Chef Isabella Torres has made culinary history as her Manhattan restaurant Luminara earned three Michelin stars just 18 months after opening, the fastest any American restaurant has achieved the prestigious distinction. The Michelin Guide announced its latest New York City ratings on Tuesday morning.
Luminara, located in a converted SoHo warehouse, specializes in a refined fusion of Mexican and Japanese cuisines that Torres developed during years of training in both Tokyo and Oaxaca. Signature dishes include mole-glazed wagyu with shiso and a delicate ceviche served in handmade ceramic bowls from Oaxacan artisans.
Reservations at the 32-seat restaurant, which were already difficult to secure, are now expected to become virtually impossible. Torres told reporters she plans to keep the restaurant intimate despite the recognition, saying quality will always take precedence over expansion.
