CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Nov. 11, 2025) — Chattanooga's culinary excellence earned global recognition Monday evening as four local restaurants were named to the inaugural MICHELIN Guide American South selection during a ceremony in Greenville, S.C. 

Little Coyote received the Bib Gourmand distinction, which recognizes eateries offering great food at a great value. Easy Bistro & Bar, Main Street Meats and The Rosecomb were named Recommended restaurants in the selection, which features 228 restaurants across six Southern states plus Atlanta. 

"We're incredibly proud of Chattanooga's entire culinary community," said Barry White, president and CEO of Chattanooga Tourism Co. "The recognition of Little Coyote, Easy Bistro & Bar, Main Street Meats and The Rosecomb in MICHELIN Guide American South 2025 validates what locals have known for years: that our city offers exceptional dining experiences worthy of international acclaim." 

"Chattanooga's culinary scene has earned this moment," White continued. "This initiative shines a spotlight on the dedicated professionals who have elevated our food culture into something deliciously special — a diverse, innovative culinary scene that enhances quality of life for residents and creates memorable experiences for visitors." 

 

Chattanooga's MICHELIN Guide Restaurants 

Little Coyote (3950 Tennessee Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37409) 

  • Distinction: Bib Gourmand 

  • Owners: Erik and Amanda Niel 

Easy Bistro (801 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402) 

  • Distinction: Recommended 

  • Owners: Erik and Amanda Niel 

Main Street Meats (217 E. Main St., Chattanooga, TN 37408) 

  • Distinction: Recommended 

  • Owners: Erik and Amanda Niel 

The Rosecomb (921 Barton Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37405) 

  • Distinction: Recommended 

  • Owners: Chloe Wright and Ryan Smith 

 

About the Distinctions 

The Bib Gourmand distinction, illustrated with the Michelin Man's head, was introduced in 1997 to highlight restaurants offering "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." Diners can expect to have two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for about $50 before tax and tip. 

 

Recommended restaurants are endorsed by MICHELIN Guide inspectors and featured in the selection on guide.michelin.com, representing establishments that deliver quality dining experiences. 

 

“While we can't predict the exact economic impact, we do know this kind of global recognition elevates our entire community's profile as a destination. That recognition is priceless. It validates the years of dedication our chefs and restaurateurs have invested in building something special here—something that makes Chattanoogans proud and gives visitors one more compelling reason to choose our city.” 

 

"Along with Michelin, Travel South USA and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Chattanooga Tourism Co. is proud to welcome MICHELIN Guide to the region and collaborate to showcase the area's thriving food culture," White said. "All of Chattanooga's culinary professionals have our deepest respect and appreciation for the passion and skill they bring to their craft." 

 

About MICHELIN Guide American South 

The MICHELIN Guide American South is the first regional edition of the MICHELIN Guide in North America. The inaugural selection covers Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and the pre-existing Atlanta Guide. This regional approach allows the MICHELIN Guide to go beyond major urban areas to better uncover the authentic food culture of the American South. 

 

The full 2025 MICHELIN Guide American South selection is available at guide.michelin.com and through the free MICHELIN Guide app for iOS and Android. 

 

The MICHELIN Guide in North America   

Michelin announced its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have also been added in Chicago (2011); Washington, D.C. (2017); California (San Francisco in 2007, statewide 2019); Florida (Greater Miami, Orlando and Tampa in 2022, adding Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches and St. Pete-Clearwater in 2025, statewide in 2026); Toronto (2022); Vancouver (2022); Colorado (2023); Atlanta (2023), Mexico (2024), Texas (2024), Québec (2024), the American South (2025), Boston (2025) and Philadelphia (2025).      

 

About the MICHELIN Guide 

Recognized globally for excellence and quality, the MICHELIN Guide offers a selection of world-class restaurants.  

  • The famous one, two and three MICHELIN Stars identify establishments serving exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef.  

  • The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value – often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time.  

  • Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted by the MICHELIN Guide inspectors.  

 

The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveler seeking an unforgettable meal and hospitality experience. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage the development of car mobility as well as tire sales by giving practical advice to motorists. Progressively, the Guide has specialized in restaurant and hotel recommendations. Michelin’s inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by the inspectors in the very beginning. 

 

The restaurant selections join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay around the world. Visit the MICHELIN Guide website, or download the free app for iOS and Android, to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an amazing hotel.  

 

Thanks to the rigorous MICHELIN Guide selection process that is applied independently and consistently in more than 45 destinations, the MICHELIN Guide has become an international benchmark in fine dining. 

 

All restaurants in the Guide are recommended by Michelin’s anonymous inspectors, who are trained to apply the same time-tested methods used by Michelin inspectors for many decades throughout the world. This ensures a uniform, international standard of excellence. As a further guarantee of complete objectivity, Michelin inspectors pay all their bills in full, and only the quality of the cuisine is evaluated.  

 

To fully assess the quality of a restaurant, the inspectors apply five criteria defined by Michelin: product quality; mastery of cooking techniques; harmony of flavors; the personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; and consistency over time and across the entire menu. These criteria guarantee a consistent and fair selection so a Starred restaurant has the same value regardless of whether it is in Paris, New York or anywhere else in the world. 

  

About Michelin North America, Inc.  


Michelin is the leading mobility company and manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. For more than 130 years, Michelin has made contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications for demanding fields, including mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies and healthcare and offer the finest experiences, from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America has approximately 23,500 employees and operates 35 production facilities in the United States (michelinman.com) and Canada (michelin.ca). 

 

About Chattanooga Tourism Co. 


Chattanooga Tourism Co. is the official destination marketing organization for Hamilton County, dedicated to sustainably increasing visitation and connecting guests with authentic Chattanooga experiences. The organization aims to strengthen the local economy and enrich the community by establishing Chattanooga as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, sporting events, and leisure travel. Hamilton County welcomes more than 11.1 million visitors annually, who generate an economic impact of $1.8 billion. This visitor spending contributes $186 million in local and state tax revenue, saving each resident household $1,232 in taxes and supporting more than 30,000 jobs. VisitChattanooga.com 

 

Media Contacts: 

Chattanooga Tourism Co. 
Dawn Kimberlin 
Communications Manager 
(907) 360-4874 
dawnk@chattanoogatourism.com  

 

MICHELIN Guide North America 
Carly Grieff 
PR Manager 
carly.grieff@michelin.com