The Michelin Guide today announced the latest expansion of its well-respected family of restaurant guidebooks will include the American Great Lakes region, bringing the storied reviewers to the cities of Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh.
The famous travel guide was first published in France in the early 1900s, but it didn’t hop the pond until 2005, when it released a New York City guide. Since then, editions covering Chicago, Washington, D.C., California, Florida, Colorado, Atlanta, Texas, Boston, Philadelphia and the American South have been added to the virtual bookshelf.
“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,” states Gwendal Poullennec, Internation Director of the Michelin Guide. “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.”
Already, some of those inspectors have arrived in Greater Cleveland, scouting out the dining scene, surreptitiously making reservations, and dining anonymously. The results of their labors will be revealed in the first half of 2027 at a Michelin Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony.
When evaluating a meal, Michelin inspectors assess the quality of ingredients; mastery of flavor and cooking techniques; personality of the chef represented in the dining experience; harmony of the flavors; and consistency between visits. The stars, from one to three, famously translate to worth a stop, worth a detour, and worth a journey.
In addition to those illustrious stars, guides bestow other recognitions such as Bib Gourmand, Green Star, and other recommendations and honors.
There is no denying the power of a Michelin star – or two, or three. The guides serve as a beacon for travelers, who increasingly plan entire trips around dining. International travelers especially use Michelin stars to plan their journeys. In a 2025 Ernst & Young study, 76 percent of travelers said that they would extend a stay in a location to dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
“While we don’t know what restaurants will be honored with Michelin’s recognition, we know that Cleveland’s culinary scene will benefit from The Michelin Guide American Great Lakes edition,” states David Gilbert, president & CEO of Destination Cleveland. “As Destination Cleveland continues its work to attract visitors and strengthen perceptions of our city around the U.S. and the world, association with the Michelin Guide offers an opportunity to attract new travelers and boost local restaurants’ sales.”
When Michelin expands into new areas, it does so by “partnering” with regional tourism boards to help offset the expense of bringing inspectors in to undertake the comprehensive review process. These deals, once struck, secure a commitment by Michelin to evaluate the best restaurants in their cities. It does not, however, guarantee that a single star will be granted.
And it’s no small amount of money. Destination Cleveland. meanwhile, will pay $150,000 a year for three years.
So, when it comes to which restaurants will be eligible for inclusion, it’s helpful to limit one’s focus to those that lie within the borders of Cuyahoga County.
“Because Destination Cleveland is funded primarily through the Cuyahoga County lodging tax, that is the core focus area,” says Emily Lauer, VP of PR for Destination Cleveland. “That said, we know that visitors don’t plan trips solely along those lines and we encouraged their inspectors to evaluate restaurants that are throughout the region.”
Jeremy Umansky, who runs Larder in Ohio City, was bowled over by the news.
“I didn’t think this would ever happen, could ever happen, in my lifetime,” he says. “It was a dream I gave up on years ago when I moved from New York to Cleveland, and seeing that it’s happening here, now, is really fun and fantastic.”
Doug Katz, who operates three Michelin-recognition-worthy restaurants, says that inclusion in the guidebook series will further elevate the city’s dining scene in the eyes of travelers.
“I’m excited because I think that people from across the country, across the world, the people who visit University Circle… are going to use that guide to choose places because they know and trust it,” he says. “This is another opportunity to grow Cleveland and to grow our scene.”
And while one-star, two-star, and three-star Michelin restaurants often steal the limelight, it’s the more attainable restaurant honors that often sway mainstream travelers.
“When I travel, I want to feel the local vibe, so I tend to look for the Bib Gourmand – the more casual Michelin restaurants – and not really the fine-dining, multi-course places,” Katz explains. “And I feel that Cleveland has so many more of those types of places.”
As for what, if anything, he can do to prepare for the inevitable visits to Amba, Kiln and Zhug by anonymous critics, Katz says it’s simply business as usual.
“I love it when I don’t know when someone is coming because I want that person to have an authentic experience, because I feel like we really strive hard in our restaurants to create those experiences,” he says. “That way, if we do get some recognition, it’s authentic and it’s meant to be.”
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