World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2013: Will it be a fourth win for Noma?

Having opened the 40-cover restaurant in 2004, head chef and owner Rene Redzepi has seen Noma shoot to fame in recent years; praised for its ability to consistently reinvent and redefine flavours and dishes.

“There’s actually still room to progress further and become even better,” Redzepi told BigHospitality after seeing Noma top The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list last year.​​ “I think we’ve been able to progress since winning this award and I don’t think we’re at the goal line at all. Just because you receive an accolade, I don’t think you should think ‘great, this is it.’

“At Noma, we always question everything that we do. We have never believed that we are the best restaurant in the world. You should never believe you’re number one of anything and you should always keep looking at ways of refreshing and modernising your offering - that’s our ethos.”

The below graph puts this rise to fame into perspective; it shows the interest generated for 'Noma restaurant' through Google searches, since its inception in 2004. The number 100 represents the peak search interest, with the highest point coming when Noma took top spot on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list for the first time back in 2010.​​

The two-Michelin-starred restaurant continues to receive over 100,000 booking enquiries every month, but things took a turn for the worst earlier this year when the World’s Best Restaurant was hit by the norovirus.​​

Noma norovirus​

The outbreak saw 63 out of 435 diners fall ill in the second week of February, reportedly caused by a Noma staff member carrying the winter vomiting virus.

“It is a matter that deeply affects us all, and that we sincerely regret," Redzepi added. “At Noma, having happy and satisfied guests is paramount to our daily work and lives, and is our number one priority.”

Last year, Noma was followed by Spanish heavyweights El Cellar de Can Roca and Mugaritz on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2012 list.​​

Organised by BigHospitality’s sister publication Restaurant magazine, The World's 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 900 international restaurant industry experts.

On Monday evening, chefs, academy members and sponsors will gather at The Guildhall in London to hear the unveiling of the eleventh list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards.

So, will the Scandinavian dominance continue and can Noma scoop the number one spot for the fourth year running? Cast your vote below.​