When it comes to the best restaurants in India, the conversation often turns to Michelin Star restaurants. The Michelin Star is a prestigious honor given to restaurants that excel in all aspects of their operation, from food quality and presentation, to service and atmosphere.
Michelin Stars are awarded by the Michelin Guide, a well-known French rating system for fine dining establishments. To be considered for a Michelin Star, a restaurant must demonstrate excellence in food quality, culinary technique and innovation, hospitality and overall dining experience. The higher the rating on the scale of one to three stars, the greater the recognition and prestige for the restaurant.
So far India has not seen any Michelin rated restaurants as yet. But over the past few years there has been an increase in interest from local chefs who are striving for Michelin recognition.
This has been spurred on by successful Indian restaurants abroad that have achieved this feat. For example ‘The Song of India’ in Singapore was awarded its first Michelin star in 2016.
In India there are numerous high-end establishments that can easily rival those abroad when it comes to quality ingredients and skilled cooking techniques. Some of these include Indian Accent and Masala Library in Mumbai; Benaras and Gaggan Anand’s Gaggan in Delhi; Bangalore’s Karavalli; The Fatty Bao, Bengaluru; Peshawri at ITC Maratha Hotel Mumbai; Dum Pukht at ITC Maurya Hotel New Delhi; Orient Express at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Mumbai; Amaranta at The Oberoi Gurgaon.
Conclusion:
At present there are no Michelin Star restaurants in India but with increasing interest from local chefs as well as established Indian restaurants abroad there is potential for this to change soon. Restaurants like Indian Accent, Masala Library and Benaras have set high standards in terms of food quality and atmosphere which may give them an edge when it comes to achieving a Michelin Star rating.