HOW TO DINE IN THE TOP RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD
For a truly unique culinary experience, the top restaurants in the world for 2018 have plenty to offer, weather you’re looking for classic European cooking or a surprise Thai menu ordered though emojis. Getting a table at these eateries can be difficult but we’ve put together a few tips on how to how to make the reservation process simpler so you can plan for those special meals out.
EVELYN MADISON PARK
Co-owners Will Guidara and Daniel Humm have put their lives into breaking down the walls between dining room and kitchen, making sure the customer experience is harmonious from start to finish, serving a New York twist on modern European cuisine.
Typical dishes: Chef Humm’s signature roasted duck has had many iterations, from the classic honey and lavender version to honey-glazed with turnips and huckleberries.
Reservations:Evelyn Madison Park will be closing for summer renovations and reopening in the fall. During that time they will be moving the team to East Hampton to open a more casual pop-up named EMP Summer House. Reservations are exclusive to American Express Card Members only and are available for the dining room and special experiences – the tent and backyard are walk-in only. You will have to book 2 months in advance and pay a $25 deposit.
Average price: $225 per person
New York, USA
OSTERIA FRANCESCANA
A poet, storyteller and artist as much as a cook, Chef Massimo Bottura weaves narratives through his contemporary Italian dishes, playing with traditions and experimenting with ingredients from the Emilia-Romagna region from whence he hails.
Typical dishes:Courses include the famous Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano, which takes the diner through the region’s esteemed cheese in different temperatures, textures and tastes, and The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna, Bottura’s reinvention of a corner of the classic Italian dish.
Reservations:You better not cancel late or forget because in the case of a late cancellation or a no-show, a fee of €250 per person will be charged. You’ll have to book three months in advance, the moment the dates become available.
Average price: $200 per person
Modena Italy
EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA
El Celler is a free-style restaurant, committed to the avant-garde, but still faithful to the memory of different generations of the family’s ancestors dedicated to feeding people. They also have an impressive wine cellar and fabled wine pairings, which more than live up to their reputation for variety, originality and quality.
Typical dishes:Highlights might include an opener of onion flower with comté cheese, cuttlefish with sake lees and black rice sauce, and charcoal-grilled lamb consommé.
Reservations: Book up to 11 months in advance with a new month becoming available at midnight on the 1st day of every month. In order to guarantee your reservation a credit or a debit card is to be provided.
Average price: $190 per person
Girona, Spain
MIRAZUR
In a stunning location on the French side of the Riviera, just moments from the Italian border, Mirazur is an idyllic spot to enjoy the food of the skilled chef Mauro Colagreco, which takes inspiration from his Argentine-Italian heritage as well as the local French region.
Typical dishes: Courses might include monkfish with topinambur puree and Piedmont hazelnuts, or anchovy fillets on fried anchovy skeletons with juice from Menton’s famous lemons. Colagreco’s signature of oyster with tapioca, shallot cream and pear is a modern classic in the making.
Reservations:To get a table you’ll have to book up to a year in advance, either online or by phone.
Average price: $240
Menton, France
CENTRAL
An exploration of its country’s biodiversity, Central takes diners on a journey through every altitude, from 20 meters below sea level to 4,100 meters above it, in 17+ courses. The tasting menu is a reflection of Chef Virgilio Martínez and his sister’s research into ingredients in the Andes, the Amazon and the sea.
Typical dish:Courses on the Mater Elevations tasting menu include Spiders on a Rock with mussel, crab and abalone; Marine Soil with razor clams, sweet lemon, pepino and starflower; and Close Fishing, an octopus dish with yuyo, barquillo and squid.
Reservations:Central advises booking at least 60 days in advance, and this is best done online. The calendar appears to be fully booked through the end of August; reservations for September through December will open up August 1. Lunch is considerably easier, with tables currently open as soon as mid-July.
Average price: $150
Lima, Peru
