Elliott Aster and In Between Days earned Michelin Guide picks Thursday. St. Petersburg now boasts five entries, though the city didn’t snag any stars for the second consecutive year at the ceremony.
Il Ritorno, Sushi Sho Rexley, and Fortu held onto their positions. This marks the first time the guide stretched its reach across all of Florida after years of zeroing in on specific markets — Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater.
Elliott Aster sits inside the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, where wood-fired steaks meet house-made pastas. The guide applauded this Italian-inspired steakhouse for blending traditions with modern steakhouse fare. Diners find focaccia rolls packed with pecorino and taleggio cheese, radiatore alla vodka laced with Calabrian chili, and caramel coffee budino on the menu.
In Between Days claims the title of Florida’s first Tokyo-style sake bar and vinyl house. Owner Zach Ashton created a spot where sake-based cocktails flow alongside a curated selection of gyoza, hamachi, oysters, and rotating noodle dishes. The guide called out the chef’s choice ramen — bone marrow broth swimming with enoki mushrooms, scallions, soy egg, and torched pork. There’s also pumpkin Basque cheesecake topped with toasted pepitas, miso caramel, and whipped cream.
Stars, Bib Gourmands, and picks get handed out based on ingredient quality, cooking techniques, chef personality, flavor harmony, and consistency. Stars represent the highest achievement. Bib Gourmand status goes to places delivering exceptional food without draining wallets.
Tampa Bay holds four Michelin stars spread across Koya, Rocca, Kōsen, and Ebbe. Lilac in Tampa dropped its star this year, while the guide granted two fresh one-star spots and 10 new Bib Gourmands statewide.
“Florida continues to raise the bar with its emerging culinary talent, international influences, and the palpable passion of its local restaurant communities,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, last year, according to St. Pete Rising.
Visit St. Pete Clearwater shells out $90,000 per year to the guide from its tourist development tax as part of a two-year deal. The tax gets pulled from overnight stays of visitors.