Bottura, 61, runs the Osteria Francescana eatery in the historic centre of the Emilian city, twice voted the world’s best restaurant by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants guide.
Romito, 50, runs the Reale restaurant at his native Castel di Sangro in Abruzzo.
Rome’s famed La Pergola chef Heinz Beck and Enrcio Crippa, who runs the Piazza Duomo eatery at Alba in Piedmont, came close behind the top two, all with the prestigious three forks award.
Meanwhile, veteran Umbrian chef Gianfranco Vissani, once considered the dean of Italian chefs, lost a fork and slipped out of the top rankings.
This year’s guide gave three forks to 47 eateries across the Bel Paese, compared to 44 last year.
There were seven new entries, five in the north and two in the south.
Guido di Serralunga in Alba, l’Antica Corona Reale at Cervere, Del Cambio in Turin, l’Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler at Brunico, Harry’s Piccolo in Trieste make up the northern contingent.
Kresios at Telese Terme in Campania and the Pashà at Conversano in Puglia were the new additions from the south.
Overall, northern Italy continued to dominate the standings.
ANSA
