fine_dining

Gault & Millau

Gault & Millau operates on a different philosophy than Michelin. Where Michelin awards stars for overall excellence including service and ambiance, Gault & Millau focuses its 20-point scale primarily on what's on the plate—rewarding chefs who push boundaries rather than well-suited classics. A score of 13/20 gets you one toque, 20/20 gets you five (though scores above 19 are rare). The guide publishes annual editions for France and several other European countries, with the 2025 edition representing its latest assessments. If you see a restaurant advertising its Gault & Millau score, you're looking at a rating system that values innovation and technique over white tablecloths.