Chicago's Alinea restaurant is the seventh-best in the world. Better still, it's the best restaurant in America.
In Europe, hands are wringing and ink is flowing over the news that Spain's El Bulli has been supplanted by Denmark's Noma as No.1 on Restaurant Magazine's annual World's 50 Best Restaurants list, announced April 26 in London.
In Chicago, corks are popping on Halsted Street because No. 7 Alinea (it was No. 10 last year) is the highest-ranked restaurant in the United States. Actually, the highest-ranked restaurant in North America.
"We're very happy. Ecstatic," says Nick Kokonas, partner at Alinea with chef Grant Achatz. "It's always a fun list and always nice to be moving in the right direction."
Alinea made its debut on the World's 50 Best list in 2007, when it was ranked 38th. It moved up to No. 21 in 2008 and No. 10 in 2009.
Other U.S. restaurants on the list include Daniel (8), Le Bernardin (15), Momofuku Ssam Bar (26), French Laundry (32), wd-50 (45) and Eleven Madison Park (50). All are in New York City except French Laundry, which is in Yountville, Calif.
Those considering a cuisine-based vacation might look to Spain, which had four restaurants -- El Bulli, El Celler de Can Roca, Mugaritz and Arzak -- in the top10.
You can find the entire list at www.theworlds50best.com.
