The Best Restaurant in the World?

If you want some instantaneous publicity, do an awards thing that sounds at least somewhat authentic that tells us who or what is the best in the world. We actually did something like this ourselves in the United States, so how critical can I be? It's just that it's ridiculous and certainly presumptuous to suggest there is actually one restaurant in the entire world that is the absolute best.

Having said that, the next time you find yourself on the coast of Catalonia in Spain, try El Bulli. According to the good folks at the London based Restaurant Magazine (with the guidance from some 560 restaurant experts), El Bulli is as good as it gets. The credit really goes to the publication for putting this thing together so people like myself will write about it. It works every single time.

Just for the record, allow me to tell you about the real "best" restaurant in the world. It's called Tavern on the Green in New York. They also received a number one listing of their own from Restaurants & Institutions Magazine (The Top 100 Independent Restaurants of 2005). They did just over $37 million in sales.

I understand that we are talking about two entirely different concepts, but you have to be impressed with that one thousand-seat restaurant in New York. El Bulli might be worth the trip, but I just can't stop thinking about that $37 million.

A sampling of the "world's best"...

1. El Bulli (Spain)
2. The Fat Duck (U.K.)
3. Pierre Gagnaire (France)
4. French Laundry (U.S.)
5. Tetsuya's (Australia)
6. Bras (France)
7. Restaurant le Louis XV (Monaco)
8. Per Se (U.S.)
9. Restaurant Arzak (Spain)
10. Mugaritz (Spain)
11. Can Fabes (Spain)
12. Nobu (U.K.)
13. Gambero Rosso (Italy)
14. Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road (U.K.)
15. Restaurant Alain Ducasse (France)
16. Jean Georges (U.S., New York)
17. Le Cinq (France)
18. Daniel (U.S., New York)
19. Oud Sluis (Netherlands)
20. Chez Panisse (U.S.)

The complete list - http://www.theworlds50best.com

Restaurants & Institutions Top 100 List (requires registration at their website)

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