The Michelin Guide — the restaurant ranking provided by the French tire company since 1904 — has awarded four new restaurants in D.C. with its prestigious stars.
New one-star restaurants in the 2022 guide are Albi, Chef Michael Rafidi’s Levantine cuisine restaurant located in Navy Yard; the chef’s counter at Imperfecto, which serves Chef Enrique Limardo’s fusion of Mediterranean and Latin American food in West End; Oyster Oyster, Chef Rob Rubba’s vegetable-forward eatery in Shaw; and Reverie, Chef Johnny Spero’s tucked-away tasting-menu restaurant in Georgetown.
This means 24 eateries in the D.C. area now have Michelin stars, representing an “increase in the quality of local food offerings,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides. That list includes just one top tier restaurant with three stars, The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia, and three two-star restaurants: minibar by José Andrés, Jônt from Chef Ryan Ratino and Pineapple & Pearls from Chef Aaron Silverman.
Three restaurants fell out of the star category: Plume at The Jefferson Hotel, which is permanently closed; Komi, which is currently operating as Happy Gyro; and Sushi Taro, which went takeout-only for at least part of the pandemic but is now reopened.
Rubba told DCist in an interview that it’s an exciting day.
The chef and co-owner Max Kuller opened the plant-centric restaurant in 2020, at first only for takeout because of the pandemic. In 2021, they were able to open fully to offer the dine-in tasting menu they originally envisioned.
“With our restaurant being so driven by sustainability and kind of moving the restaurant world forward — to be recognized for that, to say that all these sacrifices we do, it can still be delicious — means a lot to us,” Rubba said.
While getting a star requires high standards, Rubba says the recognition is a reflection of how Oyster Oyster operates year-round.
“We were just trying to put out the best food and the best service we can for our guests every day,” Rubba says. “So I suppose that that passion and that drive and that love behind that met up with their standards.”
Michelin first launched its D.C.’s guide in 2016, making it only the fourth city in the U.S. to be featured. Despite promises that it would spread out its list geographically over time, it hasn’t really expanded in the suburbs of D.C. Only one restaurant outside the District, The Inn at Little Washington, located more than an hour away, has gained a Michelin star or bib gourmand designation.
Poullennec didn’t address directly when the local guide might see Michelin stars awarded to more suburban spots, but said, “We have inspectors, even at the time we speak, everywhere looking, monitoring new culinary destinations.” The company announced last year it will launch a guide in Florida, and that guide will soon be released, Poullennec added.
Michelin’s anonymous chief inspector for North America said the new starred restaurants in D.C. stood out for their unique and impressive cooking.
Albi, where Rafidi takes inspiration from his family’s Palestinian roots, was “so mouthwatering and delicious.” The inspector also said Oyster Oyster by Chef Rob Rubba “really, really knocked our socks off.”
Michelin also last week announced the release of its local Bib Gourmand list, which is a collection of restaurants of exceptional quality at lower price points. The new restaurants on that list were modern Indian restaurant Daru, New Orleans-themed Dauphine’s, fried chicken spot Honeymoon Chicken and Japanese spot Menya Hosaki.
Several restaurants lost their Bib Gourmand designation in the new guide as well. There were some surprises on that list: Andrés’ Zaytinya slipped off the list, as did Ethiopian spot Chercher and Chloe in Navy Yard. Others that dropped may have closed permanently or were closed for a substantial portion of time during the inspection period, including American Son, Hazel, Hanumanh, Napoli Pasta Bar, Primrose, and Succotash.
Michelin also awarded two special awards: Sommelier of the Year was awarded to Nicole Ramée, Alisa Watts and the team at Xiquet Nicole Ramee, Alisa Watts and the team at Xiquet. The Exceptional Cocktails Award was awarded to Will Patton and the teams at Bresca and Jônt
Many of the honored restaurants will be feted tonight at the annual Michelin star release party at the French ambassador’s residence. But individual restaurants will likely also plan their own mini-celebrations.
Rubba said he plans on having a fantastic staff meal and toast this evening because “it’s about a team here, not just about the individual.”
See the full list of Michelin starred restaurants around D.C.:
Three Stars
- The Inn at Little Washington
Two Stars
- Jônt
- Minibar
- Pineapple and Pearls
One Star
- Albi
- Bresca
- Cranes
- Elcielo D.C.
- Fiola
- Gravitas
- Imperfecto: The Chef’s Table
- Kinship
- Little
- Masseria
- Maydān
- Métier
- Oyster Oyster
- Reverie
- Rooster & Owl
- Rose’s Luxury
- Sushi Nakazawa
- Tail Up Goat
- The Dabney
- Xiquet
This story has been corrected to reflect Sushi Taro’s current status. The Dupont sushi restaurant is open for both indoor dining and takeout.
