In an exciting ceremony live streamed from Melbourne at midday, Eleven Madison Park was named as the best World’s 50 Best Restaurant, an accolade it last achieved seven years ago. A number of exciting restaurant rankings are reflected in the 2017 World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. I have been fortunate to eat at some of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in New York, London, and in France, in the past ten months. Our reviews of some of these follow below.

Last week the restaurants ranked 51 – 100 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list were announced, which included The Test Kitchen in Cape Town, which did a spectacular slide of 41 places, from 22nd Best last year to 63rd Best this year, the largest slide out of the top 50 list! La Colombe is now ranked in 73rd position. Noma was excluded from this year’s awards, being closed currently. 

Shock ranking on 51-100 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, South Africa drops out of Top 50 list!

For fifteen years the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards have been hosted, for thirteen years in London, last year in New York, and today in Melbourne. I tried my best to attend, but could not get a media ticket to the event. I will persevere! Tamsin Snyman was one of the South Africans present, heading up the Academy Chair for Africa and Middle East. Australia’s unique food culture, and that of Melbourne in particular, was praised by many of the speakers. 

Major ranking changes this year are the following: 

#   Strongly improved: L’Arpege (7 positions), Gaggan (16 positions), Le Bernardin (7 positions), Geranium (9 positions), Restaurant Andre (18 positions), Nahm (9 positions), Le Calandre (10 positions), Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (9 positions), Septime (15 positions), and highest climber by 38 positions Blue Hill at Stone Barns

#   Strong decline: Narisawa (10 positions), Quintonil (10 positions), The Ledbury (13 positions), Azurmendi (22 positions), Arzak (9 positions), Saison (10 positions), Restaurant Tim Raue (14 positions), and Vendôme (12 positions).

Additional Awards were presented to:

#  Dominique Ansel of Dominique Ansel Bakery, for Best Pastry Chef in the World

#   Ana Ros of Hiša Franko in Slovenia, for Best Female Chef in the World

#    Virgilio Martinez of Central in Lima, for Chefs Choice Award

#   El Cellar de can Roca won the Art of Hospitality Award

#   Septime won the Sustainability Award

#   Disfrutar was named the Miele One to Watch (an honour bestowed upon The Test Kitchen in 2013). 

#   Heston Blumenthal won the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Chef Heston Blumenthal to receive World’s 50 Best Restaurants Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award!

The 2017 World’s 5o Best Restaurant list is the following: 

1. Eleven Madison Park, New York City

Restaurant Review: Eleven Madison Park thanks its success to Miles Davis, 3rd Best in World, serves New York on a plate!

2. Osteria Francescana, Italy
3. El Celler de Can Roca, Spain
4. Mirazur, France

Restaurant Review: Mirazur French foraging restaurant in Menton, 6th World’s 50 Best Restaurant, Michelin 2-star!

 

5. Central, Peru
6. Asador Etxebarri, Spain
7. Gaggan, Thailand
8. Maido, Peru
9. Mugaritz, Spain
10. Steirereck, Austria
11. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, New York
12. Arpège, France

Restaurant Review: L’Arpège a temple to vegetables, 19th World’s 50 Best Restaurant, Michelin 3-star!

13. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, France

14. Restaurant Andre, Singapore
15. Piazza Duomo, Italy
16. D.O.M., Brazil
17. Le Bernardin, New York City

Restaurant Review: Le Bernardin French focus, seafood specialist, 24th Best in World!

18. Narisawa, Japan
19. Geranium, Denmark
20. Pujol, Mexico
21. Alinea, Chicago
22. Quintonil, Mexico
23. White Rabbit, Russia
24. Amber, Hong Kong
25. Tickets, Spain
26. The Clove Club, England

Restaurant Review: The Clove Club disappointing : 26th Best In World!

27. The Ledbury, England

Restaurant Review: The Ledbury chic but cold, 14th Best in the World!

28. Nahm, Thailand
29. Le Calandre, Italy
30. Arzak, Spain
31. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, France
32. Attica, Australia
33. Astrid y Gaston, Peru
34. De Librije, Netherlands
35. Septime, France

Restaurant Review: Septime understated and hidden in Paris, 50th World’s 50 Best Restaurant, Michelin 1 star!

36. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, England

Restaurant Review: excellent service at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, proudly British menu, 45th Best Restaurant in the World!

37. Saison, San Francisco
38. Azurmendi, Spain
39. Relae, Denmark
40. Cosme, New York City
41. Ultraviolet, China
42. Boragó, Chile
43. Reale, Italy
44. Brae, Australia
45. Den, Japan
46. Astrance, France
47. Vendôme, Germany
48. Restaurant Tim Raue, Germany
49. Tegui, Argentina
50. Hof Van Cleve, Belgium

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein