hotsnack: number one in the nation

Gourmet’s October restaurant issue always generates a buzz. Who’s on the cover? And for this year…who’s the number one restaurant in the country? The issue hits newsstands next Tuesday, but the notorious gossip stream from kitchen to kitchen has proffered some early intel: Homaru Cantu of Moto is on the cover, pictured eating his menu, and Grant Achatz’s Alinea is the number one restaurant in the country.

Here’s the top ten with the rankings from the last Gourmet Top 50 list in 2001.

1. Alinea, Chicago (opened in 2005)
2. Chez Panisse, Berkeley (down from #1)
3. The French Laundry/Per Se, Yountville/New York (French Laundry holding at #3, Per Se opened in 2004)
4. Spago, Beverly Hills (holding at #4)
5. Joël Robuchon at the Mansion, Las Vegas (opened in 2005)
6. Le Rêve, San Antonio (up from #35)
7. Masa, New York (opened in 2004)
8. Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Honolulu (down from #6)
9. Daniel, New York (holding at #9)
10. Le Bernardin, New York (holding at #10)