The List of the World’s Top 50 Restaurants Was Just Released - and People Are Pissed

The list, however, has taken some criticism from those who believe it isn’t diverse enough, it lacks female chefs, and it focuses too much on European establishments. This criticism intensified with yet another white, European male chef taking the top prize. For example, in 2016, the list named Chef Dominique Crenn the world’s top female chef, yet her restaurant didn’t even appear on the top 100 that year. Crenn has called the female chef award itself “stupid” and accused the organization of treating women like “sport.”

While the number of female chefs on the list has increased to five from last year’s three, the number still remains staggeringly small. One of the Top 50 announcers even declared, during the unveiling of the list that “it’s all about girl power tonight”, yet only two of the restaurants on the list are run by women. It just goes to show that food experts might have trained palates, but they can still be tone deaf.

The 2018 world’s 50 best restaurant list:

1. Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)
Chef: Massimo Bottura

2. El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)
Chef: Joan Roca

3. Mirazur (Menton, France)
Chef: Mauro Colagreco

4. Eleven Madison Park (New York City)
Chef: Daniel Humm

5. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand)
Chef: Gaggan Anand

6. Central (Lima, Peru)

7. Maido (Lima, Peru)

8. L’Arpege (Paris, France)

9. Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain)

10. Asador Etxebarri (Axpe, Spain)

11. Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)

12. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York, USA)

13. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)

14. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)

15. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)

16. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)

17. Den (Tokyo, Japan)

18. Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)

19. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)

20. Attica (Melbourne, Australia)

21. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)

22. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)

23. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)

24. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)

25. Cosme (New York City, USA)

26. Le Bernardin (New York City, USA)

27. Boragó (Santiago, Chile)

28. Odette (Singapore)

29. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris, France)

30. D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)

31. Arzak (San Sebastian, Spain)

32. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)

33. The Clove Club (London, UK)

34. Alinea (Chicago, USA)

35. Maaemo (Oslo, Norway)

36. Reale (Castel Di Sangro, Italy)

37. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)

38. Lyle’s (London, UK)

39. Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Peru)

40. Septime (Paris, France)

41. Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)

42. The Ledbury (London, UK)

43. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)

44. Mikla (Istanbul, Turkey)

45. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (London, UK)

46. Saison (San Francisco, USA)

47. Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)

48. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)

49. Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand)

50. The Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa)

 

Best Female Chef: Clare Smyth (Core by Clare Smyth, London)

Chef’s Choice Award: Dan Barber (Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, New York)

Best Pastry Chef: Cédric Grolet

Lifetime Achievement Award: Gastón Acurio

Art of Hospitality Award: Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)

One to Watch: Single Thread (Healdsburg, California)

BBVA Scholarship Winner: Jessie Liu (Taipei, Taiwan)

Sustainable Restaurant Award: Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)

Highest New Entry: Disfrutar (Barcelona, Spain)

Highest Climber Award: Den (Tokyo, Japan)

H/T: Eater