The French Laundry Is No Longer a World's 50 Best Restaurant

In this year's edition of a water company putting out a press release of the world's "50 best restaurants," San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna have revealed their picks for 51-100. While still a prestigious group, what that back fifty list really reveals is who won't be in the top fifty. The Bay Area restaurants in the back fifty for 2016 include The French Laundry, Benu, Manresa, and The Restaurant at Meadowood.

What’s especially noteworthy about that is that The French Laundry has fallen very far, very swiftly. In just 2003 and 2004, it was number one, and it now occupies the 85th spot on the list. Chef Thomas Keller’s other restaurant, Per Se in New York City, also fell to the bottom fifty.

As for who in the Bay Area could potentially make the top fifty list? Saison is notably missing from this year's back fifty list, when last year it was number 56. This means it has either fallen much further — or will now be in the top fifty. Coi also fell off the back fifty list this year, though it is unlikely to make an appearance on the top fifty with a new chef.

Here's the full list of 51 through 100.

51. Mani
52. Per Se
53. Hof Van Cleve
54. The Jane
55. Nerua
56. Mikla
57. L'Astrance
58. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee
59. Martin Berasategui
60. Hedone
61. Maaemo
62. La Grenouillere
63. Aqua
64. Lasai
65. Brae
66. Lyle's
67. The Restaurant at Meadowood
68. Teguie
69. Epicure
70. Burnt Ends
71. Daniel
72. Pavilloin Ledoyen
73. Hertog Jan
74. Le Chateaubriand
75. Twins
76. La Colombe
77. Den
78. Belcanto
79. Diverxo
80. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon St. Germain Paris
81. Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare
82. Hajime
83. Manresa
84. Reale
85. The French Laundry
86. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
87. Indian Accent
88. Die Schwarzaldstube
89. Zuma
90. Benu
91. St. John
92. Quintesence
93. Daniel Berlin
94. Bras
95. L'Effervescence
96. Cosme
97. Momofuku Ko
98. Quay
99. La Petit Maison
100. Chestnaya Kukhnya