Why You Won't Find Columbus in Michelin Guide's American Great Lakes Edition...Yet
Cincy and Cleveland will be included in the inaugural guide, but not us. Here's why and what some local chefs think about the prospect of Michelin in Columbus.
Why You Won’t Find Columbus in Michelin Guide’s American Great Lakes Edition...Yet
By Erin Edwards (with additional reporting by Bethia Woolf)
In April, the world-renowned Michelin Guide announced that it would be expanding its coverage in the U.S. by adding an American Great Lakes edition. Though Chicago has been part of the esteemed culinary guide since 2011, the rest of the Midwest has been waiting in the wings.
The new edition, which debuts in 2027, initially included six cities: Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. Alhough Cincinnati was left off the original list, the Queen City has since been added to the guide for 2027.
That leaves Columbus as the obvious omission in Ohio. So, what gives and what are some local chefs saying about it?
First, a short explainer on the Michelin Guide: The publication, founded in 1900 by the French tire company Michelin, sends out teams of secret guide inspectors to evaluate restaurants in participating cities based on five criteria: “ingredient quality, harmony of flavors, the mastery of culinary techniques, how the chef’s personality shines through their cuisine and, crucially, consistency across the entire menu and over time.”
For those restaurants that meet Michelin’s criteria for “outstanding cooking,” the organization then awards restaurants either one, two or three stars. According to Michelin, a restaurant’s decor and service are not considered.
The Michelin Guide does offer other forms of recognition beyond stars. For example, a Bib Gourmand designation recognizes businesses that serve “exceptional food at moderate, value-for-money prices,” while the guide also includes “Selected Restaurants” that offer good food but don’t rise to the star or Bib Gourmand level.
The fact is, Michelin doesn’t add your city to its guide out of the goodness of their butter-basted hearts—or solely based on culinary merit, although culinary chops are very important. Over the last few years, as physical book sales have declined, the Michelin Guide has expanded into new markets (both in the U.S. and globally) through paid partnerships with tourism bureaus, often with a 3-year commitment.
Experience Columbus, the city’s tourism bureau, has long touted our dining scene, whether it’s by inviting in food writers to experience the city or organizing a citywide push for James Beard Award nominations.
We asked Experience Columbus, which has been in talks with Michelin, about the reason why Ohio’s capital city wasn’t included in the American Great Lakes edition for 2027.