# The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list makes me want to cry **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885 "2006-04-30T23:14:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/1 "2006-04-30T23:14:22Z")
[The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants](http://www.theworlds50best.com/bestlist.aspx) Cause none are anywhere close to me. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Purl\_little\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/76d3ee/32.png) [@Purl\_little\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purl_little_me)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/2 "2006-04-30T23:39:13Z")
Take heart. The reason that reviewers always review the same towns is that’s where they go for other stories, and they don’t want to do much extra work for a survey piece. But if you like in Connecticut, there are tons of fine and even elaborate and expensive restauants that will never appear on such a list, just because NYC is in the spotlight. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/3 "2006-04-30T23:59:54Z")
If it makes you feel any happier, **Per Se** and **Le Bernardin** suck ass. The **Gramercy Tavern** , however is pretty good. If you like vertical food. – Uke, [sub]who could pull six restaurants in Brooklyn better than this outta his ass[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/4 "2006-05-01T00:11:33Z")
What is a “tasting menu only”? At first, I thought it was one of those restaurants that don’t have a menu and just serve one meal per night. But a quick search indicated it means a restaurant that does not offer a la carte, but offers a few choices per course. Does it just mean that there is a basic meal framework and you have a few choices within the framework? And I am resisting obvious jokes to restaurants, eating, and **Uke** ’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/5 "2006-05-01T00:25:21Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > – Uke, [sub]who could pull six restaurants in Brooklyn better than this outta his ass[/sub] I really don’t want to eat at any restaurant that has been in your ass. Nothing personal. That being said, Charlie Trotter’s isn’t the best restaurant in Chicago either. I’m not sure I’d be able to pull any better ones out of my ass, but I could think of a few. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/6 "2006-05-01T01:08:38Z")
First thing you do is toss out every restaurant in France. With very few exceptions, they stink. Over-priced, over-stuffed crap. And did you notice how New York is its own country. Chez Panisse and French Laundry just get noted as “USA.” They are both better than anything you will find in France. Of course, with FL at #4, they at least get that right. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/7 "2006-05-01T05:28:17Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > What is a “tasting menu only”? At first, I thought it was one of those restaurants that don’t have a menu and just serve one meal per night. But a quick search indicated it means a restaurant that does not offer a la carte, but offers a few choices per course. > > Does it just mean that there is a basic meal framework and you have a few choices within the framework? > > And I am resisting obvious jokes to restaurants, eating, and **Uke** ’s ass. A tasting menu (_menu degustation_ in French) is one in which there are lots of small courses. There is no one course as large as the “main dish” you would expect in a normal meal. Typically it is prix fixe and there is limited choice. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/8 "2006-05-01T05:31:52Z")
I’ve eaten at the two Australian ones on the list. I think they’re both overrated. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/9 "2006-05-01T10:33:55Z")
According to the list, Germany and Deutschland are two separate countries. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/10 "2006-05-01T11:08:29Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I’ve eaten at the two Australian ones on the list. I think they’re both overrated. These sorts of restaurants (most of them, anyway) usually are; they’re monuments to ego and cleverness. I’ve eaten at one of the restaurants on the list and while the service was certainly exceptional, the food was no better than I’ve had at a dozen or more other places. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/11 "2006-05-01T11:37:20Z")
Eh. It’s only food. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/12 "2006-05-01T11:44:31Z")
I’d just like to note how American restaurants are either in New York or USA. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/13 "2006-05-01T12:57:51Z")
Where’s Outback’s? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/14 "2006-05-01T13:10:00Z")
I’ve eaten at Jean George in Shanghai (and not the NY location listed). Meh, priced to impress. It wasn’t bad or anything but for the money it should have been sublime instead of “not bad.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/15 "2006-05-01T13:11:40Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > …Uke, [sub]who could pull six restaurants in Brooklyn better than this outta his ass[/sub] \ Lemme guess… Grand Canyon Restaurant, Pete’s Downtown or Quercy in Brooklyn Heights? The Bagel Hole in Prospect Park? IO in Williamsburg? Crave, Fragole or Chestnut in Red Hook? Corn Bread Cafe in Park Slope? Kush in Crown Heights? New Corner in Dyker Heights? Top One in Borough Park? \ ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/16 "2006-05-01T13:25:42Z")
Iron Horse in Pleasantville? Gotham Bar and Grill in NYC? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/17 "2006-05-01T16:27:04Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Charlie Trotter’s isn’t the best restaurant in Chicago either. Yeah, I had a couple of distinctly unmemorable dinners at Trotter’s. What’s that Thai place way the hell up on the North Side, nestled in among all the auto glass shops? THAT’S probably the best restaurant in Chi. That and Al’s Italian Beef on Taylor. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/18 "2006-05-01T16:31:14Z")
Not a single BBQ joint…I’m calling shenannigans on the whole thing! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/19 "2006-05-01T16:43:49Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > Not a single BBQ joint…I’m calling shenannigans on the whole thing! If [Lexington #1](http://www.ibiblio.org/ch-scene/bbq/lexington.html) isn’t at the top of the list, it’s bogus! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885/20 "2006-05-01T19:16:59Z")
Wow one of my Web hosting clients is near the top of the list. Another client that we did some work for (third-party like) is further down the list, but I see they removed what we built in exchange for something crappy. C’est la vie - they don’t pay me enough to eat there - literally 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-makes-me-want-to-cry/354885.md?page=2)