The New 'American South' MICHELIN Guide

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The MICHELIN Guide has been awarding Stars for outstanding cuisine since 1926, so it’s high time they announced a dedicated guide for the American South. The variety of distinctions awarded by the MICHELIN Guide can be a bit confusing to navigate, so we’ve broken down the results into an easy-to-follow overview!

Restaurants recognized by the MICHELIN Guide land in these main categories:

MICHELIN Stars are awarded for culinary excellence. Restaurants can earn up to three Stars.
Bib Gourmand status is a “best value” distinction, indicating restaurants that offer fantastic food at a moderate price.
Green Stars recognize a commitment to sustainability and environmentally ethical practices.
MICHELIN Recommended restaurants make up a broader category of outstanding eateries that have not been awarded one of the above distinctions.

Table of Contents

MICHELIN STARS
GREEN STARS
BIB GOURMAND
MICHELIN RECOMMENDED

MICHELIN STARS

MICHELIN’s inspectors award Stars based solely on the food, with five criteria in mind: quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, how the chef’s personality is expressed through their cuisine, and consistency. Price point, formality, and restaurant design play no part in this distinction.

These are the American South’s Star recipients, organized by state. (One New Orleans restaurant received TWO Stars!)

GEORGIA

One Star: Atlas | Atlanta, GA

Located in the St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead, Atlas serves refined New American cuisine, with a menu that evolves seasonally. The space boasts a standout wine cellar and private event spaces, making it an ideal venue for special-occasion dinners.

One Star: Bacchanalia | Atlanta, GA

A long-time Atlanta fine-dining institution, Bacchanalia offers a four-course prix fixe menu, with many ingredients sourced from the chef-owners’ own farm.

A square portion of layered terrine, inspired by the American South, topped with herbs and vegetables on a black plate, served with a baguette on a wooden board—a dish worthy of the MICHELIN Guide. — Atlanta’s Bacchanalia is making waves with its four-course prix fixe menu experience. Image: Amanda Greene

One Star: Hayakawa | Atlanta, GA

Hayakawa is a minimalist Japanese omakase counter in West Midtown that models itself on the finest sushi shops in Japan. Chef Atsushi Hayakawa acquires fish from Tokyo’s Toyosu market and beyond.

One Star: Lazy Betty | Atlanta, GA

At Lazy Betty, you’ll find a contemporary tasting menu concept from chefs Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips, blending global technique with local ingredients.

One Star: Mujō | Atlanta, GA

Mujō offers an exclusive Edomae-style omakase experience, led by Executive Chef J. Trent Harris and based on the Japanese concept of ichi-go ichi-e (“one time, one meeting”). With fish flown in from Japan and a menu that changes daily, it’s a destination for serious sushi aficionados.

A dark bowl with slices of raw fish, vegetables, and garnishes; broth is poured from a black vessel at a MICHELIN Guide restaurant table set with chopsticks and a wine glass. — Seafood served at Mujō is flown in fresh daily. Image: Andrew Thomas Lee

One Star: O by Brush | Atlanta, GA

Tucked inside Buckhead’s Brush Sushi, O by Brush is an intimate omakase counter where Chef Jason Liang merges Edomae tradition with Taiwanese-American flair, including dry-aged fish and an artful progression of courses.

One Star: Omakase Table | Atlanta, GA

This intimate West Midtown omakase counter led by Chef Leonard Yu offers a high-stakes sushi journey — think cured otoro, uni gohan, and seasonal fish flown in especially for each seating. Reservations are essential.

One Star: Spring | Marietta, GA

Editor’s Note: As of November 4, 2025, Spring is temporarily closed for renovations and slated to reopen in 2026.

Tucked in Historic Marietta Square, Spring is a neighborhood fine-dining spot where Chef Brian So and Sommelier Daniel Crawford serve a seasonally-driven New American menu and natural wines.

LOUISIANA

Two Stars: Emeril’s | New Orleans, LA

The flagship of Chef Emeril Lagasse, this New Orleans landmark opened in 1990 and changed the city’s dining scene with bold, Creole-inflected cooking served in an iconic setting. Emeril’s is the only restaurant to earn a Two-Star distinction in the American South Guide.

A hand pours a creamy sauce onto a plated gourmet dish inspired by the American South, featuring a seared piece of food, dollops of mousse, and garnishes of leaves in a white bowl worthy of the MICHELIN Guide. — Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant in New Orleans is the only restaurant in the American South Guide to garner two Stars. Image: Randy Krause Schmidt

One Star: Saint-Germain | New Orleans, LA

Located in the Bywater neighborhood, Saint-Germain is a reservation-only 10-course tasting menu destination where each dish is crafted with tableside interaction.

One Star: Zasu | New Orleans, LA

Chef Sue Zemanick’s Mid-City spot is a thoughtful blend of Southern ingredients and European refinement — her Slovak heritage adds a layer of personal storytelling in the kitchen.

