The Toughest Restaurant Reservations in the World
While more people are eating at home because of the economic crunch, some dedicated foodies still go out of their way to find and visit the best restaurants in the world for an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
These venues are high up on the list of must-eat-at places, but getting a table, or even a reservation, is not guaranteed.
El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain
You’ll need to book at least 11 months in advance if you want to eat at the three Roca brothers’ El Celler de Can Roca restaurant. The establishment can only seat 45 people at any given time.
Molecular gastronomy techniques are used by the brothers when their food is being prepared and cooked and ingredients are all sourced locally. The chefs combine traditional Spanish flavours with creative cooking techniques and a truly unique way of presenting food.
The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, in the United Kingdom
Situated in a quiet building from the 16th century and serving up unique molecular gastronomy dishes like the popular Egg and Bacon Ice Cream.
There is room for 40 people to be served at a time at the Fat Duck and you’ll need to book your table at least two months in advance.
Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark
Noma is owned by Claus Meyer and René Redzepi, the head chef, and boasts two Michelin stars. They serve Nordic food like The Hen and the Egg and all their ingredients are locally sourced and foraged. Menus change regularly because they serve up seasonal ingredients collected, prepared, and constructed in their particular style.
You’ll need to book your seat with at least three months advance notice and may need to use winnings from your online slots Australia gameplay to afford the food. Although it’s not unreasonable when you take into account the quality of the meal you’ll be enjoying, a rough estimate of €400 per person is pretty significant for most of us.
Rao’s in New York City, in New York State, USA
Rao’s does not have a phone line dedicated to taking bookings and they do not have an online reservations system either. They’ve been around for a long time, since 1896, and, over time, it’s become established that the regulars have semi-permanent reservations and if they’re going to be absent they give their reservations to family or friends.
You may run into Woody Allen here, as it’s one of his haunts, and reservations are paid for a year in advance, costing between US$1 000 and US$25 000 per year for a table of four.
Talula’s Table in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State in the USA
Talula’s Table is a tiny gourmet market and restaurant in Pennsylvania’s Kennett Square and is famous for being one of the most difficult reservations to get in the USA. There is a single table, it seats between eight and 12 people, and only one reservation is taken each day for one year from that date.
You’ll be eating 100% organically here and only ingredients that are locally sourced are used.