On Oct. 21, the Michelin Guide recognized restaurants in the American South for the second year. For the first time, that included honors for eateries in the Wilmington area.
A counter-service pizza place -- Salita Pizza -- and a fine dining downtown restaurant -- manna -- earned a place among those recommended by the guide. William "Billy" Mellon, owner at manna restaurant, also received an individual honor, the Michelin Sommelier Award.
The Michelin Guide originated in France in 1900 as a travel guide that evolved into a system that evaluates consistent standards around ingredient quality, Widely regarded as the most influential restaurant-rating system, it expanded into the Southeastern United States in 2025.
Rankings designate two starred restaurants
as those that offer excellent cuisine and are "worth a detour." One-starred eateries are those with high-quality cooking, and the Bib Gourmand selections have good food at a moderate price. Michelin Recommended restaurants impressed independent inspectors enough to be included in the guide but have not received a star, according to a press release.
The guide said that manna has long been a flagship restaurant in Wilmington. It was also among USA TODAY's Restaurants of the Year in 2026. The guide also noted Chef Carson Jewell’s "playful menu changes" that draw on ingredients from local farms. Meanwhile, Mellon "oversees a serious wine program, backed by the city’s only underground wine cellar."
For Salita, the guide said Chef Jim Diecchio uses freshly milled North Carolina grains for seasonal sourdough pizzas, as well as the desserts. "Don’t overlook the soft serve," the entry says, "where flavors such as olive oil-basil and fresh cantaloupe continue the kitchen’s playful, seasonal approach."
Michelin inspectors also added three new one-star restaurants in the South this year: Dakar NOLA in New Orleans, So. Fox in Atlanta and Uberto Restaurant in Gay, Georgia.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Two Wilmington restaurants receive honors from Michelin Guide
