The Worst Michelin-Starred Restaurant’s Experience Goes Viral And Stirs The Internet

The first thing that comes to mind is Italy’s cultural richness, centuries of traditions, and unique gastronomy. Italians are commonly associated with the concept of family and good food. That is probably why the events that happened to these customers of the one-Michelin-star Bros restaurant in Lecce caused so much controversy. Now, those customers share the details, what they have to say about their experience in the Michelin restaurant, and why the review goes viral.

No menu option

Isabella Poti and Floriano Pellegrino are the Chefs and owners of the Bros restaurant, located in the city of Lecce, Italy. When they imagined what the cuisine and the offer of the place would be like, they decided to remove the menu option and only offer two tasting menus, each with a different number of dishes.

From the inventive and unusual tasting meals – many of which are concluded with a theatrical flourish at your table – to the wonderful desserts, they were sure that the courses selected would provide guests a clear glimpse into their cuisine.

They had great expectations

Receiving a Michelin star is one of the most prestigious awards in the Gastronomic industry. That was precisely why Geraldine DeRuiter, her husband, and their friends went to the restaurant Bros with great expectations. Geraldine DeRuiter is an internationally known author, public speaker, and the creator of the award-winning Everywhereist blog.

Rand DeRuiter, Geraldine’s husband, has a career that sends him all over the world. After being fired from her job, Geraldine began to accompany her husband on his travels. She affirms that blogging allows them not only to keep track of everything they experience but also to remember what they see during their travels.

Only the best of the best

But let’s recap a bit about what it means to be part of the Michelin Guide. Its publications have been available since the early 20th century. In it, you can find restaurants that, for different reasons, earn the status of excellence and deserve to be part of this exclusive list.

Inspectors are usually conservative when it comes to awarding stars. Sometimes they believe the restaurant is good but not quite ready for two stars yet. Achieving the three-star level involves more than just great meals. The difference between a two-star and a three-star restaurant, according to inspectors, is emotion.

Higher stakes

We all had bad experiences at food places at least once in our lives. However, when it comes to such a prestigious place, the impact is usually greater, mainly due to the contrast between what one expects to receive and what one ends up obtaining.

As told by Geraldine in her article, “There is something to be said about a truly disastrous meal, a meal forever indelible in your memory because it’s so uniquely bad, it can only be deemed an achievement. The sort of meal where everyone involved was definitely trying to do something; it’s just not entirely clear what.”