Restaurants losing Michelin stars: Guy Savoy and others (2024)

Chef Guy Savoy, often touted as the world's best chef, has lost one of his three Michelin stars for his Monnaie de Paris restaurant. The restaurant had held its three-star status for the last 20 years since it was awarded in 2002, but the latest edition of the Michelin Guide France downgraded it to two stars.

Chef Savoy was informed of the demotion in a private discussion with the Michelin Guides' international director, Gwendal Poullennec, along with chef Christopher Coutanceau, whose marine-themed restaurant in La Rochelle is also being demoted.

The Michelin Group has confirmed that the rating is subject to yearly reassessment and that it is in the process of contacting other restaurants that will have stars removed. The Michelin Guide aims to provide reliable recommendations to gourmets and readers to help guide them in their choices. The ratings are not permanent, and they are reevaluated annually by inspection teams.

High-end restaurants that lost Michelin stars

Gordon Ramsay at the London, the flagship restaurant of renowned chef Gordon Ramsay located in a luxurious Manhattan hotel, was stripped of its two Michelin stars in 2013. Michael Ellis, the director of the Michelin guide, cited the restaurant's inconsistent meals as the reason for the demotion, stating that consistency is a significant factor in their ratings.

Michelin inspectors evaluate a restaurant based on objective factors such as food quality, service, atmosphere, and overall experience, not on the identity of the head chef. However, an exception happened five years back.

In 2014, Mitsuhiro Araki established The Araki London, a Japanese restaurant that was awarded two Michelin stars in 2016, followed by another star in 2018, making it the first Japanese restaurant in the UK to receive a prestigious three-star rating. However, when Araki announced his departure as head chef, Michelin downgraded the restaurant to a two-star rating, sparking controversy.

In 2019, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Atelier Crenn in San Francisco was downgraded to two stars in the Michelin Guide, causing controversy in the food world.

In 2020, Michelin stripped the three-Michelin-starred L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges in France of its stars after the restaurant's founder, the legendary chef Paul Bocuse, passed away.

Also in 2020, the Michelin Guide for Switzerland announced that it was revoking the two stars it had previously awarded to the restaurant Le Chat-Botté in Geneva, citing changes in the restaurant's cuisine and service.

In the same year, Michelin removed a star from French chef Sébastien Bras's restaurant Le Suquet, after Bras requested that his restaurant be removed from the guide, citing the pressure and stress that came with maintaining a Michelin-starred establishment.

Michelin star from India

India has seven Michelin Star chefs, and the most prominent of them all is Chef Vikas Khanna. He, along with the first Indian woman to get the Michelin star - Chef Garima Arora, is hosting Masterchef India at the moment along with Chef Ranveer Brar. The other people on the prestigious list are Chef Vineet Bhatia, Chef Atul Kochhar, Chef Srijith Gopinathan, Chef Sriram Aylur and Chef Alfred Prasad.

You are on Mint! India's #1 news destination (Source: Press Gazette). To learn more about our business coverage and market insights Click Here!

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Restaurants losing Michelin stars: Guy Savoy and others (1)

Sounak Mukhopadhyay

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Published: 02 Mar 2023, 10:00 AM IST

Restaurants losing Michelin stars: Guy Savoy and others (2024)

FAQs

Why did Guy Savoy lose Michelin star? ›

The decision was said to be down to the cheese used in the soufflé. However, the court ruled against him on the grounds that the chef provided no proof that the downgrade had caused him damage.

Which restaurants lost their Michelin star? ›

Restaurants that lost Michelin stars in 2024
  • Hakkasan Hanway Place, Fitzrovia.
  • Hakkasan Mayfair, Mayfair.
  • Leroy, Shoreditch.
  • Barrafina Dean Street, Soho.
  • Le Gavroche, Mayfair (closed)
  • Marcus, Belgravia (closed)
Feb 8, 2024

Why did Gordon Ramsay lose 9 Michelin stars? ›

Michelin guide director Michael Ellis told Bloomberg, "We've had issues with consistency, and consistency is a huge thing for us ... we've had some very erratic meals [there]." He explained that the major two-star downgrade was a difficult decision to make but the Michelin team felt it was the right thing to do.

