Graham Elliot gets another Michelin star

November 16, 2012 – This year’s editions of the oldest and arguably best-known guides to restaurants have been published and Graham Elliot’s River North gastro-pub has earned an extra star. Elliot’s restaurant on West Huron Street now has two Michelin stars on a three-star scale.

According to the third edition of Michelin Guide Chicago, which went on sale Wednesday, two stars means “excellent cuisine, worth a detour.”

After a one-year absence, Trump International Hotel & Tower’s restaurant Sixteen is back with one star and officially “a very good restaurant.” River North’s other one-star restaurants, NAHA and Topolobampo, are both located on North Clark Street. Chicago now has 16 one-star restaurants, two two-star restaurants, and one three-star restaurant, Alinea. 433 local restaurants are at least noted in the guide.

Anonymous, professional inspectors hand out stars. First published in France in 1900, the Michelin Guide is considered by many to be an international benchmark in gourmet dining.

Meanwhile, OpenTable’s recent list of “top ten restaurants fit for foodies” lists Elliot (above) twice, for his River North location and for Graham Elliot Bistro in the West Loop. His Grahamwich, not on any of the lists this year, is located on North State Street.