Every year, a list of the World’s Top 50 Best International Restaurants is announced. Food writers, restaurateurs, and even fine diners get a chance to analyze the trends and themes of these restaurants and find out what qualifies them for a spot on the Top 50 list. The 2017 announcement and ceremony were held in Melbourne, Australia. Although these annual rankings have been criticized on certain matters, like favoring female-run restaurants and pricey menus, when you have a look at the restaurants that made the Top 50 cut, the reasons for their inclusion are evident. This article is based on the annual rankings of the top 50 best international restaurants in the last 3 years. After research, here are the highlights.
1. The Eleven Madison Park
This renowned restaurant in New York, USA is run by Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm. Humm’s knowledge of the city’s culinary culture has established a sense of belonging to many locals by utilizing their local ingredients in the top meals. Some of the restaurant’s top meals include the steak tartare and sturgeon served under a smoke-filled cloche. A dinner for two (without wine) will cost around $450.
2. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The fashionable Dinner is overseen by chef Ashley Palmer-Watts and is located at the Mandarin Hotel Hyde Park in London. This restaurant boast traditional dishes, like the Salamugundy, transformed with a touch of modern-day culinary magic. This is indeed the best restaurant in the UK. A dinner for two will cost around s $230.
3. Noma
Noma, the best restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark, topped the list of the World’s Top 50 Restaurants from 2010 to 2012. The restaurant relies solely upon locally grown and produced ingredients. Chef Rene Redzepi and his team create an array of innovative, delicious meals, and are reported to have the most engaging service in the world. One of the famous meals in this restaurant is the Aebleskivers, a traditional Danish pancake dish. A dinner for two (without wine) will cost around $600.
4. Osteria Francescana
One of the world’s best chefs, Massimo Bottura, prepares flights of amazing meals at the Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy. Bottura’s dishes are spectacular and are made even more evocative with the stories that follow them. One of the chef’s specialties is the lacquered eel. A dinner for two will cost around $360.
5. The Ledbury
Located in London, England, the Ledbury is the most classical restaurant on the 2017 list. It is run by Australian-born chef Brett Graham. With amazing meals like the grilled mackerel, and wild game birds hunted for and prepared by the chef himself, a dinner for two will cost around $270.
6. El Cellar de Can Roca
This amazing restaurant in Girona, Spain is run by head chef Joan Roca with his two brothers, Josep and Jordi. El Cellar de can Roca has a beautiful dining room with the meals incorporating the deep Mediterranean flavors. It is well-known for its famous deserts like the ‘messi’ and a starter that includes a taste of five different cuisines. A dinner for two (without wine) will cost around $360 to $480.
7. Mugaritz
Andoni Luis is the famous head chef in the Mugaritz restaurant in Errenteria, Spain. The restaurant, as well as the chef, is well-known for technical dishes such as the potato stones and the bloody mary tomato. The chef consistently surprises his customers with new delights, while maintaining deep Mediterranean flavors. A dinner for two will cost around $470.
8. D.O.M.
This is the most refined restaurants in Sao Paolo, Brazil, run by legendary chef Alex Atala. It boasts unique signature dishes like the pappardelle, which is crafted using the indigenous flavors from the Amazon. The cost per meal for a pair goes for A dinner for two (without wine) will cost around $400.
9. Arzak
Juan Arzak is the owner of this fine restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain. He is among the first chefs to bring modern flavors and cooking techniques to his native country. His restaurant is now run by his daughter, head chef Elena Arzak, and she continues the tradition of preparing innovative meals like monkfish cooked in a balloon of edible green papier mache. A dinner for two will cost around $530.
10. Alinea
Alinea is undoubtably the finest restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2005 by Chef Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas, the restaurant serves more than 20 full-course meals. The restaurant offers three distinct dining experiences: The Kitchen Table—a completely private dining experience; The Gallery Menu—seating is provided for only 16 persons; and The Salon Menu—dining for parties of 2 to 6 with a 10-12 course tasting menu. One of Chef Grant Achatz’s signature meals is the Scallop Agedashi Tofu. A dinner for two (without wine) will cost around $420.
