Chef Nicholas Stefanelli, of the Michelin-starred Masseria. (Photo by Scott Suchman)
After another year of eating around D.C.’s dizzying number of restaurants, the esteemed Michelin Guide has given two new restaurants a coveted star, taking the number of D.C. restaurants with at least one Michelin star to 14.
New to the club are Komi (1509 17th St. NW) and Métier (1015 7th St. NW), which each received one star for their innovative tasting menus. The guide defines one star as “a very good restaurant in its category.”
Komi is helmed by James Beard winner Johnny Monis and has long been a go-to spot for a splurge meal. It was one of our snubs from the 2017 list. Métier is the upscale sister restaurant of Kinship, which retained its star this year, marking a second Michelin star for chef Eric Ziebold.
As with many of the restaurants on the Michelin star list, dining at the newcomers won’t come cheap. Dinner at Komi currently costs $150 (plus tax and gratuity) in addition to drinks, and the tasting at Métier runs $200 (gratuity included) without drinks.
Those expecting more changes from last year’s list may find themselves disappointed, but the company says the parity is proof that D.C. remains a vibrant food city that’s yet to reach its peak.
“It’s one of the most exciting cities for our inspectors to visit,” says Michael Ellis, international director for Michelin Guide.
He pointed to the emergence of Mid-Atlantic cuisine, as well as a growing focus on quality products, as two factors working in D.C.’s favor.
Restaurants “are really encouraging suppliers to up their game,” he says.
Pineapple and Pearls, Minibar, and The Inn at Little Washington each repeated with two stars—”excellent cuisine worth a detour.” All of the one-star restaurants from 2016 remained, too.
D.C. was once again shut out from a three-star restaurant, the highest possible rating. To make that jump, Ellis says, a restaurant must be flawless from start to finish.
“For a third star, there can’t be any weakness throughout the menu,” he says. “It’s an experience that will be ingrained in an inspector’s memory forever.
There’s reason to hope though. Ellis says that all three of D.C.’s two star restaurants are “strong contenders” to move up in future years.
The announcement is also notable for who didn’t make the list. Indian powerhouse Rasika was left off again, failing to join the ranks of many Indian Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe. Still, Ellis praised it as a highly successful restaurant that the guide plans to follow “very closely.”
On a lesser tier, The Bird (1337 14th St. NW) and The Smith (901 F St. NW) were added to the guide’s new “Michelin Plate” designation, which is now given to restaurants in the guide that do not receive stars or Bib Gourmand nods (there were three new additions to that list last week).
It all seems to point to a restaurant scene that continues to up its game despite rising competition for customers.
“You’ve got an audience now in D.C., and that’s very important,” Ellis says. “The best days of dining in D.C. are still ahead of us.”
The 2018 edition of the Washington, D.C. Michelin Guide will be available on Friday, October 20.
Here is the full list of winners:
Three stars:
A goose egg (again)
Two stars:
Minibar by José Andés
855 E St. NW
Pineapple & Pearls
715 8th St. SE
The Inn at Little Washington
309 Middle St., Washington, Va.
One star:
Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th St. NW
The Dabney
122 Blagden Alley, NW
Fiola
601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Komi
1509 17th St. NW
Kinship
1015 7th St. NW
Masseria
1340 4th St. SE
Métier
1015 7th St. NW
Plume
1200 16th St. NW
Rose’s Luxury
717 8th St. SE
Sushi Taro
1503 17th St. NW
Tail Up Goat
1827 Adams Mill Rd. NW
