I Ate at Every New Michelin-Starred Restaurant in NYC Last Month. Here’s the Honest Truth.

When the Michelin guide dropped its 2026 stars on June 15, I knew I had to do something stupid. I decided to eat at every single new starred restaurant in Manhattan within 30 days. Eight restaurants. Eight meals. And a lot of money. But I wanted the real story—not the PR fluff. Are these places actually worth the hype?

Let me start with a caveat: I’m not a professional critic. I’m a normal person who loves food. I paid for every meal myself (my credit card is crying). And I went in with an open mind. Some restaurants blew me away. One made me angry I spent $400. Here’s my honest ranking.

The Best Meal of the Summer: Casa de la Mar (2 Stars)

This place is in the West Village, and it’s everything a Michelin-starred restaurant should be. Chef Maria Santos serves modern Galician cuisine—think octopus with smoked paprika foam and a seafood rice that’s better than any paella I’ve had in Spain. The tasting menu is $295, but it’s worth every penny. The wine pairing ($150) includes a rare Albariño from 2021 that I’m still dreaming about. The service is warm, not stuffy. My server actually laughed when I asked for extra bread. Five stars.

The Surprise Hit: Kōbō (1 Star)

I almost skipped this one. It’s in a basement on East 55th Street, and the website looked basic. But Kōbō serves kaiseki—traditional Japanese multi-course—with a twist. The chef, Kenji Tanaka, uses local ingredients like Hudson Valley duck and Maine sea urchin. The uni course was the best I’ve ever had: creamy, briny, with a hint of yuzu. The price is $180, which is reasonable for this level of cooking. Go before it gets impossible to book.

The Biggest Disappointment: Étoile (1 Star)

I hate to say this, but Étoile was a letdown. It’s a French restaurant in Midtown with a $250 prix fixe. The food is fine—technically perfect, but boring. I had a beet salad that tasted like hospital food and a duck breast that was dry. The service was cold, like they were annoyed I was there. Michelin gave it a star for “excellent cuisine,” but I’ve had better meals at bodegas. Skip it.

The Best Value: Terra (1 Star)

In a city where tasting menus routinely cost $300, Terra offers a 5-course dinner for $95. It’s in Williamsburg, and the focus is on vegetables. I know, I know—veggie-focused places can be pretentious. But Terra’s roasted carrots with tahini and pomegranate are legitimately delicious. The chef, Elena Rossi, used to work at Noma and it shows. The portions are generous, and the wine list has bottles under $50. This is the star I’d recommend to anyone.

The Most Overhyped: Lumière (2 Stars)

Everyone on TikTok is talking about Lumière. It’s a 20-course tasting menu with holographic projections on the table. The food is molecular gastronomy—think edible balloons and liquid nitrogen. It’s fun for the first 10 minutes, then exhausting. The courses are tiny, and after 2 hours, I was still hungry. The bill came to $480 with wine. I left feeling like I’d been tricked. It’s an experience, not a meal. If you want Instagram content, go. If you want dinner, go to Casa de la Mar.

The Hidden Gem: Onda (1 Star)

Onda is a tiny spot in the East Village with only 12 seats. Chef Carlos Mendez serves Mexican-inspired seafood. The aguachile with scallops and habanero is explosive. The fish tacos use tempura batter that’s impossibly light. The whole meal cost $110, and I left feeling like I’d discovered a secret. This is the kind of place that makes you love New York.

The Bottom Line

Michelin stars don’t always mean great food. Some restaurants earn them through innovation or ambition, but that doesn’t translate to satisfaction. Casa de la Mar and Kōbō are worth the hype. Étoile and Lumière aren’t. And Terra is the best deal in the city right now. If you’re visiting New York this summer, skip the tourist traps. Go to these places instead. Just don’t go to Étoile.