NORTH CAROLINA

One Star: Counter | Charlotte, NC

Located in Charlotte’s Wesley Heights neighborhood, Counter delivers an immersive 10‑ or 14‑course tasting menu experience, where Chef and Owner Sam Hart entwines food, music, and visual art. Throughout each themed meal, the playlist and dish names evolve to tell a story.

SOUTH CAROLINA

One Star: Malagón Mercado y Taperia | Charleston, SC

This Spanish-inspired spot by Chef Juan Cassalett features tapas, imported goods, and an open-air market vibe off King Street, bringing lively flavor and a touch of Old World Spain to Charleston’s dining scene.

One Star: Scoundrel | Greenville, SC

A French bistro-style gem in downtown Greenville, Scoundrel pairs wood-floor charm with elevated plates from Chef Joe Cash. The menu leans European but remains grounded and approachable.

A hand holds a red-rimmed plate with two slices of seared meat, greens, and garnishes, styled over a patterned rug—perfect for a MICHELIN Guide-worthy experience inspired by the flavors of the American South. — Scoundrel in Greenville, SC, has plating down to a fine art. Image: Max DiNatale Digital Marketing

One Star: Vern’s | Charleston, SC

Located in the Elliotborough neighborhood, Vern’s is a neighborhood dinner spot focusing on modern-American dishes, seasonal ingredients, and thoughtfully curated service.

One Star: Wild Common | Charleston, SC

Chef Orlando Pagán’s Wild Common offers a chef-driven tasting experience with a showcase of local seafood, luxury touches like caviar service, and a focus on the unexpected.

TENNESSEE

One Star: Bastion | Nashville, TN

Situated in the Wedgewood‑Houston neighborhood, Bastion offers a dual experience: a lively cocktail bar and a 24‑seat, reservation‑only dining room led by Chef Josh Habiger. The dining room at this local favorite offers a set tasting menu and refined yet approachable service.

Three bowls with assorted dishes: a leafy green salad and herbs, a creamy dish topped with nuts, and a smaller, darker food portion showcase flavors inspired by the American South—perfect for any MICHELIN Guide travel guide. — Nashville’s Bastion offers a dual experience — a lively cocktail bar and a 24‑seat, reservation‑only dining room. Image: Victoria Quirk

One Star: Locust | Nashville, TN

Chef Trevor Moran’s 12 South spot serves globally inspired cuisine with a strong seafood focus, featuring an ever-changing menu of dishes like beef tartare, hand rolls, and caviar. The mood is playful yet elevated.

One Star: The Catbird Seat | Nashville, TN

A pioneering chef’s counter experience in Nashville, this U‑shaped dining room places you around the kitchen, where teams led by chefs Tiffani Ortiz and Andy Doubrava curate a progressive tasting menu with seasonal, local ingredients. With its dramatic setting and immersive service, it remains one of Nashville’s most talked‑about culinary destinations.

GREEN STARS

The American South Guide awards Green Stars to five restaurants. A Green Star signifies a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices — including attention to environmental impact, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing.

Bacchanalia | Atlanta, GA

Bacchanalia offers a four-course prix-fixe menu, with many ingredients sourced from the chef-owners’ own farm. (Also awarded an official MICHELIN Star!)

Counter | Charlotte, NC

Counter delivers an immersive 10‑ or 14‑course tasting menu experience where Chef and Owner Sam Hart entwines food, music, and visual art. (Also awarded an official MICHELIN Star!)

A hand pours a vibrant purple liquid from a shell into a decorative bowl with assorted small garnishes; an animal skull rests beside the bowl on a stone surface, evoking the culinary creativity celebrated in the MICHELIN Guide and the spirit of the American South. — The experience at Counter in Charlotte, NC, is a sensory feast. Image: Jonathon Elyea

January | Franklin, TN

Located at the scenic Southall Farm & Inn, January is a farm-to-table fine dining establishment where the menu shifts with harvests, and each meal is rooted in offerings from the land.

Luminosa | Asheville, NC

Luminosa brings a hyper-local twist to Italian cuisine in Asheville, marrying house-made pasta and local Appalachian ingredients in a sleek, elegant space.

The Chastain | Atlanta, GA

Just north of downtown in Buckhead, The Chastain blends refined comfort food with seasonal, farm-focused dishes in a relaxed yet polished atmosphere.

BIB GOURMAND

Any time you’re traveling, it’s a good idea to check if the area you’re visiting has a Bib Gourmand Guide. This distinction guarantees outstanding food at an approachable price point. Here are this year’s American South honorees, organized by state!

*We’ll dig deeper into these results in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, you can read the MICHELIN inspectors’ own impressions of each individual spot by clicking the links included in their official announcement.