Noma Fails To Get Three Michelin Stars

With Noma not getting what many thought was a well deserved third Michelin star today, debate will be high as to how The Pellegrinos and The Michelinos can have such different views on the famous restaurant.

By Kalle Bergman





The people had been waiting. Expectations all across Scandinavia were huge. Would the region, currently seen as the most interesting culinary region in the world by many professionals and pundits, finally get their first three star restaurant. Would Noma, named The Best Restaurant In The World by the San Pellegrino Top 50, also finally be embraced by the Culinary Gods at the Michelin Guide as a three star establishment? Or would the Michelin Guide pass them over, perhaps even awarding three stars to another Scandinavian restaurant – and in the end cause huge controversy and animosity between The Pellegrinos and The Michelinos. War lines were being drawn up.

9 am local time today was the moment of truth. Chefs across the region were biting their nails, not just for their own restaurant, but also for the hugely important steam engine that Noma has become for the New Nordic Cuisine. If they only got two stars again, what would the San Pellegrino award suddenly mean? Would Noma be able to keep its momentum, even while staying on a measley two star level? And what would that mean to the rest of the industry, would it even be possible to get three stars in Scandinavia if the Best Restaurant In The World couldn’t do it?

And it didn’t happen. Noma didn’t get their third star. The Worlds Best Restaurant didn’t become the first Danish and Scandinavian restaurant ever to reach three star level, and Noma-Gate will definitely be one for the debate forums.