South Florida Restaurant Konro Loses Michelin Star After Scandal

Florida's Michelin Guide has stripped Konro, West Palm Beach's first and only Michelin-starred restaurant, of both its listing and its Michelin star following the arrest of chef-owner Jacob Bickelhaupt on serious domestic violence charges that have since escalated to attempted second-degree murder.

The once-celebrated omakase counter, which opened in October 2023 and earned its Michelin star this past April, permanently shuttered on June 10, days after Bickelhaupt's arrest and as disturbing details surrounding the case came to light.

The Series of Events That Led to Konro's Demise

According to West Palm Beach police, Bickelhaupt was taken into custody on June 2 on felony charges of aggravated battery causing bodily harm and domestic battery. The arrest report describes a violent two-hour assault that left a woman with severe head trauma, requiring emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma. Her condition remains uncertain, and a friend has since launched a GoFundMe to aid in her recovery.

Days after Bickelhaupt's arrest, the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office filed additional criminal charges against the restaurateur, accusing him of violating a court-issued no-contact order by calling the woman on two occasions while in custody, reportedly asking for money to post bail. The charges were later dropped in exchange for a misdemeanor charge of violating pretrial release.

On June 11, his felony battery charges were upgraded to attempted second-degree murder and false imprisonment.
As Bickelhaupt remains in a Palm Beach County jail without a bond, operations at Konro — his chef's table omakase restaurant in West Palm Beach — have ended for the time being. 

Michelin Removes All Traces of Konro

The fallout was swift. Konro disappeared from the Michelin Guide's website and was removed from OpenTable’s reservation system, effectively erasing what had been one of the state’s most exclusive dining experiences — a ten-seat, $735-per-person omakase counter tucked inside Flamingo Park Market, near the Norton Museum of Art. Michelin had previously praised Bickelhaupt's "bold, umami-packed dishes," highlighting foie gras mousse in a chicken-skin cone and truffle-laden barley risotto as some of the state’s most inventive fine dining bites.

This isn't Bickelhaupt’s first brush with violence. In 2017, the chef pleaded guilty to battering his then-wife and business partner, Alexa Welsh, outside their acclaimed Chicago restaurant, 42 Grams, an incident that preceded its abrupt closure. After a failed attempt to rebuild his career with pop-ups in Denver and a short-lived restaurant, Stone Flower, Bickelhaupt relocated to Florida with his second wife, seeking a fresh start in West Palm Beach.

Now, just months after achieving the culinary world’s highest accolade, Konro has vanished from Florida's dining landscape as quickly as it rose. However, according to its listing on Yelp, the restaurant will "reopen September 2025."

On Thursday, July 31, Michelin issued the following statement to New Times about the restaurant's removal from the Michelin Guide website:

"Michelin stars are annual distinctions. They are awarded each year based on evaluations conducted by our inspectors. Each restaurant is re-evaluated annually, and distinctions may change depending on the dining experience observed. The [Michelin] Guide reflects the selection for the current year, and a star is not a permanent ranking but rather a snapshot of the quality level as assessed during the visits. Additionally, the inspection team keeps the selections up to date to provide the most reliable restaurant recommendations for travelers. Given that the restaurant is currently closed, it has been removed from the selection."

Therefore, if Konro does reopen this fall, the restaurant may have to prove itself if it wants to return to the Michelin Guide. Regardless, there is no arguing that its image has been tarnished, and it will be interesting to see whether patrons are willing to return.