The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants

I'm always looking for credible top restaurant lists. I was told of this list by a Met member who shall remain nameless. Basically a major traveler that loves good food.

First, why should we care what the San Pellegrino company thinks are the world's 50 best restaurants? NY Mag:
"San Pellegrino's angle is that they rank the top restaurants worldwide, thus awaking nationalist fury in every slighted country. (The list is determined by a global poll of chefs, restaurateurs, and food writers.)"

From the S. Pellegrino website:
First published by Restaurant magazine in 2002 and now in its seventh year, The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants is recognized around the world as the most credible indicator of the best places to eat on Earth. It stimulates fervent debate and sometimes controversy, but the excitement it generates amongst those who aspire to make the list, and the massive interest it brings to the restaurant industry in general, have seen it grow into an eagerly anticipated, internationally influential event.

The list is compiled by The Nespresso World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a group of 682 prominent food writers, critics, publishers and commentators, who each represent a different global region and chair a carefully selected voting panel for that region. This ensures a truly authoritative list and one that is becoming more and more globally representative each year.

The S.Pellegrino's World's 50 Best Restaurants 2008 list was unveiled at the at the Freemason’s Hall in London on April 21 and was attended by some of the world’s greatest chefs and restaurateurs. View the list.

This year for the first time, The Nespresso World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy was asked to place a second vote. They also voted for their top 5 restaurants in their own region. See the results.

The S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2009 list will be announced April 20, 2009.

The List:
1 El Bulli Spain - World's Best Restaurant and best in Europe (check out this Yelp review. 30 courses served? An olive that feels like it explodes in your mouth? Can I get a what what?) :)
2 The Fat Duck UK
3 Pierre Gagnaire France
4 Mugaritz Spain - Chefs Choice
5 The French Laundry USA - Best Restaurant in Americas
6 Per Se USA
7 Bras France
8 Arzak Spain
9 Tetsuya's Austraila - Best Restaurant in Australasia
10 Noma Denmark
11 L'Astrance France
12 Gambero Rosso Italy
13 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay UK
14 L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon France
15 Le Louis XV France
16 St John UK - Highest Climber
17 Jean Georges USA
18 Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée France
19 Hakkasan UK
20 Le Bernardin USA
21 Alinea USA
22 Le Gavroche UK
23 Dal Pescatore Italy
24 Le Cinq France
25 Troisgros France
26 El Celler de Can Roca Spain
27 Re-entry L'Hotel de Ville - Philippe Rochat Switzerland
28 Hof Van Cleve Belgium
29 Martin Berasategui Spain
30 Nobu London UK
31 Can Fabes Spain
32 Enoteca Pinchiorri Italy
33 Re-entry Le Meurice France
34 New entry Vendome Germany - Highest New Entry
35 Re-entry Die Schwarzwaldstube Germany
36 Le Calandre Italy
37 Chez Panisse USA
38 Charlie Trotter's USA
39 Chez Dominique Finland
40 D.O.M Brazil
41 Daniel USA
42 Oud Sluis Netherlands
43 Ristorante Cracco Italy
44 New entry Asador Etxebarri Spain
45 Les Ambassadeurs France
46 L'Arpege France
47 Re-Entry Tantris Germany
48 Oaxen Skärgärdskrog Sweden
49 Rockpool Austrailia
50 Le Quartier Francais South Africa - Best in Middle East and Africa

The list.