The wait's over and the results are in – last week saw one of the most prestigious nights of the hospitality industry's calendar: the World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards.
In the same vein as the World's 50 Best Bars, it's an event that brings together a unique community of extraordinary culinary talent to celebrate global gastronomy. And, with interest in food at an all-time high, it was a Michelin-star-spangled night to remember, with winners from 23 countries spread across six continents.
Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy secured the top spot, having slowly inched its way up from number three in 2013.
World's 50 Best Restaurants 2016 – London's winners:
Chef Brett Graham opened The Ledbury when he was just 25. An impressive feat indeed, given that it's now got two Michelin-stars and has leapt into the number 14 spot in the World's 50 Best list. He's known for his love of British game – as well as hunting it – so his menu is accordingly based around our splendid isle's finest produce. One of his most iconic dishes is flame-grilled mackerel with smoked eel, celtic mustard and shiso.
Isaac McHale's vegetable-forward first restaurant has been at the top of every food lover's bucket list since the young chef undertook a residency above the Ten Bells a couple of years ago. McHale has stints at The Ledbury – also in this year's World's 50 Best Restaurants list – and at Noma under his belt. The most unmissable dish? McHale's signature buttermilk chicken.
The original kitchen chemist and one of the first TV celebrity chefs, Heston is currently proprietor of four dining establishments: The Fat Duck – one of four restaurants in the UK to have three Michelin stars – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and two pubs in Bray. He's also recently been in the press for creating the food taken into space by astronaut Tim Peake – but don't worry, that won't be on offer at his refined London outpost, which is housed in the sleek Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge.
As for the rest, check out the full list of winners below.
- Osteria Francescana (Italy)
- El Celler de Can Roca (Spain)
- Eleven Madison Park (USA)
- Central (Peru)
- Noma (Denmark)
- Mirazur (France)
- Mugaritz (Spain)
- Narisawa (Japan)
- Steirereck (Austria)
- Asador Etxebarri (Spain)
- D.O.M. (Brazil)
- Quintonil (Mexico)
- Maido (Peru)
- The Ledbury (UK)
- Alinea (Chicago)
- Azurmendi (Spain)
- Piazza Duomo (Italy)
- White Rabbit (Russia)
- Arpège (France)
- Amber (China)
- Arzak (Spain)
- The Test Kitchen (South Africa)
- Gaggan (Thailand)
- Le Bernardin (USA)
- Pujol (Mexico)
- The Clove Club (UK)
- Saison (USA)
- Geranium (Denmark)
- Tickets (Spain)
- Astrid y Gastón (Peru)
- Nihonryori RyuGin (Japan)
- Restaurant André (Singapore)
- Attica (Melbourne)
- Restaurant Tim Raue (Germany)
- Vendôme (Germany)
- Boragó (Chile)
- Nahm (Thailand)
- De Librije (Netherlands)
- Le Calandre (Italy)
- Relae (Denmark)
- Fäviken (Sweden)
- Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (China)
- Biko (Mexico)
- Estela (USA)
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (UK)
- Combal Zero (Italy)
- Schloss Schauenstein (Switzerland)
- Blue Hill at Stone Barns (USA)
- Quique Dacosta (Spain)
- Septime (France)
For more information: theworlds50best.com
