eiron's company X'mas party was held in a West Village gastropub, which according to Michelin Guide 2006, is awarded one Michelin Star. eiron's colleagues were very excited because Michelin star is awarded only to great restaurant (even one star). But I was puzzled because eiron and I had eaten there previously with friends and although the food was good, it wasn't good enough to warrant any star! That place is more the place to be seen in rather than the place to have fine dinning. Sittings are cramped and service is definitely not up to Michelin standard (in fact not even NY standard). If that pub deserves one Michelin star then about half of New York restaurants should have one too! I can name a few just off my head: Alfama, Les Halles, Dillon's Prime.
After having eaten at two of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants in London (Angela Hartnett at The Connaught, and Gordon Ramsay's at Calridge's) which both have only one Michelin Star, I can safely declared that Michelin has lowered their standard for New York City. Mike Steinberger at Slate.com seems to think so too.
I hope NYers realised the difference in Michelin and rating and not compare Michelin Star-ed restaurants in Europe with the ones in NYC. At least not the one star ones. The three stars ones (Thomas Keller's Per Se, for example) are definitely better!
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Lost in Colonisation 
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