Daniel demoted, others promoted as Michelin surveys NYC

Daniel, long one of the mainstays of Manhattan’s fine-dining scene, was demoted from three stars to two in the newest edition of Michelin’s New York dining guide, which goes on sale Wednesday. At the same time, three restaurants were promoted from one star to two and the outer boroughs continued to show their strength.

Daniel had won its third star in 2010, but failed to hold onto it, despite chef Daniel Boulud’s prominence on the national food scene.

“Daniel Boulud has been a pillar of the gastronomic community for 30 years, but this year we found a lack of consistency,” Michael Ellis, international director for the guides, told the New York Times. “We have to make difficult decisions. We’d rather give stars than take them away. We look forward to him getting his third star back.”

Six restaurants held on to their three stars -- Thomas Keller’s Per Se and its Columbus Circle neighbor the high-end Masa, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Jean Georges, Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin, Daniel Humm’s Eleven Madison Park and Brooklyn’s Chef’s Table, an 18-seat restaurant helmed by Cesar Ramirez.

Bumped from one star to two were venerable Aquavit, now headed by Emma Bengtsson; sushi bar Ichimura; and Carlo Mirachi’s Blanca in Brooklyn.

According to the New York Times, there are 20 restaurants that either received their first stars or were promoted this year, and more than half of them are located in Brooklyn or Queens.

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