Utah Wins Its First Michelin Star With New Restaurant Monte

A Utah restaurant just made culinary history by earning the state's first Michelin star, one of the food world's highest honors.

Monte, chef Martin Babio's fine dining restaurant in South Salt Lake, received the coveted distinction when Michelin released its inaugural Southwest Guide on Wednesday. The guide evaluated restaurants across Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico for the first time.

Located inside the Beehive Distilling space, Monte offers seasonal tasting menus that change based on daily ingredients. Prices range from $120 to $180 per person, and getting a reservation just got a lot harder.

Only five restaurants in the entire four-state region earned stars. Monte stood alongside four Las Vegas establishments, including the two-star Restaurant de Joël Robuchon.

But Utah's culinary scene earned plenty of other recognition too. Three local favorites received the Bib Gourmand distinction for great food at great value: Feldman's Deli in Salt Lake City, Pho 777 in West Valley City, and One More Noodle House in South Salt Lake.

Five additional Utah restaurants made it into the guide as recommended spots. Handle, Matilda, and Nelson Cottage represented Park City, while Koyote and Star Of India earned nods in Salt Lake City.

The Ripple Effect

The recognition represents more than just individual restaurant achievements. Utah DABS Commissioner Tara Thue called it "a huge recognition for Utah and for our food scene" during a Thursday meeting.

Chef Felipe Oliveira of Koyote told the Salt Lake Tribune he felt "speechless" about the honor. He said he hopes they're "making a road for others to come, and I hope others come, too."

Feldman's Deli captured the moment perfectly on Instagram: "This is an achievement that we never thought was even possible for us." The post thanked everyone who believed in them and helped them become their best.

The timing couldn't be better for Utah's restaurant community. Koyote is already planning a second location in Park City this October, riding the wave of recognition into new opportunities.

Utah's culinary scene just proved it belongs on the national stage, opening doors for restaurants across the state to dream bigger.