Since the Michelin Guide announced back in December that Utah would be vetted as part of 2026’s The MICHELIN Guide Southwest — including Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico as part of the regional roundup — restaurateurs, chefs and the food lovers who follow along on their journey have been awaiting the news while speculating wildly. Which spots deserve a star? Would we not even make the grade?
Cutting to the chase, last night at a ceremony in Las Vegas six Salt Lake City eateries and three in Park City got word that they’d been tapped with prestigious Michelin nods:
- Monte, led by chef Martín Babío, garnered Utah’s only Michelin star
- “Recommended” restaurants in SLC include Koyoté and Star of India
- Park City’s “recommended” are Handle, High West’s Nelson Cottage and Matilda
- Three “Bib Gourmand” ratings for restaurants having exceptional value for the quality of food went to Feldman’s Deli, One More Noodle House and Phở 777
I was one of those foot-draggers who’ve had Monte on my must-try list for ages. The space — in South Salt Lake’s Beehive Distilling operation — is moody and gorgeous and filled with stunning art collected by Beehive’s owners. But it never worked out: We had a party of three or four, and there was only a reservation for two left; we had to cancel our reso when travel plans changed.
Welp, it’ll be a while before I (or you) may be able to get in, as when I started rummaging through available open dates at the crack of dawn this morning I was outta luck. I’ll keep trying.
Critics may note that the Michelin list looks very different from other prestigious food lists like the annual James Beard Awards, national “Top 50 restaurant” roundups, or even our own Salt Lake magazine Dining Awards. To that, I’d note that food experiences and the people who review them are ever evolving. And each organization has their own rubric quirks and criteria for evaluation. However, one thing they all have in common is recognizing independent and local spots, and places where the chefs and owners are likely in their kitchens every day.
In other words, if you have a choice, choose local. No matter the price point or star power.
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