The STAR WARS of Michelin Guide restaurants: a wine list perspective – a case study from Italy

Purpose This study aims to examine how restaurant features, particularly wine list elements like prices and origins, influence ratings for Michelin Guide restaurants. Design/methodology/approach Data from 555 Italian Michelin Guide restaurants were collected from the Michelin Guide website, TripAdvisor and online wine lists. Ordinary least squares regression was used to evaluate the impact of restaurant attributes on ratings. Findings Customers assign higher ratings to restaurants with specific features. A positive correlation exists between food menu prices and ratings, except for extremely high-priced restaurants, which show a negative effect. Online exposition shows a positive effect on rating. Restaurants with higher price ranges and more Michelin stars (1, 2 or 3) also receive better ratings. Notably, establishments with lower median wine list prices tend to achieve higher ratings, except for top-tier price restaurants, where the effect on ratings is positive. Furthermore, restaurants offering too many local wines may see a decline in ratings. Research limitations/implications The analysis focuses on Italian Michelin Guide restaurants and excludes specific location or sales data. Practical implications Insights into wine list pricing and diversity can help managers refine offerings and pricing strategies to enhance customer satisfaction and improve ratings. Originality/value This study highlights how wine list characteristics impact customer ratings and uncovers a non-linear relationship between food and wine prices and customer preferences.