“I didn’t think we’d be in the list at all,” says Attica’s chef-patron Ben Shewry, in the moments after his restaurant was announced 33rd best in the world. “It’s been a quiet year for international visitors so I didn’t think we’d be there.”

It’s 10pm at Cipriani’s 55 Wall Street ballroom, and the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards have been run and won. After coming second last year, Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana has taken the top honours for Italy, but in Australasia, Attica shone brightest. Shewry is thrilled with the accolade, but is quick to note that awards aren’t the be-all and end-all for the restaurant.

“It’s not something we live or die by,” he tells us. “The most important thing for me is to have a viable business where the guests are happy, the place is full and I can support my team. Everything else after that is extra.”

Never miss a moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Although Attica was the only Australian restaurant named at the ceremony, the proceedings had a definite Australian accent.

The Ledbury, the London restaurant owned by former Novacastrian Brett Graham, placed at 14 and was the highest ranking restaurant in the UK. David Thompson, owner of Long Chim restaurants in Perth and, come August, Sydney, featured in the winners circle with his Bangkok flagship Nahm coming in at 37.

Last week, Australian restaurants Brae (65) and Quay (98) were named as part of the extended top 100 list, while Singaporean restaurant Burnt Ends (70) is run by Perth ex-pat David Pynt.

Shewry and his sous chef, Matt Boyle, were both at the awards but left as soon as the ceremony finished to prep for an “Aussie barbie” to be held at New York’s NoMad Hotel tomorrow. Neil Perry, Pete Gilmore and Dan Hunter will all be on the tongs to promote next year’s awards, which will be held in Melbourne.

Besides Osteria Francescana’s big win, French macaron master Pierre Hermé was named world’s best pastry chef while Dominique Crenn of San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn won best female chef. Alain Passard of Arpège collected his lifetime achievement award to a standing ovation.