The Michelin Guide gave one of its coveted stars to a Boston restaurant for the first time, a recognition courted by tourism officials as a way to woo visitors to the city. 311 Omakase, a sushi spot tucked away in a brownstone basement in the city’s South End, is one of dozens of restaurants across the US to earn at least one star, according to a list unveiled on November 18.

Michelin, a French tire manufacturer that has recommended restaurants in its guidebook for a century, expanded its review system to include Boston and Philadelphia for the first time this year. Meet Boston, the region’s tourism bureau, paid Michelin to rate its restaurants in a deal that the Boston Globe has reported was worth more than $1 million over three years.

While some global hotspots don’t pay for Michelin’s

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