Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kochi, And Amritsar Join Culinary Culture’s Star Ratings As Bengaluru Hosts The Grand 2025 Ceremony

Published on March 15, 2025

Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kochi, and Amritsar join Culinary Culture’s expanded star ratings as Bengaluru hosts the prestigious Ultimate Restaurant Reveal 2025.

India’s Premier Culinary Ratings Return Bigger, Bolder, and More Diverse in 2025

India’s most authentic and influential dining benchmark is making a grand comeback. Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings return for 2025 with a renewed vision—more dynamic, far-reaching, and transformative than ever before. After setting a new gold standard in restaurant assessment with its trailblazing debut in 2024, the much-anticipated 2025 edition is poised to elevate the recognition of culinary brilliance across the nation’s ever-evolving gastronomic landscape.

Bengaluru to Host the Ultimate Star Revelation on 15 March 2025

This year, the prestigious Ultimate Star Revelation Ceremony will unfold in the vibrant city of Bengaluru on 15 March 2025. Significantly expanding its footprint, the rating system now encompasses four additional citis, ensuring a truly inclusive and nationwide evaluation of India’s most exceptional dining experiences.

The Ultimate Recognition: Pure, Uninfluenced, and Prestige-Driven

What sets Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings apart is its unwavering commitment to impartiality. It remains the only restaurant evaluation in India guided solely by performance and merit—completely devoid of external sponsorships or commercial influence. The results are kept under wraps until the official unveiling, ensuring integrity and transparency throughout the entire process.

In 2024, only three restaurants earned the distinguished 5 Ultimate Stars:

• Farmlore – Bengaluru
• Avartana – Chennai
• Indian Accent – New Delhi

These elite dining establishments achieved the highest honor in the inaugural edition, positioning themselves as benchmarks of unparalleled culinary artistry in India.

An Independent Rating System That Redefines Excellence

Since its launch, Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings—proudly supported by Lavazza—have reshaped how fine dining is evaluated in India. Designed with precision, the platform uses a robust, independent methodology, relying on anonymous inspections and critical assessments to deliver a truly unbiased snapshot of the nation’s dining excellence.

Understanding the Ultimate Rating Methodology

Restaurants are graded through a comprehensive three-tier star system:

• 3 Stars – Very Good
• 4 Stars – Excellent
• 5 Stars – The Ultimate

This merit-based framework avoids the commercial trappings often associated with traditional awards. Ratings are conducted anonymously by a dedicated team of full-time Food Referees, ensuring impartiality at every stage. The selection process begins with nominations from Culinary Culture Academy members, followed by anonymous visits, detailed deliberations, and a final review to select only the most deserving contenders.

What makes this system unique is its complete independence—no restaurant can pay for a nomination, inclusion, or rating. Every accolade is earned, not bought, reaffirming Culinary Culture’s position as the most respected restaurant rating authority in the country.

What’s Making Waves in 2025?

• New Cities, New Flavours: The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings are expanding their culinary journey to embrace four vibrant new destinations—Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kochi, and Amritsar. This expansion showcases the rich culinary heritage and regional gastronomy of India like never before, giving underrepresented food citis their rightful spotlight.
• Celebrating Culinary Trailblazers: A fresh highlight for 2025 is the debut of prestigious individual honours—a tribute to the people behind the magic. These special accolades will salute game-changers in categories such as Iconic Dining Establishment, Outstanding Restaurant Manager, Sustainability Excellence, Best New Restaurant Launch, and Mixologist Extraordinaire of the Year.
• All Eyes on Bengaluru: The grand stage is set in Bengaluru, where the glittering Ultimate Star Revelation Ceremony will unfold in style. The event will welcome a power-packed gathering of culinary stars, hospitality influencers, and celebrated chefs from across India—an evening set to redefine the spirit of gastronomic recognition.
• Raising the Bar for Indian Dining Recognition: From honoring 54 stellar restaurants last year, the 2025 edition is set to scale new heights by recognizing close to 100 top-tier dining destinations, doubling its reach and firmly establishing India’s reputation as a global culinary powerhouse.

The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings remain proudly backed by a consortium of premium partners who share a common passion for elevating the dining landscape, including Lavazza, Johnnie Walker, Veeba, Bisleri Vedica, and Newby Tea—brands committed to supporting India’s culinary excellence and innovation.