Eleven Madison Park has been named the top restaurant in the world in the much-anticipated annual ranking by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants organization.
The New York City tasting-menu concept, which will close in June for a three-month renovation, was the only U.S. operation to crack the top 10.
Chicago’s molecular gastronomy palace Alinea, which was shuttered for half of 2016 for a major redesign, fell to No. 21 from No. 15 last year.
Also dropping on the list: Thomas Keller’s French Laundry. The Yountville, Calif., restaurant, which recently underwent a $10 million facelift, held the No. 1 spot in 2003 and 2004, but dropped to No. 68 this year. (Still, the new placement was a jump from last year’s descent to No. 85.)
Judges said the “simple, delicious, farm-fresh food that is transformed into ground-breaking dishes by talented chef Dan Barber” catapulted Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y., from No. 48 to No. 11 on the list, this year’s biggest leap.
Rounding out the U.S. list-makers are Le Bernardin (New York City, No. 17) and Cosme (New York City, No. 40).
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is assembled by William Reed Business Media, a British firm that employs more than 1,000 judges around the globe. Find the complete list of notable restaurants here.
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