French Laundry named again as top-5 in the world

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Two of Thomas Keller's restaurants are top two in U.S.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

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By Register Staff

10 a.m.Once again, The French Laundry, Thomas Keller’s award-winning dining establishment in Yountville, has been named one of the top 5 restaurants in the world.

First published by Restaurant magazine in 2002 and now in its seventh year, the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants is recognized around the world as the most credible indicator of the best places to eat on the planet.

El Bulli, Ferran Adrià’s experimental venue north of Barcelona, is the world’s best restaurant, followed by Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck, near London, and Pierre Gagnaire, in Paris, Restaurant magazine announced late last week.

The top three are unchanged for the third year in a row. Mugaritz, in Spain, came fourth, its highest showing, followed by the French Laundry, in the Napa Valley, and Keller’s Per Se in New York. Per Se jumped from ninth place last year.

The rankings are decided by panels totaling 700 chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and critics in 23 regions.

Here is the list:

1. El Bulli, Spain; 2. The Fat Duck, U.K.; 3. Pierre Gagnaire, France; 4. Mugaritz, Spain; 5. The French Laundry, U.S.; 6. Per Se, U.S.; 7. Bras, France; 8. Arzak, Spain; 9. Tetsuya’s, Australia; 10. Noma, Denmark.

11. L’Astrance, France; 12. Gambero Rosso, Italy; 13. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, U.K.; 14. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, France; 15. Le Louis XV, Monaco; 16. St John, U.K.; 17. Jean Georges, U.S.; 18. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee, France; 19. Hakkasan, U.K.; 20. Le Bernardin, U.S.

21. Alinea, U.S.; 22. Le Gavroche, U.K.; 23. Dal Pescatore, Italy; 24. Le Cinq, France; 25. Troisgros, France; 26. El Celler de Can Roca, Spain; 27. Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville, Switzerland (new entry); 28. Hof van Cleve, Belgium; 29. Martin Berasategui, Spain; 30. Nobu London, U.K.

31. Can Fabes, Spain; 32. Enoteca Pinchiorri, Italy; 33. Le Meurice, France (new entry); 34. Vendome, Germany (new entry); 35. Die Schwarzwaldstube, Germany (new entry); 36. Le Calandre, Italy; 37. Chez Panisse, U.S.; 38. Charlie Trotter’s, U.S.; 39. Chez Dominique, Finland; 40. D.O.M., Brazil.

41. Daniel, U.S.; 42. Oud Sluis, The Netherlands; 43. Cracco Peck, Italy; 44. Asador Etxebarri, Spain (new entry); 45. Les Ambassadeurs, France; 46. L’Arpege, France; 47. Tantris, Germany (new entry); 48. Oaxen Skaergaardskrog, Sweden; 49. Rockpool (Fish), Australia; 50. Le Quartier Francais, South Africa.

16 comment(s)

napasfinest wrote on Apr 29, 2008 1:09 PM:

" I love having the French Laundry in Yountville. I eat some of the world's best cuisine usually 3-4 times a week. "

sam wrote on Apr 29, 2008 1:29 PM:

" Hey napasfines, what do you do for a living? I would love to be able to eat ther 3-4 times a week. Heck I would love to be able to afford to eat there once a year "

Musikluvr wrote on Apr 29, 2008 4:15 PM:

" I can't afford to eat there but it is nice to have such a famous place in our valley. This is what I like about Napa Valley. It has great charisma and its all mine! "

napasfinest wrote on Apr 29, 2008 5:26 PM:

" I'm an actor. "

napavalleyman wrote on Apr 29, 2008 7:22 PM:

" I congratulate Mr. Keller and his restaurants' ratings. However, I also believe it should be noted that The Salvation Army, Napa Corps ("Sally's"), and the First Presbytarian Church ("The Table") feed hundreds of homeless and needy people in our community very Monday through Friday. "

tiredofcomplainingnapkins wrote on Apr 29, 2008 9:04 PM:

" I went to french laundry once and was not impressed at all. The waiter did't speak english very well and the coffee taste old and burnt. The prices were outrageous for the serving size and the restaurant look ugly on the outside. "

Dirty Napkin wrote on Apr 29, 2008 9:44 PM:

" Mustards kicks booty! "

comment wrote on Apr 29, 2008 10:56 PM:

" And I am the President. "

raybo wrote on Apr 30, 2008 12:25 AM:

" I can top that. I'm God. Never eaten at the French Laundry though. I don't make nearly as much as an actor. "

vocal-de-local wrote on Apr 30, 2008 11:09 AM:

" If napasfinest is an actor wealthy enough to eat at French laundry 4x a week, so be it. I'm not surprised that Napa County would attract such people here.

But...actors fall out of favor and those who spend it all without planning for a rainy day are not using wisdom!

Don't you have something a little more constructive to do with your money than spending it all on one very expensive business in Napa County? Do what you want. It's none of my business. But it's no longer cool to drive around in a Rolls Roycs and brag about eating out at expensive restaurants. Down to earth is where it's at, especially in Northern California. Southern Californians sometimes face culture shock here because money doesn't buy people quite as easily. You are either an old timer actor or so new on the scene you have not yet developed a sense of self.

Aside from that, French Laundry and especially Keller, who came from more humble beginnings, deserve credit.
"

JustMy$.02 wrote on Apr 30, 2008 1:14 PM:

" Hmm, napasfinest sounds more like a 'Stand up Philosopher'! ;)

((thats a Mel Brooks movie reference, 10 pts if you know it!)) "

napasfinest wrote on Apr 30, 2008 1:36 PM:

" I didn't expect to get attacked for my comment. I'm sorry I chose acting as a career and have beens successful. I would tell you who I am, but knowing Napa, it would most likely cause a frenzy. "

comment wrote on Apr 30, 2008 8:32 PM:

" My comment was meant only as a joke, napasfinest. I'm not a comedian. I hope you didn't take my comment as an insult. "

napasfinest wrote on Apr 30, 2008 11:59 PM:

" Also, I know that JustMy.02. That is from History of the World: Part 1. Fantastic movie. "

jeepracer10 wrote on May 1, 2008 12:51 AM:

" Ate there once for a business dinner, didnt get full so we all went out for pizza afterwards. Are these blind tastings? Seems ironic that two of Mr Kellers places won. I ve had some great food at much better places in the valley. "

vocal-de-local wrote on May 2, 2008 11:07 AM:

" napasfinest, my intentions were not to be offensive. I have no problem with people being wealthy and famous. And Napa is a great place to live and so I do understand why you are here. But we are not Southern Californians who are fascinated by all the dazzle (read the reaction to Coppola's light show at his winery in Sonoma County). Nor are we overly preoccupied with fame.

In my world, I value people from all walks of life. I do not hold a wealthy actor in any higher esteem than a school teacher. It's character that matters, and I mean real character, not acted character.

Keep in mind that talking about eating at a restaurant three times a week that most people cannot afford to ever eat at even once appears like bragging to me. So, just know that we would accept you whether or not you ate at an expensive restaurant three times a week, as long as you're a nice person, and it sounds like you probably are. But do keep posting here so that you can remain a part of our local blogging community. It will give you perspective. "

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