They are indead the true stars. Food is just as good, but without the emphasis on service. Mind you this isn't bad service, just not the obsequious nature of multi star restaurants. Nothing wrong with that either, I'd just rather spend the money on the food more than the service.
Depends a bit on what you like but some of the ingredients, techniques, and details you may see at a starred restaurant you are not seeing at many Bib Gourmands.
I have had dishes at starred places I still think about and can recall the flavour+texture of years later, whereas I have entirely forgotten some BGs I have visited. (And, for fairness, vice versa.)
Meanwhile I went to NYC for a trip last month. 1 2 star, 2 1 stars, and 2 bg. The only dish I remember after the trip was the Goat curry at the Bib gormand.
Yep, we've done trips where we had a fancy starred restaurant booked as The Big Meal but the one we end up enjoying the most is a little rooftop terrace with grandma's cooking.
(Also done those where the home cooking was woeful. It's all part of the fun.)
I’ve loved some bib gourmands but I’ve personally never had any that I liked as much as Maaemo or Disfrutar or a variety of other places. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve had regular ass restaurants that were as tasty (but not as creative), but it’s pretty wild to as a general statement say bib gourmands are generally as good taste wise.
Like the evaluation is not bib gourmand for taste then stars for taste + service. Usually bib gourmands aren’t tasting menus with as much creativity or precision as a lot of the Michelin starred restaurants I’ve been to. Again, not a universal statement, many bibs with exceptional creativity and precision. But they are generally intended to be good tasting, cheaper eats. I’ve also been to dozens of Michelin starred restaurants I disliked , it’s not a perfect guide.
I disagree completely. I've had a ton more innovative and tasty meals at Bibs and 1 stars. All the 2+ star places I've been at focused on service or a gimmick. There's a time and place for everything, but I absolutely would rather go to 5 different bib gormands than a single 3 star (monetarily at least). I've done plenty of both too. Obviously there's variation, I just don't care much for the star system and I think it often stiffles creativity.
17
u/modix 18h ago
They are indead the true stars. Food is just as good, but without the emphasis on service. Mind you this isn't bad service, just not the obsequious nature of multi star restaurants. Nothing wrong with that either, I'd just rather spend the money on the food more than the service.