Sacramento’s Michelin-starred restaurants keep their stars following awards ceremony
The Oscars of the dining industry were awarded Wednesday evening in San Diego. The coveted Michelin Stars were awarded in a ceremony that unveiled the California ratings.
According to the Michelin Guide, restaurants may receive one to three Michelin stars for exemplary food. Chefs and their restaurants are rated based on five criteria: quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors and consistency between visits.
Sacramento’s two starred restaurants, Localis and The Kitchen, retained their one-star status. The Kitchen has had a star since 2019, whereas Localis got its star in 2022. Localis chef-owner Chris Barnum-Dann of Localis also received the Michelin Sommelier Award at the Michelin Guide California Ceremony in Sacramento last year.
Statewide, stars rose and fell. The Bay Area saw significant gains, with two restaurants elevating to the highest ranking of three stars: Upscale Mexican restaurant Californios and Sonoma’s Enclos.
Los Angeles’s Kato stepped up to two-star status this year.
In the one-star tier, Southern California made major waves. Corridor 109, Kojima, Lielle, Miura and Seline, all from the Los Angeles region, made their debuts, as did La Jolla’s Lucien. San Francisco’s Naides and Wolfsbane, as well as Healdsburg’s Troubadour, made the cut.
The guide also offers the Bib Gourmand, a rating that recognizes more casual establishments that serve good food at moderate prices. Three Sacramento-area restaurants remain on the Bib Gourmand list: Canon, Pho Momma and Nixtaco.
As a practical measure, the guide also includes additional recommended restaurants deemed worthy without earning any official award. While several new restaurants were added to this category, none were from Sacramento.
