Top 5 of the World’s Best Restaurants
The overall experience at the world’s best restaurants certainly makes the effort of booking a table worthwhile. The months of waiting for a table creates a heightened sense of anticipation, as do the endless plaudits, but these top 5 of the world’s best restaurants are certainly worth the wait. This list is in no particular order since food, as with art, is ultimately a subjective experience.
Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy
The restaurant has three Michelin stars and a slew of other awards, including being ranked in the top 10 of the World’s best restaurants since 2010. Through all of the hype surrounding Osteria Francescana and the demi-God status of Massimo Bottura, this is a restaurant with a strong focus on its locality. The restaurant itself is a lovely space, with plenty of abstract art and waiting for staff excel. The Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano and Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart, show Massimo’s passion for art, memory, and sense of place.
El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
At this three Michelin starred restaurant, the food is a re-interpretation of Catalan classics, enhancing or magnifying the taste of great ingredients through precise cooking and complementary components that highlight the uniqueness of each dish. The tasting menu is a unique experience for the diner. With unusual presentations and layer upon layer of taste depths, but you can be at the restaurant for more than four hours. The food is intricate, technical and innovative but most of all it is absolutely delicious.
Mirazur, Menton, Southern France
Awarded its second Michelin star in 2012, Mirazur blends the elegant style of the 1930s with stunning views over the Cote d’Azur. Mauro Colagreco, originally from Argentine, is passionate about excellent ingredients and has mastered contemporary cooking techniques to perfection. There may be other top restaurants that feature what at first glance appear to be more inventive or playful dishes, but the skill in preparing each and every course at Mirazur is evident in the little details that, taken together, create a top dining experience.
Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA
Eleven Madison Park is an art deco building with 35-foot ceilings and a view over Madison Square Park. The new design of the restaurant is warm and inviting. The tasting menu is available at lunch and dinner. The duck is outstanding, and the flavors throughout the dishes make this a great dining experience overall. The cocktails are familiar with innovative favorites with surprising twists.
Wolfgat, Paternoster, South Africa
Set in a gorgeous coastal spot, Wolfgat is a 20-seat fine-dining restaurant tucked away in a 130-year-old ocean-side cottage right on the beach. The menu specializes in local seafood, and indigenous plants foraged from the Western Cape such as dune spinach and soutslaai. The food is of course, beautifully prepared and presented, accompanied by very unusual and interesting wines, mainly from the area. With only five tables the chef is able to chat knowledgeably about the ingredients and wines throughout the meal.