9 Restaurants That Are Very Hard To Get Into
In the world of luxury dining, there are wonderful restaurants known for their perfect combination of fresh ingredients and sophisticated decor. From Paris to Australia, we've compiled information on the 9 restaurants around the world that are the hardest to book a table at. The waiting list for one of them stretches for 4 years!
#1: Brae
Brae Restaurant is located in Birregurra, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne. The name means "little hill" in English, and this restaurant is indeed located in the middle of fertile land, which conveys the close connection between the land, ingredients and people. Despite the fact that the establishment is located in a rather remote area, it is very popular and was ranked 44th in the list of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants". It is the second Australian restaurant to appear on this list, second only to Attica.
The restaurant's founder has always cherished the desire to build a simple, cozy culinary space that is close to the farm. Brae prides himself on using strictly controlled ingredients, offering vegetables, olives and seasonal grains, changing up the menu. Once here, you can't help but try the Roast Duck. The duck meat is cured for three days, then dried with grass smoke and grilled over the remaining heat after the bread is baked. The meat has a delicate grass aroma, soft and easy to eat, served with the elegant sweet and sour taste of the "desert peach" (Quandong) typical of Australia.
Brae Restaurant:
Address: 4285 Cape Otway Rd, Birregurra VIC 3242, Australia
Phone: +61 3 5236 2226
Estimated waiting time: about 2 months
#2:The Cove Club
Once a two Michelin-starred restaurant, The Cove Club is located in Shoreditch Town Hall in east London. This with its classic architecture is a familiar gathering place for art lovers. Inside, the space is divided into a bar and dining area with white painted walls, wooden tables studded with dried flowers and candles.
Led by Head Chef Isaac McHale, The Cove Club focuses on seasonal menus and daily changing dishes, as well as exploring and developing new and creative dishes from seafood and meat ingredients, as well as the UK's finest wild and organic vegetables. The menu is split into a £195 Tasting Menu and a £155 Short Tasting Menu, including popular dishes such as Wiltshire Trout cooked with almond milk, watercress, toasted almonds and Peterborough salmon roe sauce; or "Venison from Eynhoe Park," made from young deer raised on the Eynhoe Park estate, served with toast sauce, caramelized lemon zest, ginger carrots and wild mushrooms. The quality and superior flavor of the ingredients have been praised by most foodies. "Gato", designed by pastry chef Deriadem, with layers of pastry and vanilla cream as a base, combined with toasted jam and caramel pastry crust, is one of those cakes that everyone loves. The restaurant also offers a varied wine list.
The Cove Club restaurant:
Address: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7729 6496
Approximate waiting time: approximately 3 months.
#3: Noma
Restaurant Noma is located on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Every detail, from the layout of the space, the choice of finishing materials to the fabrics, is delicately blended with the local landscape and climate. This was the idea of chef René Redzepi, who wanted to create not only a dining space, but also an experience connected to nature and the culinary traditions of the Nordic countries.
Noma's tables are stocked with more than 90 percent of the ingredients harvested within a 60-mile radius of the restaurant. That means no specialties like foie gras or salmon eggs; instead, diners will enjoy unique ingredients like duck brains, pine tops and harvested herbs. This is how Noma creates its identity. The ant dish is unique. In 2015, when Noma temporarily closed its doors in Tokyo, as the live lobster dish combined with wild ants from Yamanashi Prefecture attracted global media attention.
Another feature of Noma is that the dishes are combined with the fermentation process. Chef Rene Redzepi said that experiencing many rich flavors at the same time keeps the mind and body in tone, so he researched and applied fermentation techniques in his dishes. The fermentation and flavoring lab is located behind the restaurant and is equipped with all the necessary equipment.
Noma restaurant:
Address: Refshalevej 96, 1432 København K, Denmark
Phone: +45 32 96 32 97
Estimated waiting time: about 3 months.
#4: The Fat Duck
The Fat Duck is a culinary institution founded in Berkshire, England in 1995. With its simple appearance and understated signage, it's hard to imagine that it's been one of the UK's best restaurants for years. Booking a table at The Fat Duck can often be quite difficult, and wait times can be as long as 4 months.
