As we noted earlier, Zagat's thunder-stealing upstaging cannot thwart the power of the new Michelin restaurant guide to NYC, which hits shelves tomorrow. Though more influential abroad, inclusion in the famously rigorous guide is a major feather in any chef's cap. This edition deems 715 restaurants worthy of mention, and out of those just five restaurants earned three stars. Ten restaurants were rated two stars, while 42 restaurants nabbed a single star. Among them is the first Brooklyn restaurant to score the coveted two star status—and it's not even technically a restaurant!

The upscale grocer Brooklyn Fare features an intimate chef's table alongside an open kitchen, where chef César Ramirez has been generating considerable buzz with his four course prix-fixe supper club. Jean-Luc Naret, the Michelin guide's Directeur Général, tells Grub Street, "Brooklyn Fare is one of the top 300 restaurants in the world. We didn’t give two stars because it was Brooklyn — it really deserved to be recognized."

Other newly starred restaurants in this year's guide include the Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen in Forest Hills, Aldea, The Breslin, and Chef Michael White's Marea, which scored two stars. Peruse the full list below, and check out our post from last week featuring the Michelin "Bib Gourmand" list of restaurants serving two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

2011 MICHELIN guide New York City Starred Restaurants

(“N” denotes a new starred restaurant)

Three Michelin stars: exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey One always eats here extremely well, sometimes superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

Daniel

Jean Georges

Le Bernardin

Masa

Per Se

Two Michelin stars: excellent cuisine, worth a detour. Skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.

Alto

Chef Table at Brooklyn Fare (N)

Corton

Gilt

Gordon Ramsay at The London

Kajitsu (N)

Marea (N)

Momofuku Ko

Picholine

Soto (N)

One Michelin star: a very good restaurant in its category. A place offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.

Adour

Aldea (N)

Annisa

Anthos (closed)

Aureole

A Voce Columbus

A Voce Madison (N)

Blue Hill

Bouley

Breslin (The) (N)

Café Boulud

Casa Mono

Convivio

Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen (N)

Del Posto

Dovetail (N)

Dressler

Eleven Madison Park

Gotham Bar and Grill

Gramercy Tavern

Jewel Bako

Kyo Ya

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Laut (N)

Marc Forgione

Minetta Tavern

Modern (The)

Oceana

Peter Luger

Public

River Café

Rouge Tomate

Saul

Seäsonal

Shalezeh

SHO Shaun Hergatt

Spotted Pig

Sushi Azabu

Sushi of Gari

Veritas (currently closed)

Wallsé

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