2 Orlando restaurants recipients of Michelin Bib Gourmand Award
They’ll be honored alongside two other Florida winners in Tampa ceremony
The Michelin Guide today announced that four restaurants will make their Bib Gourmand debut as part of the 2024 Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa selections.
Two, Sushi Saint and Zaru, are here in Orlando and drew delight and surprise from both camps, with a few tears shed by Michael Collantes, whose Sushi Saint now joins sister venue Soseki with a nod. Soseki was awarded a coveted star in Florida’s inaugural Michelin Guide year. Last year, Soseki’s Beverage Director, Benjamin Coutts, took home the Michelin Sommelier Award.
“I’m so surprised. We all are,” Collantes told the Orlando Sentinel. “We had hoped duplicate our hospitality, our omotenashi, in this first operation outside of Soseki. We took this opportunity to do something a little more casual, while still offering high-quality ingredients, meticulously prepared. And we wanted to make sure we could still make people feel special and engaged and educated.”
Collantes, whose 40th birthday fell a few days ago, says it’s been introspective.
“It’s a moment where you step back and reflect on what you’ve done. There are no overnight successes. This is 22 years of hard work. Absolute grind … We are so incredibly grateful to this community for their support.”
Gratitude was front of mind for Bento Group co-founder Johnny Tung, as well. And surprise.
“We just opened in September!” said an incredulous Tung. “And the award is especially special because we opened Zaru in Mills 50, the heartbeat of the city. We wanted to do something at [Tien Hung] market that was really true to the area, but still make it a really cool vibe. Casual and approachable, but we never expected this. And we’re so very grateful.”
Zaru is phase one in a revitalization of this Mills 50 stronghold, the anchor restaurant of what will be a cluster of micro-eateries, including a funky whisky bar. Chef William Shen, who helped build Zaru’s udon-focused menu, has now moved on to helm the tony and newly opened Sorekara.
Perhaps we’ll see them on the Michelin roster in 2025, but for now, Zaru and Sushi Saint are joined in Bib status by Miami’s Tam Tam, a Vietnamese restaurant, and South Tampa taqueria Streetlight Taco.
“These restaurant selections prepare bold specialties with precision and intentionality, all at an excellent value,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the Michelin Guides, in a press release. “Our inspectors delighted in the impressive flavors and are confident that foodies — both local and from afar — will too.”
Tung marveled that among thousands of Florida restaurants and dozens of quality newly opened ones in Orlando alone, theirs made the cut.
“We’re humbled. William and I are super proud of the team, and this recognition goes out to every single team member who made this happen,” said Tung. “We are thankful that Orlando embraced a really traditional udon-focused restaurant.”
Neither Tung and his team nor Collantes and his — amid opening Soseki’s new adjacent food-focused sake bar, Bar Kada, as well as beginning service on Sushi Saint’s new $100, 12-course omakase (there are plenty of upgrade opportunities for those looking) — are resting on their laurels, though both are looking forward to seeing what other Michelin news will shake out next week.
That’s when Zaru and Sushi Saint, as well as the other Florida Bib Gourmand recipients, are honored on stage at the Michelin Guide Ceremony on April 18, at the Tampa Edition hotel.