Oyster (NEW)
Reverie (NEW)
Rooster & Owl
Rose’s Luxury
Sushi Nakazawa
Tail Up Goat
Xiquet
2022 Bib Gourmand Awardees:
Astoria
Bidwell
Cane
China Chilcano
Daru (NEW)
Das
Dauphine’s (NEW)
Elle
Fancy Radish
Federalist Pig
Hitching Post
Honeymoon Chicken (NEW)
Ivy City Smokehouse
Jaleo
Kaliwa
Karma Modern Indian
Laos in Town
Lapis
Makan
Maketto
Menya Hosaki (NEW)
Ottoman Taverna
Oyamel
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Queen’s English
Residents Cafe
Sababa
Sfoglina
Stellina Pizzeria
Taqueria Habanero
The Red Hen
Thip Khao
Timber Pizza Co.
Toki Underground
Unconventional Diner
Zenebech
