These are the Most Legendary Restaurants in the World
Taste Atlas names iconic spots from NYC's Katz's Delicatessen and Miami Beach's Joe's Stone Crab to Kenya's the Carnivore
In a world that increasingly celebrates the next new shiny object, it’s a true cause for celebration when a list acknowledges establishments steeped in history.
Taste Atlas just released its list of the 100 Most Legendary Restaurants in the World and it reads like a genuine bucket list not only for foodies, but for everyone who wants to explore the world through food, culture, and history.
History proves there have been restaurants in our lives as long as there has been civilization. Visit the ruins of Pompeii and you’ll find wine shops, restaurants, and bakeries along with brothels, baths, and an amphitheater.
But it is rare to actually be able to dine in restaurants centuries old.
This list allows us to discover ancient gems still serving — like Bratwursthausle in Nurenberg which has been making sausages since the 14th century or St. Peter Stiftskulinarium which has served Saltzberg’s elite since the year 803. Yes — single digits.
If you’re looking for something a little more contemporary, Kenya’s the Carnivore might hit the spot. The restaurant, which I visited several years ago, offers various wild game roasted over open fires. The people-watching at Carnivore is even more interesting than the menu. When I went there for dinner, the dining room was awash in color as people from various countries (some in traditional robes and others in navy suits) broke bread together.
In the U.S., it should be no surprise that several New Orleans establishments are recognized on this list including Commandr’s Palace, the venerable old-school behemoth that started the career of a then 23-year-old Emeril Lagasse; and Cafe du Monde, the legendary 24-hour spot for beignets and cafe au lait. Cafe du Monde, unfortunately, has been in the news for something slightly more tragic. The restaurant and its adjoining French Market were evacuated and closed early this morning due to a sagging roof and structural damage. The restaurant is expected to open in a day or so.
In New York City, Peter Luger’s and Katz’s Delicatessen made the list of legends; and in Miami Beach, Joe’s Stone Crab has been serving seafood technically longer than Miami Beach has been around (the original Joe’s, a seafood shack, opened before Miami Beach was chartered as a city). Joe’s is so iconic, that Phil Grier, a longtime waiter at the restaurant, requested his ashes be scattered in the flower garden in the restaurant’s courtyard. It’s rumored that Grier isn’t the only one to call Joe’s their final resting place.
If there ever was a definition of an iconic restaurant, it’s one that you love so much, that you want to spend eternity there.