Florida gets another two-star Michelin restaurant. See who just got added to the guide
Florida finally got its second two-star Michelin restaurant.
On Thursday night at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, Sorekara Japanese restaurant become the second spot in the state to earn two stars from the Michelin Guide, which reviews and rates restaurants from around the world. The first restaurant to earn the two-star designation was Miami's L'Atelier du Joël Robuchon in 2022.
Located in the Baldwin Park neighborhood of Orlando, the restaurant, which offers a single seating only a few nights a week, 'proudly forges its own path,' according to the internationally renowned guide.
Chef and owner William Shen's spot 'is unlike anywhere else you've been, offering a surprising and delightful culinary journey that revels in turning expectations on their head,' according to the guide. The tasting menu 'highlights Japan's 72 micro growing seasons with highly original dishes infused with a sense of whimsy (not the course designed to mimic a convenience store snack run or the 'nigiri.') . . . There is an elegance and refinement threaded throughout the meal, which progresses through multiple rooms across several hours.'
Also honored at Sorekara was Austin Joseph, who won the Outstanding Service Award.
Sorekara wasn't the only new Orlando restaurant to be honored at the awards. Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park also earned a star. Led by Chef Ryan Ratino, whose Washington, D.C. restaurant Jônt has two stars, Ômo 'echoes that spirit and sensibility (think classic French techniques married with pristine Japanese ingredients), albeit with a few Florida touches. The space allows for discrete moments at each meal, while three tasting menus run the gamut from tightly edited and more affordable to loaded with luxury ingredients.'
Other Florida starred restaurants
Three other Florida restaurants earned their first Michelin stars on Thursday, too. Two of them are from cities just added to the guide this year: The Chef's Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale and Konro in West Palm Beach, both of which serve contemporary cuisine.
The third newly starred restaurant in the state is Itamae Ao in Miami, a 10-seat counter that serves Peruvian/Japanese cuisine.
No spots in Tampa or the newly added Clearwater/St. Petersburg earned stars this year, but in the special awards category, Tyler Wolff at Ponte in Tampa won the Exceptional Cocktails Award.
In the 2025 Michelin guide, 31 Florida restaurants have stars. Miami leads the state with 15, while Orlando has nine. Tampa has earned five, and Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have one apiece. No restaurants in the state lost a star.
Affordable honors
Several Florida restaurants were also added to the guide's Bib Gourmand list, which highlights restaurants that serve quality food at a great value.
The new additions include aioli and Palm Beach Meats from West Palm Beach; Heritage from Fort Lauderdale; Banh Mi Boy, Coro, Smokemade Meats + Eats and UniGirl in Orlando. Florida has 36 Bib Gourmand-designated restaurants.
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