best restaurant in the world

I'm afraid that it's just one of those "truths" that everyone knows.
Of course, some of the few remaining places where you can get horrible British food are those where the tourists go.

Smoked bacon and eggs ice cream? Molecular gastronomy?

Gotta give 'em credit for originality!

AL

Has Restaurant Magazine eaten in EVERY restaurant in the world?
How can they say this is the BEST?

Gad, what piffle!!

This is the food equivalent of a meeting of the Modern Language Association.

Been there, done that.

Actually, the food IS divine, yes evem the bacon and eggs ice cream (or should that be 'gelato'?)

How accessible by public transportation is this?

The website says take the train to Maidenhead. Are there cabs waiting outside the station? How frequently do trains run? Website for train service?

This is making me curious.

UK rail website here for anyone interested:

http://www.rail.co.uk/

Looks like frequent train service (I just used London/Maidenhead, if that's right). Last train out of Maidenhead on the Saturday I checked is shortly after midnight.

>...the food IS divine, yes even the bacon and eggs ice cream ....<

If God had intended for there to be bacon and eggs ice cream, why did it take nearly 2500 years to discover it?

What agents are used to give the flavor?

((I)

If God had meant us to eat ice cream at all, He wouldn't have let man wait the half-million years man was on the planet before discovering the muck.

Blumenthal has finally found a way of making this vilest of "foods" interesting

111op - when I went there were cabs outside the station, but obviously there's no guarantee there'll always be one at the rank. If you're concerned, ask the restaurant for advice when you book.

The bacon and egg ice cream is good, but for me the best parts were the snail porridge and the palate-cleanser; green tea and vodka mousse which is frozen in liquid nitrogen at your table. The parsnip 'selection box cereal and milk' was very witty, but I don't know if the reference works in the US.

(And I can't claim any inside knowledge of Blumenthal's kitchen, but judging by his cookery columns I'd be amazed if anything other than top-quality bacon and eggs was used to give the ice cream flavour).

Thanks. I'll see if I can fit this into my schedule.

So you took the train from London to Maidenhead, papagena, and that was fine?

Thanks.

I was just talking with a Frenchman and Italian about El Bulli last sat. I would be curious about this new "process" of food. Kate I assume its a fortune but a worth it trip??

John: this was the result of a poll sent to top chefs, food writers, etc.

I had foie gras ice cream at Hibiscus and it was divine

I live in Maidenhead and yes, there are cabs outside the train station all day and most of the night. If you happen to arrive at Maidenhead and there are no taxis, it's because others have beaten you to them and they're all out taking people home (this is most common around the evening rush hour). Wait in line for five to 10 minutes and they'll be back.
P.S. The best train to take to Maidenhead in the evening is the 18:06 from Paddington...Maidenhead is the first stop and the trip will only take about 25 minutes, compared to 45 minutes or so on the poky regular trains. Also, if you're catching an evening rush hour train, get to the train several minutes before it departs or you may very well be standing for most of the ride. Also do NOT get a first class ticket. Although the first class seating is nice, nobody checks tickets on the train (on all my trips between Maidenhead and London, tickets have been checked on board only one time); the seats are often taken up by obnoxious, loud young louts with second class tickets.

Siobhan - it's VERY pricey, as you'd imagine. Think in terms of spending £125-£150 per head. But it's a one-off, and worth saving for.

Thanks BT. I guess I'll buy my tickets first, then call the restaurant -- I've already put the cart before the horse by booking tickets for Caravaggio though.

I've not eaten at El Bulli, but I ate at Terraza del Casino, whose chef is an Adria protege. It was a very interesting meal. This was pre-blog -- in the days when I emailed my trip reports to friends. I did post about the restaurant here though.

The NYT published a magazine article on Ferran Adria called "Laboratory of Taste." Do a Google search for it and see if you can find it. It's a very interesting article.

111op - book the restaurant first! It's frequently booked weeks in advance, as you'd imagine.

There's a new restaurant in London, Lucio's, on 257-259 Fulham Road in South Kensington that I like very much. Excellent service, nice decor, good modern Italian food. Well rated in the various restaurant guides, too (2005 Zagats, Harden's). Down the street from a couple of excellent antique bookstores, including Peter Harrington's. Places like Lucio's appeal to me more than the bleeding edge, ultra trendy spots like Fat Duck.
P.S. Another exhibit worth checking out is Enchanting the Eye, in the Queen's Gallery. Got an excellent write up in the Sunday Times Culture section.

Thanks for the recs!

In a way, it feels decadent to pass through London to go see art and go to nice restaurants -- but whatever works.

(I expect to be there on May 21 and on May 30. The rest of the week I'll be in Scandinavia.)

Are there any better reasons ?

Well, like to see a friend (and I think that I'll see her on May 30). I shouldn't feel so guilty.

The Fat Duck is completely booked on May 21. May 30 is a Monday, and they're closed. Oh well. Next time.

111op - you might like to give them a call on the morning/afternoon of the 21st just in case someone's canned... you never know you just maybe lucky - and it does happen 'cos that's how I got a table at Gordon Ramsey on one accasion at short notice.

Dr D.

If you still fancy a trip to Bray you could always try the Waterside Inn instead - classic French I think and also 3* with an excellent reputation.

Thanks. Calling them at the last minute isn't a bad idea. I don't know if I want classic French though.

Actually now that I think about it, isn't Rivercafe supposed to be good? That's also outside of London.

I think that I may end up doing something completely touristy and prosaic -- like having afternoon tea (I topped another thread earlier this afternoon). My mom would enjoy it, I think, but I suppose I can call the shots ultimately.

But if I manage to secure a lunch reservation for Gordon Ramsay for our return, I think that I'd have satisfied some of my desire for fine dining.

