New York’s Eleven Madison Park named ‘world’s best restaurant’ at gala event in Melbourne

Eleven Madison Park in New York claimed the top spot in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, which was announced on Wednesday at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Last year’s number one, Osteria Francescana in Modena! Italy, switched places with Eleven Madison Park, which came in at number two on the 2016 list.

The Best Restaurant in Asia title went to Bangkok’s Gaggan, which climbed to number 7, up 16 spots from last year’s position at 23.

Amber at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, in Central, was Hong Kong’s sole entry on the list, coming in at 24, dropping four places from 2016.

Richard Ekkebus, the restaurant’s culinary director said, “Being on the list for so many years, it still means a lot to me that we are still in the top half. On the scale of being compared against so many restaurants in the world, this is nothing short of brilliant.”

In a press conference after the awards, Eleven Madison Park’s chef Daniel Humm said, “When we first got on this list seven years ago, we walked into the room and looked around at the other chefs, and they were our idols. Today they are our idols, and our friends.” In 2016, Eleven Madison Park, where the service is equally important as the food, won the world’s 50 best inaugural Art of Hospitality award. As he sat onstage with Humm, Will Guidara, restaurant co-owner, and responsible for the front of house, said, “It is easier to make decisions on your own, but it is more rewarding to have a partner in life. With us, every decision is based on what is best for the guest.”