India’s most credible and influential restaurant rating platform, Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings, is back—bigger, bolder, and more expansive than ever. After a game-changing inaugural edition in 2024 that set new industry benchmarks, the 2025 edition pushes the boundaries further, recognising excellence across an even broader culinary landscape.
This year, the Ultimate Star Revelation will take place in Bengaluru on 15 March 2025. Rankings now extend to four additional cities, ensuring a truly pan-India evaluation of the nation’s finest dining destinations.
The Ultimate Recognition: Unbiased, Unmatched, and Uncompromising
Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings stand apart as India’s only restaurant evaluation based purely on merit, free from external influence or sponsorships. The ratings remain confidential until officially announced at the revelation ceremony, ensuring absolute integrity and fairness.
In 2024, only three restaurants received the highest distinction of 5 Ultimate Stars:
- Farmlore, Bengaluru
- Avartana, Chennai
- Indian Accent, New Delhi
This elite recognition places them at the pinnacle of India’s dining scene, setting a benchmark for culinary excellence.
Vir Sanghvi, Chairman of Culinary Culture, underscores the significance of this initiative:
“At Culinary Culture, we have always pioneered initiatives that shape India’s F&B industry. From the first-ever awards for street food to India’s first chef ranking platform, our mission has remained the same—to celebrate excellence in a way that is honest, transparent, and free from bias. The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings is another game-changing first for India, and we are thrilled to see its growing influence.”
Since its inception, Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings, supported by Lavazza, have set an unmatched benchmark in dining evaluation. The meticulously designed rating system ensures rigorous, anonymous inspections, offering a fresh, unbiased perspective on India’s top restaurants.
How the Ratings Work
The Culinary Culture Ultimate Restaurant Ratings follow a three-tier ranking system, awarding Ultimate Stars based on overall excellence:
3 Stars – Very Good
4 Stars – Excellent
5 Stars – The Ultimate
Unlike traditional restaurant awards—often influenced by sponsorships or advertising pressures—Culinary Culture’s rating system is built on integrity, evaluating restaurants anonymously through full-time referees. The stars are awarded based on a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process, which includes nominations by Culinary Culture Academy members, anonymous screenings by Food Referees, in-depth debates, and a final distillation process to ensure only the most deserving restaurants receive recognition. The platform remains entirely independent and does not accept any fees from restaurants for nominations or inclusion.
What’s New in 2025?
- More cities, more diversity: The platform expands to four new cities—Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kochi, and Amritsar—capturing the rich depth and diversity of India’s evolving food landscape.
- Special awards honoring industry icons: This year, the ceremony will feature exclusive individual awards recognizing outstanding contributions in the industry. Categories include Iconic Restaurant, Restaurant Manager, Sustainability, Opening of the Year, and Mixologist of the Year.
- A grand celebration in Bengaluru: The highly anticipated Ultimate Star Revelation Ceremony will bring together India’s top restaurateurs, chefs, and hospitality leaders, all flying in from across the country for this prestigious event.
- A greater impact on India’s dining scene: From 54 restaurants awarded stars last year, the 2025 edition will nearly double its coverage, recognizing almost 100 top restaurants, solidifying India’s position on the global gastronomic map.
“We are thrilled by the overwhelming response from both the industry and consumers to last year’s ratings. Diners now recognize our plaques as a mark of excellence, reinforcing trust while also benefiting restaurants. Our ratings are dynamic—restaurants are re-evaluated anonymously and regularly, allowing them to gain or lose stars based on consistency and performance. We are grateful to our longstanding partners, Lavazza and Diageo, for making this platform possible,” says Raaj Sanghvi, CEO of Culinary Culture.
The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings is proudly supported by Lavazza, Johnnie Walker, Veeba, Bisleri Vedica, and Newby Tea—brands that share its vision of uplifting and advancing India’s dynamic F&B industry.