Stars That Matter: India’s Most Trusted Restaurant Ratings Returns Bigger and Bolder in 2025

Stars That Matter: India’s Most Trusted Restaurant Ratings Returns Bigger and Bolder in 2025

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 14, 2025

Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings is back in 2025, bringing a bigger and bolder edition that expands across more cities. After its groundbreaking debut in 2024, this highly respected rating system continues to redefine India’s culinary landscape, setting new benchmarks for unbiased restaurant evaluations.

The Ultimate Star Revelation Ceremony will take place in Bengaluru on 15 March 2025, unveiling the finest dining destinations across the country. With rankings extending to four new cities—Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kochi, and Amritsar—this year’s ratings promise a truly pan-India perspective.

A Benchmark of Integrity in Restaurant Ratings

Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings stand apart as India’s only evaluation system based purely on merit, free from sponsorships or external influence. The process ensures transparency, with results remaining confidential until the official ceremony.

Last year, three restaurants earned the coveted 5 Ultimate Stars:

  • Farmlore, Bengaluru

  • Avartana, Chennai

  • Indian Accent, New Delhi

This elite distinction places them at the pinnacle of India’s dining scene, setting the standard for excellence.

Vir Sanghvi, Chairman of Culinary Culture, highlights the significance of this initiative: “At Culinary Culture, we have always led initiatives that shape India’s F&B industry. From celebrating street food to ranking chefs, our mission remains the same—to honor excellence with honesty and transparency. The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings is another game-changing first for India.”

How the Ratings Work

The rating system follows a three-tier structure:

  • 3 Stars: Very Good

  • 4 Stars: Excellent

  • 5 Stars: The Ultimate

Unlike conventional awards influenced by sponsorships, Culinary Culture’s system maintains integrity through anonymous inspections conducted by full-time referees. Restaurants are evaluated through a meticulous process involving nominations, anonymous screenings, debates, and a final selection phase. The platform remains independent and does not accept fees from restaurants for inclusion.

What’s New in 2025?

  • More Cities, More Diversity: Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kochi, and Amritsar join the list, bringing regional culinary gems into the spotlight.

  • Special Awards: Categories include Iconic Restaurant, Restaurant Manager, Sustainability, Opening of the Year, and Mixologist of the Year.

  • A Grand Celebration in Bengaluru: Top restaurateurs, chefs, and industry leaders will gather for this prestigious event.

  • Increased Coverage: Nearly 100 restaurants will be recognized, doubling last year’s coverage and strengthening India’s global culinary presence.

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Raaj Sanghvi, CEO of Culinary Culture, shares: “The response to last year’s ratings was overwhelming. Diners now recognize our plaques as a symbol of trust. Our ratings remain dynamic—restaurants are re-evaluated regularly, ensuring credibility. We thank our partners, Lavazza and Diageo, for their unwavering support.”

Supporting Excellence in the F&B Industry

The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings is backed by brands that share its commitment to advancing India’s culinary industry, including Lavazza, Johnnie Walker, Veeba, Bisleri Vedica, and Newby Tea.

About Culinary Culture

Co-founded by Vir Sanghvi and Sameer Sain, Culinary Culture is India’s leading authority in food evaluation. The platform is renowned for its restaurant ratings, chef awards, and street food rankings. Beyond ratings, it hosts global culinary exchanges, bringing celebrated international chefs to India while showcasing Indian talent on the global stage. Culinary Culture also leads several initiatives, including FoodSuperstars, Culinary Conversations, and StreetFoodSuperstars, shaping the future of India’s gastronomic landscape.

Join India’s Culinary Revolution! - For more destails 

Visit Culinary Culture’s website: www.CulinaryCulture.co


Smarter Hotel Communication with Samsung Signage by Palaniappa electronics

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 17, 2026

Clear and timely communication plays a key role in shaping a guest’s experience at any hotel. Samsung Signage Displays: QB, QM, and QH series, that are designed to make this communication smarter, faster, and visually refined. Presented by Palaniappa electronics, these displays help hotels showcase information, promotions, and event updates in a seamless and professional manner, while also easing the workload for marketing and IT teams.

Built for flexibility, Samsung Signage supports both horizontal and vertical orientations, allowing hotels to design content based on the space available. With Samsung’s Content Management Software, teams can schedule content in advance, update displays instantly, and control everything remotely with just a system and internet access. This eliminates the need for manual updates and reduces operational effort.

Marketing and IT teams no longer have to redesign layouts repeatedly, carry pen drives to each screen, or depend on unstable third-party media players with complex wiring. With ready-made templates, centralized control, and reliable built-in media players, the system ensures consistent branding across the property while saving time and reducing errors.

