The Michelin guide awards stars to restaurants for excellence in food, drinks and service. A restaurant can earn up to three stars, widely considered the highest honour any restaurant can achieve. Inspectors conduct multiple visits before a rating is issued.

The wait is over for Quebec’s food lovers, as the world-famous Michelin Guide has announced its first-ever list in the province, awarding nine restaurants with stars (or étoiles ). Quebec is the third destination for the guide in Canada, after Toronto and Vancouver restaurants received their first stars in 2022.

Since the Michelin Guide surveys fare in Vancouver, Toronto and Quebec, it should consider Canada's capital, too, leading Ottawa chefs say. Now that Quebec’s best restaurants have received Michelin Guide stars and kudos, Ottawa’s most celebrated chef-restaurateurs say the famously rigorous inspectors should consider eateries in Canada’s capital.