Three Jacksonville restaurants earn Michelin recognition

Jacksonville added three restaurants to the Michelin Guide on Aug. 5, giving the city its first Michelin-recognized restaurants, according to local officials and the guide’s Florida listings. The restaurants are Eggboy, Rue Saint Marc and The Bearded Pig, which were honored during a ceremony at Jacksonville City Hall with Mayor Donna Deegan and Visit Jacksonville. Action News Jax reported that the three are the first restaurants in Jacksonville city history to receive Michelin recognition. Michelin’s Florida guide now includes Jacksonville listings after expanding its coverage in 2026. ### Which Jacksonville restaurants were recognized? Eggboy, Rue Saint Marc and The Bearded Pig were the three Jacksonville restaurants recognized Wednesday, according to News4JAX and Action News Jax. News4JAX reported that Visit Jacksonville and Deegan planned to present Michelin recognition placards to the owners and chefs of the three restaurants at City Hall. (news4jax.com) Action News Jax identified The Bearded Pig co-owners Chad Munsey and Michael Schmidt as participants in the ceremony. The station said the three Jacksonville restaurants were recognized alongside five other Northeast Florida establishments included in Michelin’s 2026 Florida coverage. (news4jax.com) ### Is this the same as getting a Michelin star? Michelin’s 2026 Florida coverage includes several levels of recognition, and the Jacksonville restaurants were listed as Michelin-selected rather than starred, according to Action News Jax’s May 29 report on the region’s first inclusion. That report said Michelin inspectors include restaurants that do not yet have a star or Bib Gourmand but still “fully merit” being in the guide. (actionnewsjax.com) Two other Northeast Florida restaurants — Bar Citra and Sunday — received Bib Gourmand distinctions, Action News Jax reported in May. Michelin said in that report that guide selection can place restaurants on inspectors’ radar for possible future promotion to Stars or Bib Gourmands in later years. ### How many Northeast Florida restaurants made the guide? (actionnewsjax.com) Eight Northeast Florida restaurants were included in the 2026 Michelin Guide for the first time, according to Action News Jax’s May 29 report. The list named Salt on Amelia Island, Eggboy in Jacksonville, Rue Saint-Marc in Jacksonville, The Bearded Pig BBQ in Jacksonville, Bar Citra in St. Augustine, Sunday in St. Augustine, Lotus Noodle Bar, and Asado Life. (actionnewsjax.com) Action News Jax said the Aug. 5 City Hall event focused on the three restaurants inside Jacksonville city limits. That distinction is why local officials described the moment as a first for Jacksonville even though Michelin’s broader Northeast Florida rollout also reached nearby communities. (actionnewsjax.com) ### What did city leaders say this recognition says about Jacksonville dining? Mayor Donna Deegan said Jacksonville’s culinary scene is “only going to continue to get bigger and better and bolder,” according to Action News Jax. Visit Jacksonville President and Chief Executive Michael Corrigan said the city has committed a $35 million incentive package tied to efforts to bring a Culinary Institute of America campus downtown. (actionnewsjax.com) Chad Munsey told Action News Jax the Michelin recognition was “just the tip of the iceberg” and said he could foresee more Jacksonville restaurants being recognized in future rounds. Munsey also said hiring remains a challenge for local restaurants and that a Culinary Institute of America campus could help build the talent pipeline. (actionnewsjax.com) ### Where can diners verify the listings and what comes next? Michelin’s official Florida restaurant page now includes Jacksonville in its guide coverage, and a Jacksonville-specific Michelin page is live on the guide’s website. News4JAX reported in June that Michelin had included Jacksonville and Northeast Florida in Florida restaurants it considers for its top ratings for the first time. Action News Jax reported that once Jacksonville finalizes negotiations on the Culinary Institute of America campus, the deal will return to City Council for final approval. (actionnewsjax.com) Michelin said in its guidance quoted by the station that restaurants selected for the guide can receive other awards in future years. (guide.michelin.com)