The inspectors have spoken. The first-ever regional Michelin Guide has been unveiled, and for the first time, South Carolina boasts starred restaurants.
Scoundrel in Greenville, along with Wild Common, Vern’s, and Malagon Mercado y Taperia in Charleston, all earned one Michelin star.
Of the recommended restaurant selections chosen by inspectors as a high-quality place to dine, five were in the Upstate: Topsoil in Travelers Rest, Soby’s, Jianna, and The Anchorage in Greenville.
The awards were unexpectedly announced via the Michelin Guide website on the morning of Nov. 3, hours ahead of the official ceremony at The Peace Center in Greenville on Monday evening
The ceremony awarded Emeril’s in New Orleans a two-star rating, along with 10 one-star ratings, and three Green Star ratings for restaurants that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. There were no three-star ratings awarded.
“The cuisine of the American South is a rich blend of cultural influences, brought to life by skilled chefs who have crafted some of the region’s most iconic dishes,” International director of Michelin Guide Gwendal Poullennec said in a statement.
Reached on Monday afternoon, a few hours before the awards ceremony, Joe and Jocelyn Cash sat together, processing the news that Scoundrel had become the first-ever Michelin-starred restaurant in Greenville.
“I mean, honestly, I’m still in disbelief,” Cash said. “I don’t know when or if it will feel real. I think for the moment I’m just in shock.”
New guide encompasses 6 southern states
Much buzz has followed the announcement in April that Michelin would expand its prestigious restaurant rating guide to the southeastern United States. The American South Guide marks the first-ever regional Michelin Guide, encompassing six states: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The city of Atlanta’s Guide was also rolled into the new American South region.
The new guide has also elicited some criticism for the way state tourism agencies have paid Michelin to help bring the Guide to their cities and states. The six American South Guide state tourism agencies agreed to pay Michelin a collective $1.65 million over the course of three years.
Despite such critique, the Guide is considered an economic driver that can boost the city’s tourism.
The new Guide reflects 228 restaurants and 44 different types of cuisine.
Joe Cash opened Scoundrel’s in his hometown
Scoundrel opened in 2022 in the heart of downtown Greenville. Chef and owner Joe Cash opened the restaurant in his hometown after spending over a decade working in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.
“Chef/owner Joe Cash’s upscale French bistro charms with an elegant dining room with hardwood floors and brick walls, a full-service bar, and an engaging staff who make everyone feel well cared for and welcomed,” inspectors wrote of Scoundrel.
Inspectors also noted, “high-quality ingredients are prepared with care and finesse here.”
Here’s what the Michelin Guide wrote about Scoundrel’s:
“Chef/owner Joe Cash’s upscale French bistro charms with an elegant dining room with hardwood floors and brick walls, a full-service bar, and an engaging staff who make everyone feel well cared for and welcomed. It’s the hottest table in town, and reservations are a must, though seats at the bar feel far from a consolation prize. High-quality ingredients are prepared with care and finesse here, where familiar favorites like Caesar salad are leveled up. Roasted half chicken is tender and juicy with a perfectly crispy skin, then topped with Gnocchi Parisiennes and a moutarde sauce for an extra flourish. For dessert, the upscale comfort food trend continues with cronuts served with a pistachio anglaise sauce and crème fraîche.”
Cash, who also earned a James Beard Best New Restaurant semi-finalist nod in 2024, lauded his team.
“I think what makes me the happiest is our team has come in and worked their asses off day in and day out for three years, long before Michelin was ever a thing,” Cash said. “I think that speaks to our team’s dedication and what we try to do every single day, and to finally be recognized on such a massive level, it’s just an honor.”
Restaurants will be evaluated by anonymous inspectors
Restaurants will be assessed on an annual basis, with updated ratings provided each year.
Restaurants are evaluated by anonymous inspectors who visit them multiple times throughout the year. Inspectors assess a restaurant based on five universal criteria: 1) quality products; 2) the harmony of flavors; 3) the mastery of cooking techniques; 4) the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; 5) consistency between each visit and throughout the menu.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with coverage of tonight’s ceremony at the Peace Center.
Dining and Cooking