Le Bernardin Maintains Top Spot in Restaurant Rankings

Le Bernardin, a renowned French-inspired restaurant located in Manhattan, has been named the top restaurant in the United States for four consecutive years by La Liste, a prominent research organization. This recognition stands out, especially since Asian cuisines often dominate such rankings.

Under the leadership of Eric Ripert, the seafood restaurant on West 51st Street achieved a score of 99.5 out of 100, alongside Single Thread Restaurant & Inn in Healdsburg, California. This accolade comes shortly after Michelin reaffirmed Le Bernardin’s esteemed three-star rating last month.

Ripert acknowledged that while Michelin continues to set a high standard, La Liste is carving out its own significant presence in the culinary world.

He remarked, “Michelin has been established for a century, whereas La Liste is a newcomer, just ten years old. Still, it has become increasingly influential.”

La Liste takes a different approach compared to Michelin and other rating platforms, relying on an algorithm that considers factors such as critic reviews, guidebooks, media exposure, and social media activity to generate its overall scores.

Ripert noted that La Liste is popular among tourists from Asia, particularly those visiting from Japan, South Korea, and China, who contribute to 30 percent of Le Bernardin’s dinner clientele.

The ranking has also gained traction in Western Europe and, naturally, in France, he added.

Since opening its doors in New York in 1986, Le Bernardin, which Ripert co-owns with his longtime partner Magui Lecoze, has demonstrated remarkable durability in the fine dining scene. It has consistently received multiple four-star ratings from the New York Times. Even after narrowly escaping closure during the pandemic, demand for tables in the 110-seat dining room remains as strong as ever, nearly four decades later.

La Liste has also recognized other Manhattan establishments like Jeongsik, Restaurant Daniel, Jean-Georges, and Atomics, all of which scored slightly lower than Le Bernardin.

An anonymous industry source mentioned, “Such accolades are critical for business, especially for attracting international visitors during the holiday season. Owners might be reluctant to admit it, but for top-tier restaurants, the period from November to New Year’s is particularly competitive.”