They’ve been served some bad news.
The oldest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world has lost its third star, according to multiple reports out of Europe.
Since 1981, Georges Blanc, the beloved eatery in Vonnas, southeast France, has boasted three Michelin stars — the highest honor given by the famed restaurant guide.
But in its new guide, Michelin has now pulled the third star from the restaurant, instead awarding it just two stars to “reflect the evolution of the quality of the restaurant in our rankings”.
The eatery’s eponymous owner George Blanc said he was not “expecting” the snub, BBC stated.
However, Blanc took the news in his stride, adding: “We’ll make do with the two stars. Maybe we’ll be less elitist and a little more accessible.”
“One star will be missing, fading away, so we will manage with two stars,” the chef added, per CNN. “It’s not an issue.”
A Michelin spokesperson confirmed the award to the outlet on Friday.
“Our evaluation criteria have been the same for 125 years. They are focused solely on the dish,” the representative told CNN.
They said that the process is “collegial” — the award is determined by a team of various inspectors, not one individual, who visit the restaurant multiple times per year.
“It’s about five key criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the cooking technique, the harmony of flavors, the personality of the chef as expressed in their menu, and the consistency and regularity between different inspector visits,” the spokesperson added.
Located outside Lyon, Georges Blanc received its first Michelin star in 1929, when it was owned by Georges’ grandmother Élisa Blanc and named “La Mère Blanc,” CNN reports.
The 1872-established fine dining locale has maintained its starry prestige ever since.
Georges earned the third star for the restaurant in 1981, nearly 20 years after he took over, and has kept all three for nearly half a century until this week.
“It was truly under his leadership that what was once a family inn experienced a new boom to become this gourmet village which is a true gastronomic destination today,” Michelin Guide director Gwendal Poullenec told the AFP.
The organization is attempting to “reflect the evolution of the quality of the restaurant in our rankings,” he explained, adding that they will “continue to follow this restaurant with the same kindness, the same rigor” in the future, BBC reports.
As of 2024, just 146 restaurants around the world hold three Michelin stars.
