The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Have Been Crowned
The “Oscars of the food world” took place in Melbourne last night, officially unveiling the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2017.
The gala was hosted at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, marking the second time ever that it’s taken place outside of London. It’s fitting, then, that two Victoria-based restaurants were included in the coveted list.
Ripponlea establishment Attica made an appearance for its fourth year running, landing at number 32, one spot up from last year. Joining Attica is Brae, based in regional Birregurra (it’s about 130km west of Melbourne); though only four years old, the restaurant has squeezed into the list at number 44. Sydney’s Quay didn’t crack the top 50, but it is the third Australian restaurant to hit the top 100, placing at number 95.
Taking out the top spot is Manhattan restaurant Eleven Madison Park, pushing Italy’s Osteria Francescana down to second place, after they were crowned the best restaurant of 2016. Third place was awarded to El Celler de Can Roca, based in Girona, Spain. El Celler had previously achieved the top spot in 2013 and 2015.
The list is not without its controversies; it’s previously been criticised for preferring overly lavish, expensive establishments (Eleven Madison Park will set you back at least US$1000 for two people), only three restaurants with female head chefs have made the list, and no African restaurants have been included in top 50 at all.
The results are decided by a voting panel of around 1500 chefs, writers and restaurateurs, who are each permitted 10 nominations. In contrast to its competing Michelin guide, voting diners are not required to pay for their meals. Lesson of the day? If you want thousand dollar meals for free, become a food critic!
The complete top 50 list can be found here.
(Lead image: Attica official website)
