Italy’s Osteria Francescana Crowned Best Restaurant

Run by chef Massimo Bottura, “Osteria Francescana” pipped last year’s winner, Spain’s “El Celler de Can Roca,” in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, after coming second in 2015.

The Italian chef, whose world-famous restaurant in Modena came number three in 2013 and 2014, was emotional in accepting his award. “I want to thank everyone because it’s been so hard, our job is all about art work,” an ecstatic Bottura told the ceremony. “It’s all about our work, in the kitchen everyday to work and succeed.”

With Spain’s “El Celler de Can Roca” knocked down to second place, the third spot went to New York’s “Eleven Madison Park.”

The top 10 was rounded out by restaurants in Peru, Denmark — former four-time winner “Noma” — France, Spain, Japan and Austria. Three French chefs won individual honours, with Alain Passard of Arpege given a lifetime achievement award, French-born Dominique Crenn named best female chef and Pierre Herme best pastry chef.

READ: Chef Alain Passard Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

The accolades came after critics complained last year that the system was open to abuse since the jury do not have to offer physical evidence of having actually visited any particular restaurant. The bulk of those complaints came from France, which in 2016 made it into the top 10 for the first time in three years but has never managed to win first prize.

The board praised Bottura for his twists on traditional ingredients and his “Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano” in particular. The awards said he crafted the world-famous cheese into “forms and textures most diners will never have previously experienced.”

“The chef’s ambitious creations perfectly balance the demands of honoring heritage while embracing modernity,” the board added.

They praised his menu of “deliciously executed classics” such as tagliatelle with hand-chopped ragu and risotto cooked with veal jus.

The 2016 list included restaurants in 23 countries on six continents — but half were in Europe. Asia and the United States each had six in the top 50, while South America and Scandinavia each had five. Spain had seven restaurants on the list, including three in the top 10.

The awards, run by trade magazine Restaurant, began in 2002 and have become a reference for the world’s foodies, but were hit last year by allegations of cosy deals between restaurants and jury members. The contest is run by British media company William Reed, and criticism has focused on the methodology used to select the best restaurants. Its jury is made up of 972 experts, including food writers, chefs, restaurant owners and gourmets. Members list their choices in order of preference, based on where they have eaten in the past 18 months. There is no pre-determined checklist of criteria, but there are strict voting rules. In the face of complaints, the organizers say consultancy firm Deloitte oversees voting, to ensure the “integrity and authenticity” of the process.

The full list of 100 winners can be found below. At 20th place, Hong Kong’s Amber at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental is the only restaurant in Hong Kong to make it on the 50 list.

READ: Amber Claims Top 20th Spot in World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 

1. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy (Best Restaurant in Europe) 2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain 3. Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA (Best Restaurant in North America) 4. Central, Lima, Peru (Best Restaurant in South America) 5. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark 6. Mirazur, Menton, France 7. Mugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain 8. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan (Best Restaurant in Asia) 9. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria 10. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain 11. D.O.M., São Paolo, Brazil 12. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico 13. Maido, Lima, Peru (Highest Climber Award) 14. The Ledbury, London, UK 15. Alinea, Chicago, USA 16. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu, Spain 17. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy 18. White Rabbit, Moscow, Russia 19. L’ Arpège, Paris, France 20. Amber, Hong Kong 21. Arzak, San Sebastián, Spain 22. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town, South Africa (Best Restaurant in Africa) 23. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand 24. Le Bernardin, New York, USA 25. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico 26. The Clove Club, London, UK (Highest New Entry Award) 27. Saison, San Francisco, USA 28. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark 29. Tickets, Barcelona, Spain 30. Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru 31. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan 32. Restaurant André, Singapore 33. Attica, Melbourne, Australia (Best Restaurant in Australasia) 34. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany 35. Vendôme, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany 36. Boragó, Santiago, Chile 37. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand 38. De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands 39. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy 40. Relae, Copenhagen, Denmark (Sustainable Restaurant Award) 41. Fäviken, Jarden, Sweden 42. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, Shanghai, China 43. Biko, Mexico City, Mexico 44. Estela, New York, USA 45. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK 46. Combal Zero, Rivoli, Italy 47. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland 48. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, New York, USA 49. Quique Decosta, Dénia, Spain 50. Septime, Paris, France 51. Maní, São Paulo, Brazil 52. Per Se, New York, USA 53. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium 54. The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium 55. Nerua, Bilbao, Spain 56. Mikla, Istanbul, Turkey 57. L’Astrance, Paris, France 58. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris, France 59. Martín Berasategui, Lasarte-Oria, Spain 60. Hedone, London, UK 61. Maaemo, Oslo, Norway 62. La Grenouillère, La Madelaine Sous Montreuil, France 63. Aqua, Wolfsburg, Germany 64. Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 65. Brae, Birregurra, Australia 66. Lyle’s, London, UK (Tie) 67. The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, USA 68. Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina 69. Epicure, Paris, France 70. Burnt Ends, Singapore 71. Daniel, New York, USA 72. Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris, France 73. Hertog Jan, Bruges, Belgium 74. Le Chateaubriand, Paris, France 75. Twins, Moscow, Russia 76. La Colombe, Cape Town, South Africa 77. Den, Tokyo, Japan 78. Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal 79. Diverxo, Madrid, Spain 80. L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon Paris, Paris, France 81. Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, New York, USA 82. Hajime, Osaka, Japan 83. Manresa, Los Gatos, USA 84. Reale, Castel Di Sangro, Italy 85. The French Laundry, Yountville, USA 86. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong 87. Indian Accent, New Delhi, India 88. Die Schwarzwaldstube, Baiersbronn, Germany 89. Benu, San Francisco, USA 90. Zuma, Dubai, UAE (Tie) 91. St John, London, UK 92. Quintessence, Tokyo, Japan 93. Daniel Berlin, Skåne Tranås, Sweden 94. Bras, Laguiole, France 95. L’Effervescence, Tokyo, Japan 96. Cosme, New York, USA 97. Momofuku Ko, New York, USA 98. Quay, Sydney, Australia 99. La Petite Maison, Dubai, UAE 100. Chestnaya Kuhnya, Moscow, Russia