The World's 50 Best Restaurants

The World's 50 Best Restaurants is produced by British magazine Restaurant based on a poll of international chefs, restaurateurs, gourmands and restaurant critics. In addition to the main ranking, the Chef's Choice list is based on votes from the fifty head chefs from the restaurants on the previous year's list. The top restaurants are often forerunners of molecular gastronomy. Most of the restaurants serve haute cuisine.

The Best Restaurant award has been dominated by El Bulli and Noma. In 2002 and 2006–2009, El Bulli was determined to be the world's best restaurant, winning more times than any other restaurant. In 2010, Noma received the first place award. It was maintained in 2011 and again in 2012. After defending its title for the third time, chef Rene Redzepi said that 1,204 customers were wait-listed for the evening, compared to 14 customers from two years before. In March 2012 a rival guide was launched by US based private jet magazine Elite Traveler which was compiled through votes from the magazine's readers. This guide placed Chicago based restaurant Alinea as the number one restaurant in the world and placed Noma at a controversial 24th.

Read more about The World's 50 Best Restaurants:  Methodology, First Place Restaurants By Year, Chef's Choice Restaurants By Year, Other 2012 Awards

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