By admin 
South Carolina is home to a vibrant restaurant scene, filled with variety and many different, delicious places.
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However, only four restaurants in the state have been honored with a Michelin star, a symbol of unparalleled culinary excellence. The Michelin Guide, the globally renowned restaurant and hotel publication that awards Michelin stars, finds the best restaurants in the world and gives them one to three stars based on the restaurant’s quality.
Here’s what you should know about the award system and the restaurants in SC that were given a Michelin star:
How are Michelin star restaurants picked
The Michelin Guide hires anonymous inspectors to eat at high-profile restaurants to determine whether they meet the publication’s strict standards.
Restaurants can receive up to three Michelin stars for the quality of their food based on five criteria: quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors, and consistency between visits.
The inspectors don’t look at the interior decor, table setting, or service quality when awarding Michelin stars.
SC’s Michelin star restaurants
Scoundrel – Greenville
Scoundrel is an upscale French bistro and is the only restaurant in the Upstate to receive a Michelin star. They have an elegant dining room, engaging staff and a full-service bar that’s perfect for a date night.
“High-quality ingredients are prepared with care and finesse here, where familiar favorites like Caesar salad are leveled up. Roasted half chicken is tender and juicy with a perfectly crispy skin, then topped with gnocchi Parisienne and a moutarde sauce for an extra flourish,” a Michelin Guide writer said.
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Their address is 18 N. Main St., Greenville.
Vern’s – Charleston
Located in Charleston, Vern’s serves American Contemporary cuisine and is one of the hottest restaurants in the city. The restaurant is operated by a husband-and-wife team of Daniel and Bethany Heinze.
They have an excellent wine list, made-in-house pasta and a beautiful bar area.
“Lowcountry ingredients are championed on a menu that reflects Chef Heinze’s travels. It all shifts with the seasons, but items like charred sourdough with allium butter or raw yellowfin tuna with Calabrian chili are dynamic starters,” the Micheline Guide writer said.
The address is 41 Bogard St, Charleston.
Malagón Mercado y Taperia – Charleston
You’re unlikely to find a restaurant quite like this anywhere else.
Malagón Mercado y Taperia is a Spanish restaurant with a small space and an open kitchen that focuses on tapas and Spanish-style menu items. They also have a variety of wines to choose from, but their Spanish wines steal the spotlight.
“Nothing is overcomplicated, and there is beauty in the precision in dishes like fried rabbit leg with a savory crème fraîche dipping sauce and la bomba de la Barceloneta, with diced pork stuffed inside mashed potato and then fried.”
The address is 33 Spring St., Charleston.
Wild Common – Charleston
The last Michelin Star restaurant in SC is Wild Common. The American Contemporary restaurant is recognized for its ever-evolving menu, featuring creative dishes from the mind of Orlando Pagán, Wild Common’s head chef.
“Chef Orlando Pagán’s tasting menu is far from common, and while upgrades like caviar eggs Benedict and wagyu are indeed available, there’s nothing standard here,” said the Michelin Guide writer.
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The address is 103 Spring St., Charleston.