The biggest snubs and surprises

Readers Say

Readers say the Michelin Guide’s first-ever Boston list missed some major favorites.

The Michelin Guide released its first-ever ratings for Boston restaurants on Tuesday — and Boston.com readers weren’t fully on board with the list.

Only one Boston restaurant, the South End’s 311 Omakase earned a Michelin star, and no local spots received two or three stars. Six restaurants landed on the Bib Gourmand list, 19 were marked as “suggested,” and Brookline’s Mahaniyom received the Exceptional Cocktail Award.

Michelin inspectors were reportedly tasked with dining at Greater Boston restaurants within the Interstate 95/Route 128 corridor, and in the end, multiple restaurants from Boston and Cambridge made the list. Lynn and Newton each had one restaurant make the guide as well.

“LOVE that 311 got a star,” a South End reader wrote. “I never had a doubt.”

But among the nearly 100 readers who responded to Boston.com’s poll, 74% said they disagreed with Michelin’s picks, calling out several restaurants they believe were snubbed.

The most frequently mentioned omission? Sarma in Somerville, the modern Mediterranean restaurant from Chef Cassie Piuma.

“How on earth did Sarma not get a star let alone Bib Gourmand or suggested? Yet Woods Hill in the Seaport made the list? Something is off here,” Brittany in the South End wrote.

Readers were also surprised that O Ya in the Leather District — long considered one of the city’s standout omakase destinations — didn’t make the list.

“The omission of O Ya is truly an insult,” Anthony in Allston wrote. “After years of multiple luminaries praising O Ya, and after years of them CONSISTENTLY providing incredible food, it is shocking that they didn’t enter at 2 stars.”

Ahead, read the snubs and surprises readers say the Michelin Guide got wrong in its debut Boston rankings.

“Mistral missing was a surprise” – Tim S. from Acton

“Sarma certainly got snubbed, did they just bypass Somerville all together?” – Steve from Beacon Hill

“Very deserving restaurants here (happy for Pagu, Sumiao, and Oleana in particular), but the lack of Sarma is a travesty!!” – Rebecca M. from Medford

“I’d like to understand how they missed O Ya.” – Odessa P. from Roslindale

“Where is Uni or Deuxave?” – Liz R. from Newton

“Sorellina — elegant dining, quiet, fabulous food for 20 years. I agree with Asta, love the place and food. Mistral you missed, as well as many more.” – Rona

“Urban Hearth is a high recommend. Giulia is awful. I could not believe I saw that on the list. I am shocked that you snubbed Sarma. That is without a doubt Boston’s best restaurant. Would have loved to see ‘[The] Table’ at Season to Taste and Nine. They recently rebranded and are incredible.” – Stephanie M. from Boston

“Wow. So much. In fact so much that I’ve never been compelled to comment on anything and here I am. 1.) LOVE that 311 got a star. I never had a doubt. 2.) The rest is murky and feels like how US Michelin just wants pomp. You can’t put Mooncusser (which should have easily been a 1 star), La Padrona, and Neptune in the same group. Especially Mooncusser — how did that not get a star? The reason I distinguish on US Michelin is because when you go to Michelin [restaurants] in Europe, the vast majority are true neighborhood gems. It has become an increasing feeling that the US ones have to be something big. 3.) It feels like they did a half-assed assessment. Just one cocktail place? (As an example). While at first angry, I’m just sad. I thought we’d finally get our chance to show off. I’ve lived in a number of cities (BTW I’m not an original Bostonian – just adopted), and the other Michelin cities always act like we’re lucky to not be eating at Applebee’s (no shade). I thought this was going to be a chance for everybody to hear how much good food we have — today I just know we have to keep shouting it from the rooftops.” – Anonymous from the South End

“O Ya is one if the best restaurants for sushi I’ve ever been to. Shocking to not see it on this list in any capacity. Expected it to be at least 1 star.”- Nick W. from Sudbury

“Surprised Comfort Kitchen didn’t make the list. Love Sarma and Copa but not surprised they didn’t make due to their more casual format even though they serve better and more interesting food than many places on this list. I’ll note the total absence of big name Back Bay/South End fine dining establishments from these lists.” – Jack B. from Inman Square

“Boston as a whole can step up its culinary game. Thematically seafood (including sushi) and Italian are clearly the strengths of the city which Michelin also captured. Glad to see that some restaurants that rest on their popularity laurels were left out ([especially] Deuxave, Ostra, Sarma, Celeste).” – Anonymous from Downtown Crossing

“Surprised Comfort Kitchen didn’t make the list. Love Sarma and Copa but not surprised they didn’t make due to their more casual format… even though they serve better and more interesting food than many places on this list. I’ll note the total absence of big name Back Bay / South End fine dining establishments from these lists.” – Jack B. from Inman Square

“I feel this specific list of recommendations/gourmands favors the creative, the experimental, the cuisine that at its inception is different. I feel, just because it’s new or different doesn’t make it good. Just because it’s revolutionary or not, your standard Boston eatery a la a pub doesn’t mean that at the end of the day whether it was expensive or budget-friendly was it good. I want good for regardless of the “conversation” the food has, regardless of cost. Eaters deserve good food, and I feel this list does not encapsulate the taste, flavor, or the best Boston has to offer.” – Anonymous

“I believe Wa Shin deserved a star, Tonino deserved a Bib Gourmand or at least suggested over Carmelina’s. I agree with Fox and the Knife and Mahaniyom – I have heard that Sarma got snubbed as well but never been there. Very surprised about no O Ya also, but haven’t been there either.” – B in Mission Hill

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that only restaurants in Boston and Cambridge, the two cities reportedly involved in bringing Michelin to the region, were considered for the Michelin Guide. One restaurant each in Lynn and Newton also earned spots in the guide. Boston’s tourism arm, Meet Boston, paid for Michelin to come, and Cambridge’s tourism agency reportedly helped. Boston.com regrets the errors.