best restaurants

El Bulli Named World's Best Restaurant; Per Se, Noma Advance

2008-04-21 15:00 (New York) By Richard Vines

April 21 (Bloomberg) -- El Bulli, Ferran Adria's
experimental venue north of Barcelona, is the world's best
restaurant, followed by Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, near
London, and Pierre Gagnaire, in Paris, Restaurant magazine
announced tonight in London.

The top three are unchanged for the third year in a row in
the S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Mugaritz, in Spain, came fourth, its highest showing, followed by the French Laundry, in California, and Per Se in New York. Per Se jumped from ninth place last year. Noma, in Copenhagen, rose to 10th from 15th.

Not a single London venue made the top 10 in the awards,
which were announced in a ceremony at Freemasons' Hall in Covent Garden, attended by chefs from around the world, including Adria and Blumenthal. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay was 13th, up from 24th.

The rankings are decided by panels totaling 700 chefs,
restaurateurs, food writers and critics in 23 regions. El Bulli
won the first year, in 2002, came second in 2003, third in 2004, and second in 2005. Gordon Ramsay came second in 2002.

Among other London restaurants: St John came 16th this year,
compared with 34th; Hakkasan was unchanged at 19th; Le Gavroche was 22nd, down from 28th, and Nobu slumped to 30th from 17th. In New York, Jean Georges advanced to 17th from 18th and Le Bernardin to 20th from 26th. Daniel dropped to 41st from 32nd.

Here is the list:

1. El Bulli Spain
2. The Fat Duck U.K.
3. Pierre Gagnaire France
4. Mugaritz Spain
5. The French Laundry U.S.
6. Per Se U.S.
7. Bras France
8. Arzak Spain
9. Tetsuya's Australia
10. Noma Denmark
11. L'Astrance France
12. Gambero Rosso Italy
13. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay U.K.
14. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon France
15. Le Louis XV Monaco
16. St John U.K.
17. Jean Georges U.S.
18. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee France
19. Hakkasan U.K.
20. Le Bernardin U.S.
21. Alinea U.S.
22. Le Gavroche U.K.
23. Dal Pescatore Italy
24. Le Cinq France
25. Troisgros France
26. El Celler de Can Roca Spain
27. Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville Switzerland (new entry)
28. Hof van Cleve Belgium
29. Martin Berasategui Spain
30. Nobu London U.K.
31. Can Fabes Spain
32. Enoteca Pinchiorri Italy
33. Le Meurice France (new entry)
34. Vendome Germany (new entry)
35. Die Schwarzwaldstube Germany (new entry)
36. Le Calandre Italy
37. Chez Panisse U.S.
38. Charlie Trotter's U.S.
39. Chez Dominique Finland
40. DOM Brazil
41. Daniel U.S.
42. Oud Sluis The Netherlands
43. Cracco Peck Italy
44. Asador Etxebarri Spain (New entry)
45. Les Ambassadeurs France
46. L'Arpege France
47. Tantris Germany (New entry)
48. Oaxen Skaergaardskrog Sweden
49. Rockpool (Fish) Australia
50. Le Quartier Francais South Africa

(Richard Vines is London food critic for Bloomberg News. The
opinions expressed are his own.)

Posted by Madame Lamb on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 7:46 AM