Best restaurant in the world? Whose world?

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Nobody takes ‘best’ lists seriously, but they are plenty of fun to argue about. And there’s plenty of arguing going on right now over the list of 50 best restaurants in the world put together by Restaurant magazine and sponsored by San Pellegrino. Best restaurant in the world? The whole wide world? Noma in Denmark. Wonder how many of the voters have actually eaten there (it has only50 seats and it is, after all, in Denmark -- our Betty Hallock went last year and here’s her report). Silver and bronze medals go to two Spanish restaurants: El Celler de Can Roca and Mugaritz. Osteria Francescana in Italy and Fat Duck in England round out the top five.

The top American restaurant is Grant Achatz’s Alinea in Chicago at No. 6. In New York, Per Se is No. 10 and Daniel is No. 11. There were no California restaurants in the top 50. (But the Bazaar by Jose Andres in Los Angeles is No. 85.)

-- Russ Parsons