Let’s say that Michelin gives my restaurant, Homie’s House of Giant Sausages™, three stars.
I, however, think the Michelin star system is outdated, unfair, shrouded in secrecy, and most importantly, doesn’t give diners the full picture; and I want no part of it. To me, including HHoGS in the pages of the Michelin Guide is an insult, not an endorsement.
If I asked them to take their stars back (metaphorically, obviously), would there be a precedent for same? Has anyone ever gotten Michelin - through the courts or through just asking nicely - to not include their restaurant in their Guide?
You mean has the restauranteur has declined to be rated? Sure, it’s happened.
Its a very wide spread issue.
The article lists some issues, one is false advertising…
some items on your menu are not star worthy…
or you change your menu and you feel you are being fraudulent to say it was a star worthy menu… you could be accused of cheating… a wedding party might want their money back… and compensation…
The star system is conservative, and that is it means you lock in to what you get assessed… also it forces all features of lower stars to be present in the three star restaurant… Same problem with hotel stars… its lucky that that first star doesn’t require a horses water trough at the parking lot.
Plenty on restaurants have handed then back. Here’s one in France that wanted to remain a mid-priced brasserie - French restaurant hands back Michelin star to bring in the diners
More recently, a young Spanish chef had himself removed from the guide - http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Food/News/2014/12/05/Spanish-chef-becomes-latest-to-hand-back-Michelin-star
Going further back, Macro Pierre White handed back his 3 stars in the 90s.
Since this is about restaurants, let’s move it to Cafe Society.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator