Actors David Burkta, left, and Neil Patrick Harris announced the winners of the Michelin star designations at Peak Restaurant in Hudson Yards on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In the realm of legit restaurant evaluations, the Michelin Guide is considered the most prestigious. A mere mention of a business can launch a small-town eatery into a stratosphere shared globally by fellow illustrious establishments. Staten Islanders have three such locations in their midst, all on the North Shore, under the designation of Bib Gourmand.
And such it is for Enoteca Maria of St. George, Sagara Food City of Tompkinsville and VINUM of Stapleton. The trio will maintain their previously designated statuses for 2022.
A Michelin star (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
Official word on Michelin stars for New York City chefs came at Peak restaurant at Hudson Yards in Midtown on Thursday, A plush tasting event preceded a Hollywoods-style presentation hosted by actors Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, the latter also a professional chef.
Scenes from the Michelin Star Reveal on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
The two personalities joked back and forth as they read from cue cards with a few off-the-cuff, good-hearted jabs at Michelin’s properness. As they named winning chefs and their restaurants, each honoree was presented with a personalized, official Michelin chef coat marked with its appropriate stars.
Yes, Chef! All eyes up for David Boulud for a group photo (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
This year, inspectors decided on 19 new Michelin-starred eateries in the Big Apple, including two with Two Stars. A total of 73 restaurants have achieved Star status with five at Three Stars. Also for 2022, 18 new Bib Gourmand restaurants made the list. Vida was the only other Bib Gourmand in Richmond County history to earn that slot but the eclectic Stapleton spot closed before the pandemic.
As per Michelin, advice the administrators give to young chefs is this: Great cooking starts with great ingredients... Eat out as much as you can. Eat your own dishes — sometimes it’s not until you’re halfway through a dish that you realize it’s not quite right.”
Here are the Staten Island venues in the Bib Gourmand ranks with a description from the Michelin point of view:
Enoteca Maria in St. George (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Enoteca Maria -- 27 Hyatt St., St. George; 718-447-2777 --
Michelin inspectors called out owner Joe Scaravella and his cookbook, “Nonna’s House: Cooking and Reminiscing with the Italian Grandmothers of Enoteca Maria” (Atria Books, 2015), co-authored with Elisa Petrini. It also said, “With its Carrara marble and lively vibe, most foodies flock here for a certain authenticity that is rarely sacrificed.” It noted the world-wide cooking of its rotating nonnas in particular “Nina from Belarus” plus two staple dishes named for their architects Lasagna di Adelina and torta di vaniglia di Melissa.
Enoteca means “wine bar” in Italian. There are Italian staples on the menu that have evolved since the restaurant opened in 2007 with different a different nonna from Italy each night. The “Nonnas of the World” regimen was launched in 2015.
Deliciousness in a to-go container from Sagara Food City in Tompkinsville (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
Sagara -- 98 Victory Blvd., Tompkinsville; 718-285-4556, Facebook.com/sagaraanucorp.
During COVID, the Sri Lankan spot switched over from an ala carte format to pickup only. It now operates its kitchen with a grocery store in the former seating area. The restaurant takes its name from co-owner Sagara Hewabajgamage. He and wife Anuradh tend the restaurant with a small staff — Chef Sanjeewa Warusavithana and Sunil Peiris in the kitchen.
Michelin says, “Visit Sri Lanka by way of Sagara, where the island nation’s rich cultural diversity is on full display.” They recommend fish cakes, mas paan, and fritter-like dhal vade” and the hearty entrees. It calls dishes “compelling” with high praise for lamprais, a meal served wrapped in a banana leaf with vegetables, protein, plantains, a fish cutlet and eggplant.
Plating truffles at VINUM. (Courtesy of VINUM)
VINUM — 704 Bay St., Stapleton; 718-448-8466, Vinumnyc.com
The guide calls VINUM a “bijou” with kudos for wines by the glass and the unexpected decor which makes it feel like an osteria in Italy.
It notes, “The menu is designed for sharing, making the salumi and cheese platters a prevalent choice....Chef Massimo Felici’s passion for baking and pastries is clear in the house-made breads, and carries through to desserts that are worth getting excited over.” Compliments come for specials and a shout out that “every item is made with equal care and authenticity.”
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).
© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.