Any attempt to nominate the world's best restaurants inevitably involves a compromise between different food styles, different methods of service and different expectations. We have searched many parts of the globe for great restaurants.

The ones we have nominated are not necessarily our favourites - although many of them are. Many of our favourite restaurants are ones that will never meet the requirements of greatness. They simply serve good, honest food in convivial surroundings.

The restaurants nominated are those that we currently believe serve the finest food in the best of surroundings with the best service. We have certainly favoured restaurants in France because we still believe that they provide exemplary and even innovative food with stunning service.

However, two Chinese restaurants, one in Hong Kong and one in Australia, make the list because they have no rivals. One possible entrant that we have tried to get to three times but have always missed out on a booking is Charlie Trotters in Chicago.

We believe that it may warrant an entry, but we will not consider it until we have sampled the food and the dining experience.

We were disappointed with New York, where we thought that two or three restaurants might make the grade given the hype in the magazines. This was not to be the case. There is some very good food available but the dining experiences and the overall food experiences are erratic to say the least.

So Lespinasse could learn a lot from Ambria in Chicago about the dining experience and Nobu is a great scene but the food is no better than that we have experienced at a dozen Japanese restaurants throughout the world. It is a great pity that one entry that would have been automatic is now closed.

Sydney's Darley Street Thai was easily the best and most consistent Thai restaurant we had eaten at. Unfortunately it has now closed because the owner has moved to Thailand to take up an important culinary position in that country.  

1.        Restaurant Plaza Athénée (Alain Ducasse)
Address: Hôtel Plaza Athénée, 25 av Montaigne, Paris, 75008
Country: France
Phone: +33 1 53 67 65 00
Credit Cards: All major cards  

2.        Le Louis XV 
Address: Hotel de Paris, Place du Casino, Monte Carlo, 98000
Country: Monaco
Phone: +377 92 16 30 01
Credit Cards: All major cards  

3.        The French Laundry
Address: 6640 Washington Street, Yountville, California, 94599
Country: United States
Phone: +1 707 944 2380
Credit Cards: AE, MC, Visa  

4.        Chez Panisse  
Address: 1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, California
Country: United States
Phone: +1 510 548 5525
Credit Cards: All major cards  

5.        Tetsuya's 
Address: 529 Kent Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Country: Australia
Phone: +61 2 9267 2900
Credit Cards: All major cards  

6.        Arpege 
Address: 84 Rue de Varenne, Paris, 75007
Country: France
Phone: +33 1 45 51 47 33
Credit Cards: All major cards  

7.        El Bulli
Address: en Cala Montjoi, Roses, Girona, 17480
Country: Spain
Phone: +34 972 150 457
Credit Cards: All major cards  

8.        Flower Drum 
Address: 17 Market Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
Country: Australia
Phone: +61 3 9662 3655
Credit Cards: All major cards  

9.        Spring Moon 
Address: Peninsula Hotel, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Country: Hong Kong
Phone: 852 2920 2888
Credit Cards: All major cards  

10.        Taillevent 
Address: 15, rue Lamennais, Paris, 75008
Country: France
Phone: 01 40 95 15 01
Credit Cards: All major cards  

11.        Le Bernardin
Address: 155 West 51st Street, New York, New York, 10019
Country: United States
Phone: +1 212 489 1515
Credit Cards: All major cards

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