NC restaurant earns coveted Michelin Star; several local spots recognized by famed outlet :: WRAL.com

A North Carolina restaurant has earned a coveted Michelin Star designation.

The popular guide announced its “American South” selections Monday night and while only Charlotte-based Counter earned a Michelin Star, other restaurants in the Raleigh area were honored too. 

Michelin Travel Guides are available in Paris, New York, London, Rome and Tokyo. The guides are  expert-curated, food-focused travel guides that highlight the best restaurants, hotels and attractions.

Michelin stars are coveted designations for restaurants across the globe. Restaurants may receive one to three stars based on the quality of the food. 

“Michelin Guide: American South” covers Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. It will also include the pre-existing Atlanta Guide.

North Carolina restaurants earning Michelin honors

One MICHELIN Star

This designation though not the highest (three stars is the highest, followed by two), one star means that the restaurant has high quality cooking and is worth visiting. 

Counter (Charlotte) 

Michelin Inspectors’ Comments

To say that
Counter is an outlier in the Charlotte dining scene risks understatement: this
ambitious, mercurial project from Chef Sam Hart is sui generis. The boldly
immersive experience features shifting concepts fueled by Chef Hart’s
multifarious passions and creativity, drawing on themes of nostalgia, music,
personal history and more on a multicourse tasting menu. Local products are
celebrated, including herbs and vegetables from nearby urban farms, combined
with wide-ranging culinary influences that make for a truly memorable meal. The
tight-knit team provides effortlessly gracious hospitality, and the beverage
offerings are sure to impress.

MICHELIN Green Star 

The MICHELIN Green Star highlights restaurants that have inspired and impressed inspectors with their committed vision for the future of gastronomy.

These two restaurants earned that honor in North Carolina

• Counter (Charlotte)
• Luminosa (Asheville)

Bib Gourmand 

This destinction recognizes eateries for great food at a great value. These are the picks from North Carolina: 

• Lang Vn (Charlotte) 
• Little Chngo (Asheville) 
• Luminosa (Asheville) 
• Mala Pata (Raleigh)
• Mother (Asheville)
• Prime Barbecue (Knightdale)
• Sam Jones BBQ (Raleigh)

American South’s 2025 Recommended restaurants (by city) 

Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill areas

• Brewery Bhavana (Raleigh) 
• Brodeto (Raleigh) 
• Crawford and Son (Raleigh)
• Dampf Good BBQ (Cary)
• Herons (Cary)
• Jolie (Raleigh)
• Little Bull (Durham)
• Nanas (Durham)
• Nikos (Durham)
• Poole’s (Raleigh)
• Seraphine (Durham)
• St. Roch Fine Oysters and Bar (Raleigh)
• Stanbury (Raleigh)
• Tamasha (Raleigh)
• The Fearrington House (Pittsboro)
• The Pit (Raleigh)

Asheville area

• Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant (Ashevlle)
• All Day Darling (Asheville)
• Curate Bar de Tapas (Asheville)
• Golden Hour (Asheville)
• Good Hot Fish (Asheville)
• Leo’s House of Thirst (Asheville)
• Soprana (Ashevlle)
• Sunny Point Cafe (Asheville)
• Table (Asheville)
• Tall John’s (Asheville)
• The Admiral (Asheville)
• Ukiah (Asheville)

Charlotte area 

• Customshop (Charlotte)
• Ever Andalo (Charlotte)
• Haberdish (Charlotte)
• Hello Sailor (Cornelius)
• Kindred (Davidson)
• Little Mama’s (Charlotte)
• Omakase Experience by PrimeFish (Charlotte)
• Prime Fish (Charlotte)
• Rada (Charlotte)
• Restaurant Constance (Charlotte)
• Supperland (Charlotte)