Southern Restaurants Receive MICHELIN Stars

Four South Carolina restaurants have received stars in the inaugural American South edition of the prestigious MICHELIN Guide.

Scoundrel, a French bistro operated by owner/chef Joe Cash, is located in Greenville, while the other three restaurants are in Charleston: Malagon Mercado Y Taperia, where Chef Juan Cassalett prepares Spanish cuisine; Vern’s, owned by Daniel and Bethany Heinze, which serves American contemporary cuisine; and Wild Common, an American contemporary restaurant featuring Chef Orlando Pagan.

One North Carolina restaurant, Counter in Charlotte, was awarded a star.

Emeril’s, a New Orleans restaurant named for famed chef Emeril Lagasse and now run by his son E.J. Lagasse, was honored with two MICHELIN stars.

The announcement was made at a ceremony Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at the Peace Center in Greenville.

The full American South MICHELIN Guide features 228 restaurants offering 44 types of cuisine.

“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,” Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, said in announcing the selections. “Our anonymous Inspectors were deeply impressed by the region’s culinary prowess, and this inaugural selection reflects their findings — from Southern staples like barbecue, Creole and seafood, to international flavors.”