The News
Groucho Marx’s famed “I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member” quip well befits the epicurean world. Sure, neighrbouhood hangouts and local favourites are imperative to daily dining out, but exclusivity stokes the desirability of a dinner destination. A celebrity chef, novel cuisine, a decent location, small stature, or a combination of the above can expand a reservation list exponentially. From rural Spain to New York City, here’s a look at the world’s most sought after reservations. Good luck getting a table.
Behind the News
El Bulli
Do you really need a description of El Bulli ? Time and again, Albert Adrià’s storied restaurant has taken home esteemed honours, including this year’s prestigious S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant award (its dynasty continuing 5th time). Its list of accolades alone would recommend it as would its locale and décor, though it’s Adrià’s stunning fare that makes it a highly sought after reservation. On the forefront of molecular gastronomy, Adrià’s concoctions aren’t simply art plates: they’re engineered tongue pleasers of the blow-your-mind ilk. Constantly changing and improving, you don’t know what you’re going to get and that’s part of the fun, as is the halcyon setting, which kisses the sea in a semi-remote area of Catalonia. Cala Montjoi . Ap. 30, Roses, Spain, +34 972 150 457
Per Se
Here’s a common anecdote: before Per Se’s 2004 opening, Chef and Owner, Thomas Keller frequently downplayed rumours that the new restaurant would be an incarnation of his beloved French Laundry saying, “it won’t be French Laundry, per se.” And it isn’t. Though, it does share many of that fabled restaurant’s finest attributes, including décor elements and an epicurean ethos. The fare here is contemporary, French-indebted, and dynamic. Every day, Per Se offers two unique menus featuring nine entries apiece. A recent Chef’s Menu offered Scottish Langoustines A La Plancha, Tartare of Pacific Big Eye Tuna, and Rib Eye of Marcho Farms Nature Fed Veal Roti a la Broche. Look for the season to play a huge role in ingredients and concoctions. The libation menu, especially the wine contingent, is well thought out and the service is reportedly stellar. 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY, 212-823-9335
