Snapshots
Delicious food and global flavours aren't just reserved for large cities. Smaller cities are taking over and how. In fact, the five restaurants nominated for “Best Restaurant In A Non-Metro” are making world-class cuisines more accessible so that everyone can enjoy sinfully indulgent food. By combining local and global tastes and unique techniques, their offering are sure to satisfy your cravings for an elevated dining experience!
Amoli, Shantiniketan
The Amoli Homestay, founded by Minku Tagore and Aloke Ghosh, is a warm and welcoming addition to the charming town of Santiniketan, within which Café Amoli is located. Inspired by Tagore's childhood in the Jorasanko family home, the eco-friendly guesthouse and café celebrates local artistry, intimate hospitality, and sustainability. The homestay's ground-floor café serves a fusion of European and pan-Asian dishes influenced by the couple's globetrotting adventures.
Their most popular Orange Upside-Down Cake, Shepherd's Pie, and Khao Suey are among the highlights. With exposed brick, wood, glass, and plenty of greenery, Tagore—a professional interior designer and Kala Bhavana alumnus—creates a comfortable ambience, a place to stop by for a light salad with rocket, citrus, and beets or a heartier dinner.
The Johri, Jaipur
Siddharth Kasliwal, a ninth-generation owner of India's oldest jewellery store, The Gem Palace, and hospitality renegade Abhishek Honawar (of Mumbai's Woodside Inn, known for its cocktails and brunches and NYC's Indian-inspired restaurant Inday) have joined forces for their second venture, The Johri. The hotel's restaurant and cocktail bar are separated by a magnificent wooden door that is embellished with brass.
With the help of chef Vikram Arora (from Mumbai's Tamak restaurant) and chef Sonu Kumar, the vegetarian and seasonal cuisine has been designed. The food is always cooked to perfection, whether it's traditional Indian fare like Palak Kofta curry or Dahi Bhalla Chaat or more modern takes like Jamun Kulfi Sorbet or Truffled Aloo Tikki with aged parmesan cheese on top. And don't forget to request a pot of the delicately flavoured Kadha Tea!
Villa Maya, Thiruvananthapuram
This modern gourmet eatery takes its carefully curated menu items from the spice trade and Keralan culture. Delving deeply into the region's past, Villa Maya has created real flavours, smells, and textures that resonate with Kerala's rich legacy and highlight its unique link with the civilisations united by the spice trade. In a masterful fusion, the traditional flavours of Kerala are expertly combined with those of Greece, Morocco, and Italy.
An exceptional dining experience is born from a culinary journey that weaves together the varied ingredients and cooking methods of different areas. It provides an enticing look at a worldwide gastronomic tapestry while also paying respect to the cultural origins of Kerala and its long history of spice trade links. The cuisine of Villa Maya is known for its mouthwatering combinations of real ingredients, tantalising scents, and perfect textures.
The presentation of these stories with elegance and beauty will make your dining experience one you will never forget. Their Phyllo Banana Pie, Fried Prawns, Syrian Beef Fry, and Tender Coconut Broth are some of the crowd-favourite dishes.
Oudhayana, Lucknow
Oudhyana is the spot to get well-balanced, melt-in-your-mouth delicacies, making it a paradise for those who adore delicious Indian food. Go no further than Nawabi gravies if you're seeking the 'meal of the kings'; the meat will tenderly fall off the bone, and the flaky warki parathas will melt in your mouth. Indulge your senses with a culinary adventure that transports you to a bygone era of royalty and amazing memories.
Oudhyana is known for its delicate yet intense tastes, the kind that require hours of low simmering to bring out in food. Every dish showcases a symphony of tastes thanks to the expert use of spices, which symbolises the refined nature of this traditional cuisine. Pure tastes that blend with textures and palates to provide an exceptional eating experience.
The Bangala, Karaikudi
The Bangala is run by Meenakshi Meyyappan, who is also known as the "grandmother of Chettinad cuisine." This heritage hotel's restaurant serves up delicious Chettiar food in the middle of Karaikudi, in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Spicy without being overpowering, with hand-pounded masalas and dishes that pay homage to the heritage of the area. In this location, you may discover the wildly renowned Uppu Kari, a lamb dish with shallots, garlic, and the world-famous gundu milagai chiles from Tamil Nadu.
The British also left their culinary mark on the area; thus, you'll find Potato Croquettes and Mint as a tribute to them. Everyone sits down together at a communal teak dining hall table and uses their hands to eat their meals from banana leaf plates. An added perk is the opportunity to enrol in a seven-day masterclass that features field excursions to local markets, lectures on culinary history, and demonstrations by both professional and amateur chefs.
These five restaurants nominated in this category are serving up delicacies and bringing modern flair and global sensibilities to non-metros! From perfecting regional and traditional cuisines to being an epitome of sustainable operations, these restaurants are truly raising the bar!