I always think it would be more accurate and honest for these lists to be retitled 'Best Right Now' as they can often skew towards new openings, simply because those places have the PR pull or are just shiny new things that attract the attention of diners/judges. But that doesn't sound quite so definitive or impressive as 'Best'.
Nail and head, Andy. I've said the same to people. Also the churn is accelerated by the 25% voter turn over. With new blood comes new ideas, which is positive in some ways, but equally contributes to the new news cycle.
Thanks for breaking it down! Nice to see Chez Wam in there but surprisingly, some of the impressive fine dining restaurants like Row on 45 and FZN were lower down the list.
Heard on the Rows and FZNs, I just don't think voters are going there as much as they go to Kinoya or Orfali. Their price point is prohibitive and if you have 5-10 places you can vote for, how many of them are going to be occupied by fine dining places?
I get it - I’ve been to Orfali, Manao, Kinoya and the more casual restaurants many times but it’s strange to group them together with FZN and Row on 45 precisely because of the differences in concept and execution.
Lumping the entire MENA region into one does feel like a tall order for 50 slots at the end of the day. Perhaps we need one for the Gulf alone. Maybe even just the UAE at this rate?!
It's a bit like LATAM and Asia 50 Best. In the end, 2-3 places will dominate the list and then there's a halo of about 5-10 spots occupied by the odd restaurant in places like Tunisia. I would be interested in seeing what the 51-100 list would look like for MENA (which some regional lists have). Also, I sat next to someone you know last night (because you came up!). Hailey maybe? A former The National journo now living in AD, now freelance. She's in your WhatsApp freelance group.
Fantastic piece! While I'm delighted for some (Chez Wam, Girl & the Goose), I still feel like we're the only list with chain restaurants, and I eagerly look forward to the day they all drop off.
There are about half a dozen on the list which can be chalked up to corporate expense accounts and business lunches. It should be called “The Award for my Banker Takes Me Here for Lunch Twice a Year and I’ve Never Seen the Bill”
I don’t disagree. I do feel a lot of it comes down to what I said at the end and that is don’t focus too hard on the individual entrants, but more the shape of the list as a whole. It is wild to me that some restaurants are above Takahisa or Row on 45, but I also wonder if this is a telling shift away from that kind of dining towards neighborhood and accessible. Also, I would LOVE to see what the 50 Best List looks like without Dubai. That might be fascinating.
I always think it would be more accurate and honest for these lists to be retitled 'Best Right Now' as they can often skew towards new openings, simply because those places have the PR pull or are just shiny new things that attract the attention of diners/judges. But that doesn't sound quite so definitive or impressive as 'Best'.
Nail and head, Andy. I've said the same to people. Also the churn is accelerated by the 25% voter turn over. With new blood comes new ideas, which is positive in some ways, but equally contributes to the new news cycle.
Thanks for breaking it down! Nice to see Chez Wam in there but surprisingly, some of the impressive fine dining restaurants like Row on 45 and FZN were lower down the list.
Heard on the Rows and FZNs, I just don't think voters are going there as much as they go to Kinoya or Orfali. Their price point is prohibitive and if you have 5-10 places you can vote for, how many of them are going to be occupied by fine dining places?
I get it - I’ve been to Orfali, Manao, Kinoya and the more casual restaurants many times but it’s strange to group them together with FZN and Row on 45 precisely because of the differences in concept and execution.
It's definitely not a perfect system. I mentioned this to someone else, but I wonder if it is time to see the 51-100 list in MENA.
I was delighted for Hadrien. He's such a wonderful man and it always makes me smile to see great things happen to great people.
Lumping the entire MENA region into one does feel like a tall order for 50 slots at the end of the day. Perhaps we need one for the Gulf alone. Maybe even just the UAE at this rate?!
It's a bit like LATAM and Asia 50 Best. In the end, 2-3 places will dominate the list and then there's a halo of about 5-10 spots occupied by the odd restaurant in places like Tunisia. I would be interested in seeing what the 51-100 list would look like for MENA (which some regional lists have). Also, I sat next to someone you know last night (because you came up!). Hailey maybe? A former The National journo now living in AD, now freelance. She's in your WhatsApp freelance group.
Yeah, for any region/continent it's a tall order. It just doesn't seem feasible to do a very thorough job of it to genuinely know it's doing justice.
Yes! Hayley Skirka? :) A travel journo
The very same! She may think of me as a bit rude because I jumped out of my seat to sit next to a friend behind me, so I owe her an apology.
Great insights - and agreed on the venue and pacing, both were excellent!
Yeah way better than previous years. They are finding their stride on the ceremony mechanics.
Fantastic piece! While I'm delighted for some (Chez Wam, Girl & the Goose), I still feel like we're the only list with chain restaurants, and I eagerly look forward to the day they all drop off.
There are about half a dozen on the list which can be chalked up to corporate expense accounts and business lunches. It should be called “The Award for my Banker Takes Me Here for Lunch Twice a Year and I’ve Never Seen the Bill”
👀👀👀 I know we’re thinking the same places.
To me this list is a reflection of the voters and their ecosystem. I definitely can’t relate and don’t belong in that ecosystem.
I don’t disagree. I do feel a lot of it comes down to what I said at the end and that is don’t focus too hard on the individual entrants, but more the shape of the list as a whole. It is wild to me that some restaurants are above Takahisa or Row on 45, but I also wonder if this is a telling shift away from that kind of dining towards neighborhood and accessible. Also, I would LOVE to see what the 50 Best List looks like without Dubai. That might be fascinating.
💯