World's best restaurant (and numbers 10 and 13) in Spain, according to TripAdvisor
World's best restaurant (and numbers 10 and 13) in Spain, according to TripAdvisor
A RESTAURANT in Spain has been named the best in the world according to a poll on TripAdvisor, the leading global platform for tourism reviews and information.
Martín Berasategui's eponymous eatery (pictured left) in Lasarte, near San Sebastián in the Basque Country, has been described as offering 'the best combination of flavours' tourists have ever tasted.
“The meal was culinary poetry,” the top-quoted TripAdvisor commenter said.
Another revealed he had made a special trip from Belgium with his wife purely to eat there, for her birthday, and described the chef as 'a culinary artist at work providing global-style exclusive food', which was 'the best they had ever experienced'.
'Amazing', 'perfection', 'extraordinary', 'awesome' and 'out of this world' are other adjectives diners from all over the world have used to describe Martín Berasategui's restaurant, where users all concurred that the service was excellent and that they were made to feel like celebrities.
One said he and his wife were given a 'special gift' as it was their 18th wedding anniversary 'made so much more enjoyable' by their time at the restaurant.
Of course, as the top eatery in the world, it involves a little bit of saving up before diners can treat themselves, but you get what you pay for, as customers have made clear - “It's worth double the price,” said one reviewer of his 'unique and memorable dining experience' which was 'presented in the most artistic way possible' using 'the finest local ingredients', and which 'lightens the soul as well as the wallet'.
The TripAdvisor world's top restaurants goes down to 25, of which three are in Spain – at number 10 is Azurmendi (second picture) in the town of Larrabetzu, in the Basque coastal province of Vizcaya, described as 'the best dining experience ever', 'wonderful', and 'a privilege', with extra points for the fascinating 'picnic, winter garden and kitchen tour' and the beautiful purpose-built surroundings with water features of the Michelin three-starred location – and number 13 was the legendary El Celler de Can Roca (third picture) in Girona, which is rarely out of the top five in restaurant reviews worldwide.
“From beginning to end, this was superb,” said one customer from London who spent her birthday there.
“Do yourself a favour and go there,” said a visitor from California, USA.
“Incredible. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Worth the 11-month wait for a reservation. Would strongly recommend a long nap after the tasting menu,” a lady from Bristol, UK, wrote.
“This is a restaurant known for its expertise, with good reason...close to perfection,” said a man from Norway.
Between Martín Berasategui and Azurmendi came Maison Lameloise in Chagny and L'Auberte de l'Ill in Illhaeusem, both in France; Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, UK; Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890 in Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi in Italy; Alinea in Chicago, Illinois, USA; Waterside Inn in Bray-on-Thames, UK; Voilà Bistrot in Paraty, Brazil, and Adam's in Birmingham, UK.
Between Azurmendi and El Celler de Can Roca came Auberge du Vert Mont in Boeschepe, France, and Le Soleil in Cusco, Perú.
The remaining restaurants in the top 25 below El Celler de Can Roca – from number 14 in descending order – were Da Vittorio in Brusaporto, Italy; Muse Restaurant in Pokolbin, Australia; Funky Gourmet in Athens, Greece; I Latina in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Victoria & Albert's in Orlando, Florida; The French Café in Auckland, New Zealand; La Colombe in Constantia, South Africa; DK David's Kitchen at 909 in Chiang Mai, Thailand; The Test Kitchen in Woodstock, South Africa; Restaurant Locavore in Ubud, Indonesia; TRB in Beijing, China, and Est in Sydney, Australia.
