Charlotte’s Michelin Milestone
Counter- earns North Carolina’s first-ever recognition from acclaimed global restaurant guide
The Michelin Guide, the globally renowned series of hotel and restaurant guidebooks, published its first regional guide for the American South in 2025. The winners of its coveted star ratings include other firsts, for both Charlotte and North Carolina: Counter-, Chef Sam Hart’s story-driven tasting experience in Wesley Heights, earned a Michelin Star in recognition of its culinary skill and outstanding food and a Green Star for its sustainable practices. It’s the first restaurant in North Carolina to earn either, much less both.
“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 guide reads. “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 awards signal an important advance in recognition for Charlotte’s food scene. The first Michelin Guide was published in 1900 by the brothers behind the French tire company of the same name; the Michelin brothers imagined their recommendations as a way to encourage car travel. The star rankings began in the 1930s, but Michelin didn’t begin issuing stars for restaurants in the U.S. until 2005. As the guides expanded to 30 regions across three continents, they tended to focus on large urban areas.
Even as the South has grown, Charlotte has trailed Southern culinary hubs like Charleston and Atlanta. But in the past decade, its dining scene has gained prominence as chefs like Sam Diminich and Greg Collier have earned James Beard nominations.
Michelin Stars (one, two, or three) go to restaurants with exceptional flavor, creativity, and execution. Green Stars celebrate restaurants that lead the way in sustainability and responsible dining. Bib Gourmand spots serve high-quality food at a reasonable price. The winners were announced Nov. 3 at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina; the new American South guide encompasses North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Other Charlotte establishments and professionals honored in November: Lang Van, the family-run east Charlotte Vietnamese restaurant, nabbed a Bib Gourmand award. Colleen Hughes, the James Beard-nominated beverage director at Supperland, received Michelin’s Exceptional Cocktails Award. The Guide also released a list of recommended dining destinations, and the following Charlotte restaurants made the cut:
Omakase Experience by Primefish
