Getting a Michelin star is not an easy task, and maintaining it is even more difficult. This award represents excellence in the culinary world, and each year, chefs and restaurants eagerly await the update of the Michelin Guide to see if their efforts have been recognized with one, two or three of these prestigious stars.
However, the recent announcement of a restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany, has shown that even the prestige of a Michelin star may not be enough to ensure sustainable financial success.
Ritzi restaurant, located near Stuttgart central station in the state of Baden-Württemberg, has been a notable stop for food lovers since its opening in January 2020. Run by Tunisian-born chef Ben Benasr , Ritzi earned a Michelin star in the latest edition of the guide. The establishment offered a unique culinary experience, combining a bar, brasserie and haute cuisine restaurant in a design environment, with only 6 tables.
Surprisingly, despite this prestigious recognition that should portend great success, the restaurant itself announced just a few weeks ago its imminent closure, with a date yet to be determined.
The decision, explained as fundamentally economic, was communicated through an emotional publication on the restaurant’s Instagram account: “Dear friends and guests, today we unfortunately have sad news for you. Our Ritzi must declare bankruptcy. We would like to thank you in advance. wholeheartedly for your loyalty and support.”
As reported by Reporter Gourmet, the obstacles Ritzi faced were multiple: high rents, increasing operating costs, devastating consequences of recent floods, and a shortage of qualified labor. Added to these obstacles was Chef Benasr’s delicate health, which further complicated the management of the restaurant.