The restaurant's head chef is Heston Blumenthal, known for his application of scientific principles in cuisine. The Fat Duck offers a menu inspired by the famous British fairy tale "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". It is a colorful dining space where food becomes an exciting adventure. Standout dishes include French-style grilled snails and duck dishes that bring a unique and unexpected culinary experience.
The Fat Duck restaurant:
Address: High St, Bray, Maidenhead SL6 2AQ, UK
Phone: +44 1628 580333
Estimated waiting time: approximately 4 months
#5: Disfrutar
Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain, is considered one of the most difficult restaurants in the world to book a table. At the same time, it came second in the list of the best restaurants in the world in 2023.
Disfrutar's popularity has come from: creative processing, sophisticated cooking methods and the use of modern technology. The chefs here are careful with ingredients and pay attention to every detail when preparing dishes. The restaurant frequently changes its menu to introduce new and unique flavors. A famous specialty is the Panchino with caviar. in which salmon and cream are coated in a greasy batter and quickly fried in hot oil, creating a crispy and delicious meal. Or "Disfrutar's Gilda" is inspired by traditional northern Spanish cuisine, with herring, green peppers marinated in vinegar, covered in chocolate and coffee beans. This combination induces a state of excitement and is extremely pleasing to the taste buds.
Disfrutar restaurant:
Address: C. de Villarroel, 163, L'Eixample, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 933 48 68 96
Estimated waiting time: about 5 months
#6: Mesa 1
Mesa 1 is part of the W PUNTA DE MITA hotel in Punta Mita, Mexico. The restaurant is built on a small island in the middle of a freshwater lake, allowing visitors to admire the beautiful natural landscape while sipping warm cocktails and tasting unique dishes.
Mesa 1 is special in that a table can only be reserved in advance, and the restaurant accommodates from 2 to 10 guests at a time. This creates a private and quiet space.
Mesa 1 Restaurant:
Address: Km 8.5 Carretera, Desarrollo Costa, 63734 Corral del Risco, Nay., Mexico
Phone: +52 329 226 8368
Estimated waiting time: about 6 months
#7: La Mesita de Almanza
La Mesita de Almanza is located on the island of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina and is ranked #7 on the list of the most difficult restaurants in the world to get reservations for. It is a small, family-run restaurant located on the shores of the Beagle Strait, near the fishing village of Almanza and the port of Puerto Williams. Although it is an hour's drive from the city of Ushuaia and the climate is quite cold, many tourists still come here.
La Mesita de Almanza is famous for its fresh seafood dishes as well as delicious desserts. Each dish is carefully prepared and the service is very attentive.
La Mesita de Almanza:
Address: Puerto Almanza, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Phone: +54 2901 60-3006
Estimated waiting time: about 6 months
#8: Damon Baehrel
Damon Baehrel was founded in 1989. This restaurant, located in a small village north of Earlton, NY, USA, is named after owner Damon Baehrel. The restaurant has 12 tables and 20 seats, and Damon manages all the operations himself, from cooking to serving. He has mastered his own culinary skills and adheres to a self-sufficient business philosophy. This restaurant has not taken reservations since 2014, as the revitalization list is currently scheduled through 2025!
The restaurant's dishes consist of local products. Dinner time lasts up to 5 hours, allowing customers to comfortably enjoy every meal. Damon Baehrel promises that every customer is special and important to him.
Damon Baehrel Restaurant:
Address: 776 Co Hwy 45, Earlton, NY 12058, USA
Phone: +1 518-269-1009
Estimated wait time: about 1 year
#9: The Bank Tavern
The Bank Tavern is a restaurant and pub located in Bristol, England. With only 7 tables, the restaurant is housed in a building that has existed since the 19th century and has survived many historical events, including two world wars. The famous dish here is the Sunday Roast, voted the best in Britain in 2019. And reservations for a table here stretch back four years!
The Bank Tavern Restaurant:
Address: 8 John St, Bristol BS1 2HR, Bristol, England
Phone: +44 117 930 4691
Estimated waiting time: about 4 years