The best restaurant in the world is the one you're in when you find yourself eating delicious food prepared with love in the stimulating company of great friends, sharing stories, laughing, sampling each other's meals and drinking tasty beverages, enjoying the perfect atmosphere of your surroundings, whether it's on a tropical beach or at a sidewalk cafe or in your own cozy dining room at home, all the while knowing that it just can't get any better.

Spice Market? That's madness.

brothererleelove, personally I agree with your comment.

The best food in the world is corn-fed, grain-finished beef grown in Kansas, Missouri, or Nebraska.

The best beef in the world is the chateaubriand prepared at the Top of the Crown in Kansas City.

The best-kept secret of the midwest beef industry is that the really superior meat never leaves town. You can't get "a decent steak" anywhere but where it is grown and brought to market.

hi there.
I've been eaten at some of the restos, including El Bulli / Fat Duck etc etc. last year. I actually met Heston B at El Bulli, he was seating next to us and he was so so nice. Ferran Adria on the other hand is so shy but of the 2, El Bulli was to me more than an experience.
This weekend while in NY I wanted Per Se but apparently I called 1 hour too lage to get a table (lines open at 10am). Having said that I went for something modern and opted for wd50. It was quite good indeed. Some of the food had the WoW factor. next time I will aim at Per Se.
and regarding the list, you may agree or not (in my opinion Woseley in London is pretty average) but the list is compiled by 500 food critis/journalists from around the world.
Enjoy it!

When I saw Gordon Ramsay giving a talk he said that the thing nobody tells you about El Bulli is that you will inevitably be sick on the way back down the twisty, bumpy road. Did this happen to you, miss_saigon ?

Is this a case of GR badmouthing the competition?

I did book a reservation for GR on 5/30 for lunch. Cancelation is 150 pounds pp (if not at least 48 hours).

Haven't eaten at Per Se. It seems too expensive. But WD 50 does interest me. I ate at Clinton Fresh Food twice, once before Dufresne (who moved to WD 50) and once after. Enjoyed it both times. Haven't yet tried WD 50.

BrotherLee? AMEN!

After El Bulli, we did not get sick.
Personally I do not think Gordon Ramsay is that good (it lackst the WOW factor)... I prefer Petrus.

That's good to know, miss_saigon.

While we really enjoyed our meal at RGR, IMO it wasn't the best meal I've ever had. My current top meal was the surprise tasting menu at Hibiscus in Ludlow (2 stars) last September. I haven't been to Petrus.

But Miss Saigon, Petrus is part of Gordon Ramsey's empire!

We had a horrible experience with the Waterside Inn restaurant. It was my father’s 60th birthday on 28 October 2005 and we went to the Waterside Inn to celebrate. My mother however that evening ended up with what the doctor had said were symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The Waterside Inn denied all liability stating that we could not prove it was food poisoning. Lets just say that my mother was in good health previous to the meal and has no history of food disorders. In addition we went during the month of Ramadan so we were all fasting and that the meal at the Waterside Inn was the first meal of the day. The symptoms started that night after the meal. I’ll let you make up your own minds. We will in future stick to the Fat Duck around the corner!

111op; the River Cafe is in Hammersmith; not outside of London, but not very central either. Excellent, Italian food. Jamie Oliver was 'discovered' there.
We had a good meal at Waterside Inn, years ago. Classic French cooking. Haven't been to the Fat Duck.
We used to go to a restaurant/hotel called the French Horn in Sonning; not far from Bray. Lovely, right on the Thames, British food. I wonder if it is still there? Does anyone know it?

Thanks Tulips. Will keep this for future reference (last wrote about half a year ago, and did make it to GR for lunch, which was very good, by the way).

> the River Cafe is in Hammersmith; not outside of London, but not very central either. Excellent, Italian food. Jamie Oliver was 'discovered' there. <

One very good reason not to go there!

I thought the "Tasting Menu" at Lola (www.lola4dinner.com) was over the top.
M

Give me Jamie Oliver over the River Cafe anytime, had the worst restaurant experience for a looong time there a couple of years ago.

1. The food tasted like it had been made at lunchtime and heated up (e.g. soggy bruschetta)
2. The fish tasted less than fresh
3. the staff were rude
4. We had to wait for our table, and the tiny bar was packed with nowhere to sit
5. We were told we had to leave our table promptly at 9, even though
(a) we weren't sat til 15 mins after our booking
(b) we had to wait at least 15 mins for them to take our order
(c) we weren't served our main course until 20mins before we were due to leave
(d) we were given our bill while we were still eating our main course
(e) we were hassled to pay up and go as soon as they took our plates away
6. the atmosphere was like having dinner in a brightly lit aircraft hangar
7. The prices were ridiculous compared to comparative restaurants
8. The seating was the kind I would expect to find in a bad italian in the 70s

Don't get me wrong, I love the River Cafe cookbooks, but they can keep the restaurant.

I had never heard of the River Cafe, until last week when A&E's Biography featured Jamie Oliver, and they talked to the owners of River Cafe where evidently Oliver got his start.

It must have been in the early afternoon when the restaurant was prepping for dinner, but it was odd b/c in the background of the interview there were like 20+ twentysomething hipsters in an assembly line prepping the food. They weren't wearing restaurant clothes, more like trendy outfits. It was like they were hanging out and then decided to start cutting up vegetables. They were laughing it up despite the fact that the restaurant owners were being interviewed.

Our experience wasn't as bad as Kate's, but we didn't think it was that great either. We had a MUCH nicer time at the Hand & Flowers in Marlow. Especially if you linger til the end of the lunch (or evening) when the chef comes out to chat with his two friendly, sweet dogs.

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/food_and_drink/reviews/article300842.ece

Funny how Marlow is referred to as the "anti-Slough"

Thanks for the top BTilke, I love Marlow