The Michelin star has become an international symbol of excellence for the world’s best restaurants. For many, it is the ultimate accolade for any restaurant to receive. In India, however, the Michelin star remains elusive, with no restaurants in India having earned the coveted award.
Michelin stars are awarded by a panel of anonymous inspectors who visit each restaurant and evaluate its food, service, atmosphere and price before giving a rating from one to three stars. The criteria for earning a star are stringent and exacting; restaurants must meet the highest standards of quality to receive even one star.
Fortunately for diners in India, there are plenty of other awards that recognize excellence in the culinary world. The San Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurants list is an annual list of the world’s top dining establishments. A few Indian restaurants have earned spots on this prestigious list: Indian Accent in New Delhi was named number 50 on the 2020 list and Gaggan in Bangkok was ranked number 11.
The World Restaurant Awards also recognize some of India’s best restaurants. The 2020 awards included two Indian restaurants on its top 10 list: Masque in Mumbai was named number five and Amaranta at The Oberoi Gurgaon won sixth place.
In addition to awards from prestigious international organizations, Indian diners can look to local guides for recommendations. For example, Times Food Guide gives out annual awards for best restaurant in each city as well as region-wide awards for popular cuisines like North Indian, South Indian and Chinese. These local guides can be a great resource for finding excellent eateries around India.
Conclusion
To conclude, while no restaurant in India has yet earned a Michelin star rating, there are still many ways to find great food throughout the country. Awards from international organizations like San Pellegrino’s 100 Best Restaurants list give recognition to some of India’s finest dining establishments while local guides like Times Food Guide provide recommendations that are tailored to each region. Therefore, despite the lack of Michelin stars in India, diners can still find delicious cuisine throughout the country.