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11 Restaurants That Should Have 3 Michelin Stars

by Gabe Ulla
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by Gabe Ulla

The round of Michelin announcements for 2013 is pretty much over (the determinations for France being the big exception), so it's time to look at the places around the world that should have gotten a little more love. Specifically: the restaurants that are sitting pretty at two stars but should probably receive the Guide's highest ranking of three. There's the obvious one (René Redzepi's Noma, which has been ranked the world's best for three years), the one fans are really pulling for (Andoni Luis Aduriz's Mugaritz), what could potentially be the fifth sushi counter in Tokyo with three stars (Sawada), four impressive selections in Northern California (Benu, Manresa, Saison, and Coi), and more.

Thanks to seasoned diners and Eater friends of the house, including Adam Goldberg (Life Worth Eating), Bonjwing Lee (Ulterior Epicure), and Ali Kurshat Altinsoy, for chiming in. Is there a two-star not mentioned on the list that you feel deserves three? Nominate your choices in the comments. To the map:


· All Eater Guides [-E-]
· All Michelin Coverage on Eater [-E-]

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Sushi Sawada

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東京都, 1-8-8
日本, Japan
03-3571-4711
03-3571-4711
Four sushi counters in Tokyo currently have three Michelin stars, and Sawada should be the fifth. David Chang has singled it out as the best sushi in town. Adam Goldberg, who recently ate his way through Tokyo a few months ago, had this to report: "The meal started with sashimi and led into sushi, some fish being aged or lightly seared. Though not as pure of an experience as Sukiyabashi Jiro or Mizutani, which only serves fish over rice, Sawada had diversity. The first course, a refreshing, pristine bowl of chilled Hokkaido sea urchin and salmon roe, continues to haunt me." [Photo Credit]

2. Benu

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22 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 685-4860
(415) 685-4860
Visit Website
Corey Lee marries what he picked up as chef de cuisine of Thomas Keller's French Laundry with his Korean-American background. The result is engaging and impressive.

3. Coi

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373 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 393-9000
(415) 393-9000
Visit Website
Chef Daniel Patterson's flagship restaurant has been putting out natural, deftly-prepared, innovative food for years now, and most devotées agree it's time for the upgrade.

4. Manresa

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320 Village Ln
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-4330
(408) 354-4330
Visit Website
David Kinch has devoted his career to Manresa instead of jumping at the sponsorships and expansion deals that are probably readily available to him. The result is an intensely personal, excellent restaurant. Per Adam Goldberg: "Chef Kinch has been doing his own thing for awhile now independent of culinary trends. Over the past few years Manresa has found its place at the crossroads of Japanese and French, and it's now stronger than ever."

5. Saison

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178 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 828-7990
(415) 828-7990
Visit Website
Joshua Skenes has earned critical acclaim for what he can do with fire and smoke at his restaurant Saison, but no one seems to be trumpeting his efforts louder than the bloggers. Ulterior Epicure Bonjwing Lee singled out the restaurant as deserving its third star: "I would feel comfortable saying that Joshua Skenes, chef at saison in San Francisco, is a convincing aspirant for three stars. Of the two-starred restaurants I've visited, his shows the most promise for earning three stars. His food is unique, exciting, and focused on showcasing the highest quality ingredients. (My latest meal at saison was in July of 2012)." [Photo Credit]

6. Mugaritz

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Otzazulueta Baserria, Aldura-aldea 20, Errenteria
PV 20100, Spain
+34 943 52 24 55
+34 943 52 24 55
Visit Website
A laid-back atmosphere and risky, occasionally provocative cooking style could be responsible for keeping Mugaritz at two stars. But Andoni Luis Aduriz is one of the world's most brilliant chefs — this is an idea factory if there every was one — and his restaurant is pleasant and thrilling. [Photo Credit]

7. Mirazur

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30 Avenue Aristide Briand
06500 Menton, France
+33 4 92 41 86 86
+33 4 92 41 86 86
Visit Website
Apart from boasting a dining room with spectacular views of the water, Mirazur has the Argentinean-born Mauro Colagreco in the kitchen. He trained with Alain Passard and the best parts of L'Arpège's culinary aesthetic, flavor, and sense of luxury carry over to the cooking here. It's the kind of place Michelin should be drooling over.

8. Restaurant Jean-François Piège

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79, rue Saint-Dominique, Paris
Ile-de-France 75007, France
+33 1 47 05 79 79
+33 1 47 05 79 79
With a resumé that includes running Alain Ducasse's Paris restaurant and a star turn at the Crillon Hotel's Les Ambassadeurs, it's not surprising that Jean-François Piège has brought his tiny, twenty-seat restaurant acclaim in less than two years. The place earned two Michelin stars practically off the bat, and Piège's cooking — grounded in the classics but also a lot of fun — could earn the place its third quite soon.

9. Hibiscus

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29 Maddox Street, London
Greater London, United Kingdom
+44 20 7629 2999
+44 20 7629 2999
Visit Website
Claude Bosi's Mayfair restaurant, a training ground for many of Britain's young cooks, is currently being renovated, which could take it over the top. [Photo Credit]

10. Noma

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Strandgade 93, København
Region Hovedstaden 1401, Denmark
+45 32 96 32 97
+45 32 96 32 97
Visit Website
René Redzepi's Copenhagen restaurant has been ranked the world's best for three years straight, so it's baffling to many that it still only holds two stars. Yes, it may be too informal for some (and, oh my, no Bordeaux!), but the fact remains that this is one of the most delicious and influential restaurants of our time.