Who was stripped of Michelin star best chef? ›

'Best chef in the world' Guy Savoy is mysteriously STRIPPED of a Michelin star at his Paris restaurant - 20 years since best friend Bernard Loiseau took his life after he dropped a rating. Guy Savoy, who is recognised as the 'best chef in the world', was stripped of a Michelin star at a restaurant in Paris.

Is Guy Savoy a good chef? ›

69-year-old Savoy has held Michelin's top three-star status since 2002 for his iconic eponymous restaurant, Monnaie de Paris, which overlooks the Seine. He was named as the best chef in the world as recently as November 2022; La Liste, which aggregates thousands of reviews from around the world, gave him that honour.

Did Gordon Ramsay cry when he lost a Michelin Star? ›

Still, Ramsay has found it hard to stomach his losses. "I started crying when I lost my stars," he lamented. "It's a very emotional thing for any chef.

Did Bobby Flay lose a Michelin Star? ›

The Las Vegas Mesa Grill earned Flay his only Michelin Star in 2008, which was taken away in the 2009 edition. Michelin did not publish a 2010 or 2011 Las Vegas edition, so the star could not be re-earned. Bolo Bar & Restaurant closed its doors on December 31, 2007, to make way for a condominium.

Does Gordon Ramsay have 7 or 16 Michelin stars? ›

Gordon James Ramsay OBE (/ˈræmzi/; born8 November 1966) is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall and currently holds eight.

How many Michelin stars does Bobby Flay have? ›

American chef Bobby Flay does not currently hold any Michelin stars. His second restaurant, Mesa Grill, in Las Vegas, was the only one to receive the award in 2008, just to have it taken back one year later with no option of re-earning it. By Gemma Bargues.

Who is the number one Michelin star chef? ›

Late French chef and restaurateur Joël Robuchon was the chef with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide as of April 2023. His restaurants were awarded a total of 31 stars across his career.

What chef has 16 most Michelin stars? ›

The World's Top Chefs
  • Joël Robuchon: 31 stars. Ever wondered which chef has the most Michelin stars in the world? ...
  • Alain Ducasse: 21 stars. ...
  • Gordon Ramsay: 16 stars. ...
  • Pierre Gagnaire: 14 stars. ...
  • Martin Berasategui – 12 stars. ...
  • Yannick Alléno: 10 stars.

How much is Guy Savoy Paris? ›

We welcome you from Wednesday to Saturday, for lunch and dinner. Guy Savoy proposes a seven course lunch menu without drinks: €260 (served with four glasses of wine: €335). Get a head start on Sunday lunch.

Does Gordon Ramsay still run the Savoy Grill? ›

With world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay at the helm and an expert kitchen and front-of-house team in the restaurant, the Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay offers an iconic British and French-inspired menu alongside an exceptional wine list.

How many restaurants does Guy Savoy own? ›

In 1980, Guy Savoy opened his eponymous restaurant in Paris. He earned his first Michelin star a year later, a second in 1985, and a third in 2002. Named one of Europe's top chefs by LuxuryTravel.com, Guy Savoy owns five other restaurants--three in Paris, one in Las Vegas, and one on an exotic island, The Pearl-Qatar.

Who is the best male chef in the world? ›

Joël Robuchin holds the number one spot amongst the world's top 10 chefs, making him the best chef in the world according to Michelin star ratings. Although he passed away with only 28 stars to his name, at one point Robuchon was the proud owner of 31 Michelin stars.

Does Guy Savoy have a Michelin Star? ›

Guy Patrice Savoy (French: [ɡi savwa]; born 24 July 1953) is a French chef who is the head chef and owner of the eponymous Guy Savoy restaurant in Paris and its sister restaurant in Las Vegas, both of which have earned multiple Michelin stars. He owns three other restaurants in Paris.

Why do chefs lose Michelin stars? ›

In order to earn a star, the food in the restaurant will be reviewed multiple times. To lose one, it will be again reviewed a few times, but generally, it will take less time to make a decision. ‍Key Takeaway: Any restaurant can lose a Michelin Star. Lack of consistency is the main reason why a Star is taken away.

Why did Marco Pierre White return his Michelin stars? ›

Four years later, he realized he wasn't fully satisfied with his work and announced his retirement, returning the Michelin stars. In this regard, he states: "I never earned the three Michelin stars; the men and women who were with me in the kitchen did.

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