Three Nashville restaurants awarded Michelin stars as part of the Guide’s southern debut

Monday marked the beginning of a new era for the Nashville food scene: Bastion, Locust and The Catbird Seat became the first restaurants in the city to be awarded a Michelin star.

The announcement — which was released hours earlier than expected — is part of the Michelin Guide’s debut in the American South, with the prestigious institution expanding to Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina (the Guide already covered Atlanta). These three restaurants are among just ten new star recipients across the entire region.

Seven additional Nashville eateries received Bib Gourmand Awards, which recognizes spots that offer excellent three-course meals at reasonable prices: Kisser, Peninsula, Red Headed Stranger, Sho Pizza Bar, SS Gai, St. Vito Focacceria and Uzbegim Halal Restaurant.

And finally, a dozen Middle Tennessee restaurants made the Michelin Guide’s Recommended list: Audrey, Arnold’s Country Kitchen, Bad Idea, Café Roze, Folk, Hattie B’s, Iggy’s, International Market, January, Rolf and Daughters, Shotgun Willie’s and Tailor. Bad Idea’s Alex Burch also received the Michelin Sommelier Award, and January in Franklin received a green star for sustainability.