PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s restaurant community came out on Tuesday as several of its own were recognized by the world-famous Michelin Guide — and three received Michelin stars.
Michelin unveiled its 2025 Northeast Cities Guide, which for the first time includes Philadelphia and Boston, in a ceremony at the Kimmel Center Tuesday night.
Center City's Her Place Supper Club and Friday Saturday Sunday were honored with the elusive star, as was Provenance in Society Hill. The three establishments are the first Philly restaurants to receive the prestigious distinction.
Restaurants that received recommendations were Mish Mish, My Loup, River Twice, Pietramala, Roxanne, Southwark, Suraya, Vedge, Vernick Food & Drink, Zahav, Vetri Cucina, Ambra, Hiroki, Illata, Laurel, High Street, Kalaya, Forsythia, Honeysuckle, Laser Wolf and Little Water.
Several other restaurants received Michelin's “Bib Gourmand” award, recognizing quality food at reasonable prices: Pizzeria Beddia, Sally, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Dizengoff, Fiorella, El Chingon, Famous 4th Street Deli, Angelo's, Dalessandro's, and Del Rossi's.
The inclusion represents long-awaited recognition for a food scene that Philadelphians have long known is among the world’s best, said Temple University hospitality professor Lu Lu.
“From the chef’s perspective, having a Michelin star, you expect a flood of tourists coming in,” Lu explained. “More traffic, higher spend — consumers are willing to spend more.”
Anonymous Michelin inspectors have been visiting Philly’s finest since the spring, looking for restaurants that fit their standards across several categories: quality, technique, value, consistency and how the chef’s personality is reflected in the cuisine.
Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the impacts will benefit the whole city as it takes center stage for 2026’s festivities celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday.
“That has a huge, huge value to international tourists and meetings and conventions,” he said. “They’ve done research at Michelin and shown that people will actually spend more time and more money in a destination because of Michelin recommendations than they might otherwise spend.”
Lu agreed.
“We will see spillover effects in the neighborhood around,” she said, though she acknowledged there can be a downside for locals in increased prices and reduced availability.
Michelin first entered the U.S. with a New York guide in 2005, adding guides for California, Chicago, Atlanta, and more in the two decades since.