California’s 2023 Michelin stars were just released. Did they even come to Sacramento?
The 2023 California Michelin Guide was released Tuesday night. As far as Sacramento restaurants are concerned, though, it’s the same list as 2022.
No new Sacramento-area restaurants earned Michelin stars in the 2023 guide. There were no additional Bib Gourmands (standout meals at a lower price point) or even “recommended” restaurants, the new term for Plates, in the guidebook.
Greater Sacramento was similarly blanked on “special awards” honoring rising individual stars within the restaurant and bar industry, and didn’t walk away with one of the five Green Stars given to environmentally conscious restaurants.
Localis and The Kitchen remained Sacramento’s pair of Michelin-starred restaurants. Chris Barnum-Dann’s Localis recently celebrated its eighth anniversary at 2031 S St. in midtown, while Selland Family Restaurants is in the process of moving The Kitchen from Arden Arcade to 9th Street and Broadway.
Barnum-Dann and The Kitchen chef Kelly McCown were both at Oakland’s Chabot Space & Science Center for the guide release Tuesday night. While happy to keep Localis’ star, Barnum-Dann felt his restaurant had significantly improved its menu in 2023, and hopes for two stars or a Green Star next year.
“I’m super hungry. Our team is hungry,” Barnum-Dann said. “We’re pushing so hard right, so obviously retaining (a star) is incredible, but we’re like, ‘okay, time to continue this,’ so we’re really looking forward to next year.”
Frank Fat’s (downtown), Canon (East Sacramento), Yue Huang (Natomas) and Nixtaco (Roseville) all retained Bib Gourmands.
This year’s “recommended” restaurants, the same list as 2022’s Plates, was comprised of Allora, Bacon & Butter, Beast + Bounty, Camden Spit & Larder, Ella Dining Room & Bar, Grange Restaurant & Bar, Hawks Public House, Mulvaney’s B&L and Zócalo.
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Barnum-Dann was surprised no new Sacramento restaurants earned Bib Gourmands, he said.
“Sacramento should be a Bib city a lot like Bangkok, where you definitely have some good Michelin-starred, two-Michelin-starred restaurants, but an overwhelming amount of Bib Gourmand places that are just doing delicious food,” Barnum-Dann said. “I think we have a lot of that in Sacramento.”
A California-wide Michelin Guide has been published annually since 2019, aside from a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020. The last one was released in December, and a shortened timeline may be partially to blame for the lack of new Sacramento restaurants in the 2023 guide.
While no new Sacramento-area restaurants won awards in 2023, none were demoted from their prior listings, either.
The Kitchen won Sacramento’s first star in 2019. Four years later, chef Kelly McCown remains pleased with the city’s Michelin representation, he said.
“In my opinion, Sacramento continues to impress in the California Michelin Guide,” McCown said. “I feel that we seem to be on a precipice of great things, where one tide is raising all ships. I would hope that trend continues, because I think there’s a lot of people who have been doing a lot of good work for a long time.”
