I wouldn’t enjoy myself at a place like that. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the food, either. Too much social knowledge required, too much money being flaunted, too much everything. If I had an opportunity to try the food in comfortable surroundings (psychologically comfortable - I know 3-star restaurants have nice chairs, that’s not what I mean), I gladly would. Maybe.
What do you mean by “social knowledge”?
I’m not totally inept socially, but it’s hard work for me and I’m not good at it. A formal setting is chess and I’m playing checkers.
While I’m sure there are some that present you with fifteen different forks and require you to pick the right one, I’ve never experienced that. Basically, as long as you aren’t chewing with your mouth open, you’re fine.
Here is the 2018 Michelin Guide list for NYC. New York has 5 three-star restaurants, 11 two-stars restaurants, and 56 one-star restaurants.
When people talk about “Michelin star restaurants”, they usually talk about an ultra-luxe restaurants with expensive elaborate multi-course refined chef’s tasting menus that use the finest, most expensive ingredients and exquisite, artistic plating. The decor and service will be high-end and impeccable, and it will cost three figures to dine there.
That kind of restaurant is a three-star or two-star restaurant. Some one-stars might be in that vein and be looking to move up, but some are more casual or a different dining experience.
Three-star and two-star restaurants in the sSates are almost entirely high-end French, Modern American, or Japanese (sushi or kaiseki), with a smattering of high-endItalian and other Euro cuisine like Spanish and Scandavian. While one-star Michelin restaurants will always be “nice”, so a bare-table, mismatched-chairs ethnic eatery in strip mall in Queens won’t make the cut even if the food is delish. However, I have eaten in one-star Michelin restaurants in NYC for less than thirty bucks (if you don’t order drinks or dessert).
The Michelin guide is undoubtedly bias towards French cuisine. Not that French cuisine isn’t special.
Also, one-star restaurants are where there’s a lot of discrepancy between local reviewers and the Michelin Guide, and also questions about why this place got a star when this even better place didn’t.
I ate atthis place (1-star since 2006) in Spring of 2012. A really imaginative and innovative molecular gastronomy style meal that was terrific in terms of flavor and preparation, and amazing service in a really cool setting.
Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had.
That said, the Michelin guide only covers 3 US cities, and I’ve had meals that were comparable to De Vrienden van Jacob in Dallas and New Orleans, as well as a few in Southern California as well. So I wouldn’t put too much stock in whether a US restaurant has a star or not.
Psssssssssst…DavidWithanR drinks the fingerbowls. Pass it on.