A man and a child eat next to bottled drinks at a food stand in Mexico City September 10, 2013.
A man and a child eat next to bottled drinks at a food stand in Mexico City September 10, 2013. Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto's tax reform proposals appear toughest on Mexico's bottlers, who would be hit by a levy that the government hopes will collect close to $1 billion a year. The government plans to apply a 1 peso per liter ($0.076) excise on sugary drinks, weighing on bottlers like Coca-Cola FEMSA, Arca Continental and Pepsi bottler Cultiba. Picture taken September 10, 2013. Reuters

A New Zealand restaurant has shot into global fame after being voted as one of the top five best fine-dining establishments in the world. The rare honour has come to Auckland based "The French Café", run by hotelier Simon Wright and wife Creghan Molloy Wright. The Kiwi restaurant has been ranked fourth in the 2014 Travellers' Choice Restaurant Awards, after receiving rave reviews from millions of TripAdvisor users.

Dining perfection

For the New Zealand restaurant, it became a great honour of sorts. It was a recognition for its contemporary European cuisine that has been rated ahead of many Michelin-starred peers.

For the award-winning chef, Simon Wright, it was a big surprise as he never expected it. Last week, The French Caf, did get mentioned as the best in Australia and New Zealand on TripAdvisor. But there was no idea that the global honour was on its way and be in Top 5 slot in the world, reported Stuff.Co.Nz.

Simon told NZ Herald that he saw in the list the people he truly admired. It is a privilege to have a place on that list.

Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, said the Travelers' Choice restaurant winners are the elite who win the confidence and admiration of TripAdvisor community with their outstanding food, service and ambience.

Top 5 Travellers' Choice Restaurants in the World

  • El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain (790 reviews)
  • Midsummer House, Cambridge, England (546 reviews)
  • Maison Lameloise, Chagny, France (378 reviews)
  • The French Café, Auckland, New Zealand (421 reviews)
  • Alinea, Chicago, Illinois (543 reviews)

Customer Satisfaction

Explaining his formula for success, Wright said his focus has always been on "running a customer-focused restaurant, than merely following global restaurant trends." For him, winning this accolade meant the reaffirmation that guests really enjoyed his hospitality.

The award winners were determined on the basis of an algorithm that takes into account the quantity and quality of reviews received by each nominee. French Cafe has won many domestic awards in the past. It included the 2013 award for Restaurant of the Year. In 2014, it won the Best Service category award when the Beverage Manager Andy Gladding achieved the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year Award.