Auckland restaurant makes global top 5 fine dining list

Smoked beef with lettuce hearts, caramelised onion, tarragon, crispy potatoes, charcoal. One of the main dishes at The French Cafe in Auckland. Photo by NZ Herald

A New Zealand restaurant has been voted in the top five best fine-dining establishments in the world.

Auckland institution The French Cafe, run by husband and wife team Creghan Molloy Wright and Simon Wright, have placed fourth in the 2014 Travelers' Choice Restaurant Awards, based on reviews by millions of TripAdvisor users.

Its contemporary European cuisine was rated ahead of many Michelin-starred heavyweights and confirmed its place in the annals of New Zealand dining perfection.

"The Travelers' Choice restaurant winners have won over the TripAdvisor community with their outstanding food, service and ambience – the perfect ingredients for a memorable fine dining experience," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

French Cafe has won countless domestic awards, including the supreme award in the 2013 Restaurant of the Year Awards. This year, it took out the Best Service category.

Beverage Manager Andy Gladding took out the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year Award last month.

* Top 10 Travelers' Choice Restaurants in the World

1. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain (790 reviews)

2. Midsummer House, Cambridge, England (546 reviews)

3. Maison Lameloise, Chagny, France (378 reviews)

4. The French Café, Auckland, New Zealand (421 reviews)

5. Alinea, Chicago, Illinois (543 reviews)

6. El Club Allard, Madrid, Spain (664 reviews)

7. Epicure, Paris, France (699 reviews)

8. Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton, England (992 reviews)

9. Le Gavroche, London, England (1,689 reviews)

10. Martin Berasategui, San Sebastian, Spain (406 reviews)