Introducing the first restaurants in India to be recognised by Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings – India’s first and only authoritative, definitive and credible rating platform.

“India is celebrated most for 3 things – Bollywood, Cricket and Cuisine, the first 2 already have their stars.... today we recognise the superstars of the culinary industry too” said Sameer Sain – Co-Founder of Culinary Culture as he introduced the 'Culinary Culture Ultimate Restaurant Ratings' crafted to recognize and celebrate the finest culinary establishments of India without any form of outside influence.

Culinary Culture, a trailblazer in the world of gastronomy, proudly unveiled the first 54 restaurants across 6 cities to be honoured by this pioneering restaurant star rating system that sets a new standard for culinary excellence in India. This meticulously crafted platform is designed to acknowledge and celebrate the absolute best in culinary establishments across India, aiming to propel Culinary Tourism to new heights and present the country's culinary treasures on the global stage.

While culinary experiences increasingly influence travel choices globally, India has lacked an authoritative and credible rating system until now. The 'Culinary Culture Ultimate Restaurant Ratings' seeks to fill this void, beginning by spotlighting six of India's foremost F&B cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and Goa. These cities embody the rich and diverse tapestry of India's culinary heritage

“Culinary Culture is known for creating pioneering initiatives that shape India's F&B industry such as the first ever ratings for Street Food and the first Food Delivery awards or the first Chef ranking platform. Ultimate restaurant ratings is another first for India, there has been nothing like this in the past that brings restaurants to the forefront, delivering honest, genuine and unbiased ratings, free from external influences. We take pride in our ongoing commitment to celebrating the excellence that defines India's diverse culinary landscape.”

Vir Sanghvi, Chairman, Culinary Culture

Prior to the reveal of the recipients of the #StarsThatMatter, over the last 1095 days Culinary Culture’s anonymous inspectors have visited more than 3000 restaurants, tasting 12,000+ dishes spanning various cuisines and encompassing both stand-alone restaurants and hotel restaurants ensuring a holistic representation of the culinary landscape across the country. The final list was announced in the presence of the top restauranters and hoteliers from across the country.

Rating Scale: The Culinary Culture Ultimate Restaurant Rating adopts a three-tier rating scale:

· 3 Stars – Very Good

· 4 Stars – Excellent

· 5 Stars – The Ultimate

The recipients of the 3 Stars rating:

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Oota Company, Central Tiffin Room, Kappa Chakka Kandhari, Karavalli Chennai Erode Amman Mess, Southern Spice, The Farm Delhi NCR Comorin, Dhilli, INJA, Loya, Megu, Olive Bar And Kitchen, Omo, Tres Goa Bawri, Bomras, Izumi, Jamun, Slow Tide, The Second House Kolkata Royal Indian Restaurant, Sienna Café, Sonar Tori, The Blue Poppy Thakali Mumbai Americano, Izumi, La Loca Maria, Masala Library By Jiggs Kalra, Mizu Izakaya Noon, Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Soam, Swati Snacks, The Bombay Canteen, Trèsind, Wasabi by Morimoto

The recipients of the 4 Stars rating:

Bengaluru: Lupa, Naru Noodle Bar Chennai Kappa Chakka Kandhari Delhi NCR Bukhara, Dum Pukht, The China Kitchen Goa Cavatina, Hosa Kolkata 6 Ballygunge Palace, Avartana

Mumbai Ekaa, Indian Accent, Masque, O Pedro And the coveted 5 Stars ratings were presented to Bengaluru Farmlore

Chennai Avartana Delhi NCR Indian Accent

The inaugural stars were revealed on 1st February 2024, recognizing the outstanding restaurants that have set benchmarks for culinary excellence in India. The restaurants featured in this rating system have not only brought pride to their respective cities but have also contributed significantly to the nation's culinary landscape.

“We have been working on the Ultimate Restaurant Ratings for over 3 years and are confident that the platform will address the existing gap for a singular, definitive, credible, authoritative and independent restaurant rating platform in India and become the ultimate authority on restaurants. We are grateful for the support from our partners Lavazza and Diageo who share our vision and have come on board to support India's F&B industry."

Raaj Sanghvi, CEO, Culinary Culture

Ultimate Restaurant Ratings has been supported by Lavazza and aims to provide diners with a comprehensive guide to outstanding dining experiences, spotlighting restaurants that consistently deliver exceptional quality, creativity, and passion on every plate. The platform has been in the works for the past 3 years and employs a meticulous, impartial and completely anonymous multi-tier evaluation process, ensuring that the awarded stars truly represent the pinnacle of culinary achievement. Unlike existing restaurant awards in India, the platform does not accept any form of fees or advertising from restaurants or hotels, completely eliminating any form of bias.

Culinary Culture Ultimate Restaurant Ratings promises to transform India’s culinary landscape and become the first and only credible, independent and authoritative rating that restaurants in India respect.

About Culinary Culture

Culinary Culture stands tall as India’s definitive voice in food. Co-founded by Vir Sanghvi and Sameer Sain, it represents a comprehensive movement that encompasses every facet of the culinary landscape in India. Distinguished as the country’s only authoritative and independent rating organization, Culinary Culture bestows stars upon restaurants, honours India's most exceptional chefs and pays tribute to the country's vibrant street food vendors. Culinary Culture is renowned for its global Culinary Exchanges, where it invites the world's most celebrated chefs such as Massimo Bottura, Mauro Colagreco, Alain Ducasse, Heston Blumenthal etc to showcase their talents in India while sending talented Indian chefs to cook at the world's finest restaurants. An integral part of Culinary Culture is its esteemed academy of FoodHunters, comprising over 40 of India's most prominent food experts, strategically located throughout the country. Culinary Culture also offers a plethora of popular intellectual properties including FoodSuperstars, Culinary Conversations, StreetFoodSuperstars, Culinary X Change and this first of its kind restaurant Ratings platform.

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