Michelin Guide Announces NYC Bib Gourmand Picks for 2011

Grid View

• Fatty Crab
• RedEgg
• Momofuku Ssam Bar
• Golden Unicorn
• Robataya
• Katzs
• Congee Village
• Dim Sum a Go Go
• L'Ecole
• Boqueria
• Bohemian
• Northern Spy Food
• Aroma Cafe
• DBGB
• Hecho en Dumbo

The Michelin Guide 2011, which will be released in New York next Wednesday, October 6, just announced this year's list of Bib Gourmand picks. The list of 50 or so starred venues will be released next week along with the full guide, but this initial offering includes the inspectors' choices for affordable, low key meals. It includes former picks like Momofuku Ssam Bar, Prime Meats, Dirt Candy, and Buttermilk Channel, along with 21 new additions like Jack the Horse Tavern, Fatty 'Cue, Paulie Gee's, and Tanoreen. Supposedly, these restaurants are the inspectors favorites, and diners should expect to (though, it can be hard at a couple of these picks) get two courses and one glass of wine for $40 or less before tax and tip.

This year to promote the occasion, Team Michelin went to each and every of the 95 restaurants on the list and put chalk drawings on their sidewalks (see above). Michelin Guide director Jean-Luc Naret explains to Eater, "Every time we release a book, people talk about the stars but it's only 5 percent of the selection. But they forget about the 95% of the other restaurants. People love the Bib Gourmand, and we want to make sure New Yorkers know that. Now people will know."

He wants New Yorkers to remember that holding a star is a great honor and that there are many great restaurants, neighborhood places, affordable joints that don't deserve a star but still deserve recognition. He also tells us that while it's not inconceivable for a Bib Gourmand pick to be starred one day, most are not and do not want to be, "Usually the Bib Gourmand is a place that is more laid back with a nice casual atmosphere. They aren't really aiming for a star...It's really two different things. A Bib Gourmand could get a star if they want to elevate themselves. But right now they are a different kind of place." See more info on this year's picks here.

* denotes a new addition

Al Bustan*
Andy’s Seafood & Grill*
Àpizz
Aroma Kitchen & Wine Bar
Asia de Cuba*
Baci & Abbracci
Bahari estiatorio*
Belleville
Beyoglu
Bianca
Bistro 33
Blue Ribbon Bakery
Blue Smoke
Bohemian*
Boqueria
Buttermilk Channel
Char No. 4
Cho Dang Gol
Congee Village
Crispo
Daisy May's BBQ
DBGB Kitchen & Bar
Dim Sum Go Go
Diner*
Dinosaur Bar -B- Que
Dirt Candy
Ed's Lobster Bar
Egg
El Parador
El Paso Taqueria*
Emporio
Fatty Crab
Fatty ‘Cue*
Frankies 457 Spuntino
Franny's
Garden Court Café
Gennaro
Golden Unicorn
Good Fork (The)
HanGawi*
Hecho en Dumbo*
Hunan House
‘inoteca e Liquori Bar
Jack the Horse*
Jaiya
Jean Claude
J.G. Melon
Katz’s
Kif
L'Ecole
Les Halles
Lil’ Frankie’s
Little Pepper*
Lupa
Mapo Tofu*
Marlow & Sons
Mercato*
Mesa Coyoacan
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Momofuku Ssäm Bar
Motorino
M & T Restaurant*
Northern Spy Food Co.*
Nyonya
OBAO*
Park Avenue Bistro
Paulie Gee's*
Phoenix Garden
Prime Meats
Prune
Quinto Quarto
Red Egg
Robataya*
Rye
Saravanaas
Seo
Sette Enoteca & Cucina
Sip Sak
Snack
Soba-Ya
Supper
Surya
Szechuan Gourmet
Taco Taco
Tanoreen*
Tori Shin*
Turkish Kitchen
202
Uva
Uvarara
Vida
World Tong
Zabb Queens
Zarela
Zoma
· All Michelin Guide Coverage [~ENY~]