Across hotels, Samsung Signage Displays serve multiple touchpoints. In lobby areas, they can display banquet schedules, welcome messages, and promotional offers. At banquet hall entrances, they guide guests with event names and agendas. Fine-dine restaurant entrances can highlight menus, offers, and timings. Lift lobbies can share hotel information and in-house promotions, while spa and pool areas can present service details, safety information, and operating hours. Each display can run location-specific content, scheduled according to time or event, ensuring that guests always receive relevant updates.

For spaces where wall mounting may not be feasible, Palaniappa electronics provides elegant integration solutions. These include floor-standing kiosks, A-type kiosks, and K-type kiosks that enhance visibility while adding a modern and fashionable touch to hotel interiors. Ideal for lobbies and high-traffic areas, these solutions combine stability with strong brand presence.

With long years of expertise in hospitality based electronics and bringing quality products that define long lasting function for years, Palaniappa electronics continues to be trusted by many customers for reliable and durable solutions.

For hotel owners, GMs, and marketing teams, Samsung Signage Displays offer a clean, scalable, and professional communication platform without unnecessary complexity. Hotels still relying on pen drives or third-party media players can now consider upgrading to a more streamlined system.

For more details, contact Palaniappa Electronics | Mr. Muthu at 9003045685 or muthu@palaniappagroup.com.


Boost to India’s Hospitality Sector: JK Lakshmipat University Students Honoured for ITDC Systems Design Project

Boost to India’s Hospitality Sector: JK Lakshmipat University Students Honoured for ITDC Systems Design Project

By Author

Published on February 17, 2026

In a moment of pride for design-led education in India, five students from the Institute of Design at JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU) were felicitated for their Systems Design project developed for the Taj Restaurant under the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). The honour was conferred by Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 13 February at The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi.

The recognition highlights the growing importance of industry-linked academic projects and the role of design thinking in addressing complex, real-world systems within India’s hospitality and tourism sector. The project reflects how academic institutions are increasingly contributing practical solutions to public-sector organisations.

The interdisciplinary student team included Harsh Warrier, Susnitha Sivaraju, Yashika Bhatt, Rashi Bhagre, and Ritika Malik. The project was carried out under the mentorship of Binil Mohan, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Design, JKLU. The team conducted extensive initial research for both the Taj Mahal and ITDC, which formed the foundation for the systems design interventions proposed.

The final presentation was divided into three well-defined segments. The first segment focused on research related to the Taj Mahal, followed by the development of a solution framework led by Harsh Warrier, Rashi Bhagre, and Susnitha Sivaraju. The second segment presented research and detailed solutions for India Tourism Development Corporation, developed by the same team members. The final segment showcased the specific solution work and contributions undertaken by Ritika Malik.

“The felicitation is a proud moment for the university and underscores the impact of industry-linked, research-driven design education in addressing complex systems,” said A Balasubramaniam, Director, Institute of Design, JKLU.

The recognition reinforces JKLU’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, academic excellence, and meaningful engagement with industry partners. It also stands as a testament to the quality of work being produced by students at the Institute of Design.

The students were felicitated during a double commemoration event celebrating 60 years of ITDC and 70 years of the Ashok Hotel. Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram also graced the ceremony with his presence.


Novotel New Delhi City Centre Completes a Successful First Year

Novotel New Delhi City Centre Completes a Successful First Year

By Hariharan U

Published on February 17, 2026

Novotel New Delhi City Centre marked its first anniversary, celebrating a year since commencing operations in the heart of the capital. The occasion was attended by Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, Accor South Asia; Vineet Mishra, Vice President – Premium, Midscale & Economy, South Asia; and Saumitra Chaturvedi, General Manager, reflecting on a year defined by operational excellence, guest satisfaction and strategic market positioning.

Over the past year, the hotel successfully completed its launch phase, beginning with a grand press conference and media showcase that supported strong corporate onboarding. A key highlight was the introduction of The Flying Trunk, a distinctive food and beverage concept that enhanced the hotel’s culinary portfolio and broadened its appeal among resident and non-resident guests alike.

Since opening, the property has positioned itself as a preferred choice for both business and leisure travellers, supported by its central location, contemporary accommodations and thoughtfully curated dining and wellness facilities. During its pilot phase, the hotel also received early industry recognition, underscoring its consistent service standards and operational performance.

Speaking on the milestone, Saumitra Chaturvedi said the inaugural year focused on building strong operational foundations and fostering a service culture aligned with Accor’s people-centric hospitality values. He added that the encouraging response from guests and partners continues to drive the team toward delivering refined and consistent experiences.

As it steps into its second year, Novotel New Delhi City Centre aims to deepen guest engagement, expand its food and beverage offerings and further strengthen its standing as a leading hospitality destination in central New Delhi.

Part of Accor, Novotel operates over 600 hotels across more than 60 countries and participates in the ALL Accor loyalty programme, offering guests access to a wide range of rewards and experiences worldwide.

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