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11. Frantzén/Lindeberg

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Lilla Nygatan 21, 11128
Sweden Stockholm, Sweden
+46 (0)8 20 85 80
+46 (0)8 20 85 80
Visit Website
To many who follow restaurants in the region, Frantzén/Lindberg is long overdue. Head chef Björn Frantzén and his pastry chef and business partner Daniel Lindeberg are in charge here, offering only one option a night: an extended tasting menu that above all highlights ingredients; the duo have noted their constant efforts to avoid heavy saucing and to let the natural flavors speak for themselves.

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1. Sushi Sawada

東京都, 1-8-8, 日本, Japan
Four sushi counters in Tokyo currently have three Michelin stars, and Sawada should be the fifth. David Chang has singled it out as the best sushi in town. Adam Goldberg, who recently ate his way through Tokyo a few months ago, had this to report: "The meal started with sashimi and led into sushi, some fish being aged or lightly seared. Though not as pure of an experience as Sukiyabashi Jiro or Mizutani, which only serves fish over rice, Sawada had diversity. The first course, a refreshing, pristine bowl of chilled Hokkaido sea urchin and salmon roe, continues to haunt me." [Photo Credit]
東京都, 1-8-8
日本, Japan
03-3571-4711

2. Benu

22 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Corey Lee marries what he picked up as chef de cuisine of Thomas Keller's French Laundry with his Korean-American background. The result is engaging and impressive.
22 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 685-4860
Visit Website

3. Coi

373 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133
Chef Daniel Patterson's flagship restaurant has been putting out natural, deftly-prepared, innovative food for years now, and most devotées agree it's time for the upgrade.
373 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 393-9000
Visit Website

4. Manresa

320 Village Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95030
David Kinch has devoted his career to Manresa instead of jumping at the sponsorships and expansion deals that are probably readily available to him. The result is an intensely personal, excellent restaurant. Per Adam Goldberg: "Chef Kinch has been doing his own thing for awhile now independent of culinary trends. Over the past few years Manresa has found its place at the crossroads of Japanese and French, and it's now stronger than ever."
320 Village Ln
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-4330
Visit Website

5. Saison

178 Townsend Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Joshua Skenes has earned critical acclaim for what he can do with fire and smoke at his restaurant Saison, but no one seems to be trumpeting his efforts louder than the bloggers. Ulterior Epicure Bonjwing Lee singled out the restaurant as deserving its third star: "I would feel comfortable saying that Joshua Skenes, chef at saison in San Francisco, is a convincing aspirant for three stars. Of the two-starred restaurants I've visited, his shows the most promise for earning three stars. His food is unique, exciting, and focused on showcasing the highest quality ingredients. (My latest meal at saison was in July of 2012)." [Photo Credit]
178 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 828-7990
Visit Website

6. Mugaritz

Otzazulueta Baserria, Aldura-aldea 20, Errenteria, PV 20100, Spain
A laid-back atmosphere and risky, occasionally provocative cooking style could be responsible for keeping Mugaritz at two stars. But Andoni Luis Aduriz is one of the world's most brilliant chefs — this is an idea factory if there every was one — and his restaurant is pleasant and thrilling. [Photo Credit]
Otzazulueta Baserria, Aldura-aldea 20, Errenteria
PV 20100, Spain
+34 943 52 24 55
Visit Website

7. Mirazur

30 Avenue Aristide Briand, 06500 Menton, France
Apart from boasting a dining room with spectacular views of the water, Mirazur has the Argentinean-born Mauro Colagreco in the kitchen. He trained with Alain Passard and the best parts of L'Arpège's culinary aesthetic, flavor, and sense of luxury carry over to the cooking here. It's the kind of place Michelin should be drooling over.
30 Avenue Aristide Briand
06500 Menton, France
+33 4 92 41 86 86
Visit Website

8. Restaurant Jean-François Piège

79, rue Saint-Dominique, Paris, Ile-de-France 75007, France
With a resumé that includes running Alain Ducasse's Paris restaurant and a star turn at the Crillon Hotel's Les Ambassadeurs, it's not surprising that Jean-François Piège has brought his tiny, twenty-seat restaurant acclaim in less than two years. The place earned two Michelin stars practically off the bat, and Piège's cooking — grounded in the classics but also a lot of fun — could earn the place its third quite soon.
79, rue Saint-Dominique, Paris
Ile-de-France 75007, France
+33 1 47 05 79 79

9. Hibiscus

29 Maddox Street, London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Claude Bosi's Mayfair restaurant, a training ground for many of Britain's young cooks, is currently being renovated, which could take it over the top. [Photo Credit]
29 Maddox Street, London
Greater London, United Kingdom
+44 20 7629 2999
Visit Website

10. Noma

Strandgade 93, København, Region Hovedstaden 1401, Denmark
René Redzepi's Copenhagen restaurant has been ranked the world's best for three years straight, so it's baffling to many that it still only holds two stars. Yes, it may be too informal for some (and, oh my, no Bordeaux!), but the fact remains that this is one of the most delicious and influential restaurants of our time.
Strandgade 93, København
Region Hovedstaden 1401, Denmark
+45 32 96 32 97
Visit Website

11. Frantzén/Lindeberg

Lilla Nygatan 21, 11128, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden
To many who follow restaurants in the region, Frantzén/Lindberg is long overdue. Head chef Björn Frantzén and his pastry chef and business partner Daniel Lindeberg are in charge here, offering only one option a night: an extended tasting menu that above all highlights ingredients; the duo have noted their constant efforts to avoid heavy saucing and to let the natural flavors speak for themselves.
Lilla Nygatan 21, 11128
Sweden Stockholm, Sweden
+46 (0)8 20 85 80
Visit Website

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