New York, New York - Michelin announced the list for their popular restaurant guide, and eight iconic NYC spots were surprisingly stripped of their Michelin stars.

While 17 lucky restaurants made their debut on the list with their first ever star rating, eight restaurants lost the single star they had.

Three of those eight – Carbone, Peter Luger Steak House, and Marea – are the most frequented and popular restaurants in the city, and the removal has left food lovers puzzled.

According to the Daily Mail, restaurants that gained a star were "almost twice as vegetarian-friendly than those that lost their only star."

"On average the number of vegetarian mains offered in the restaurants that lost their only star was 1.4 while in those that gained a first star it was 2.3," the outlet said.

The other restaurants that lost their only star included Ai Fiori, L’Appart, The Clocktower, Meadowsweet, Wallsé, and ZZ’s Clam Bar.

Michelin's guide is considered one of the best resources for finding quality food in NYC and other major cities. Gaining and maintaining a good rating is difficult, but losing a star can be disastrous for an eatery.

The late chef and food critic Anthony Bourdain called Marea one of his favorite places to eat in New York City.