Recognizing the best restaurant with delectable food and a delightful ambience.
Restaurant Awards 2025 is the top honour bestowed upon the greatest in the industry who have tirelessly dedicated their lives walking an extra mile to raise the bar of the Food & Beverage Sector. The awards will go to various regions of the country physically,to honor and applaud the great work done by foodpreneurs and chefs around the country.
This is a precious opportunity to excel your food & beverage business and hear the elevating tunes of applause by the whole fraternity. These awards will put spotlight on exemplary contributions made by profound professionals and passionate restaurant brands. This recognition will enhance your business credibility and would help in restructuring your brand image. Submissions are now open for Restaurant Awards 2025, browse through the appropriate category and region and nominate yourself today.
Read more »Restaurant Awards premium focus is to create recognition for various industry experts.
01The conference brings new perspective on Scaling up your Restaurant Business.
02Influential restaurateurs , thought leaders, innovative suppliers and industry titans join the show. They’re all here.
03Hear intriguing insights on the latest insights on Food Industry and visionary experts. Sit back and learn as Restaurateurs.
04Recognizing the best restaurant with delectable food and a delightful ambience.
This Category recognises Night Clubs/Bars that demonstrates the best ambience,food & liquor.
This category recognises the best bakeries which offers outstanding value, excellent food and appropriate service.
This category recognises a Restaurant/Bar/Bakery that has the best interiors
This category recognises caterers/unique concepts/customer experiences and cloud kitchens.
This category recognises restaurateurs/chefs/sommeliers who have demonstrated outstanding qualities.
Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur India & Asia-Pacific
Ritu Marya is the Editor- in- Chief for Entrepreneur India-Asia-Pacific and Franchise India Media, a group company of Franchise India Holdings Limited. She is the Group Editor and leads the editorial desk which comprises business magazines including Entrepreneur, The Franchising World and Retailer together with the Digital media arm of Entrepreneur.com, Franchiseindia.com, wellnessindia.com, indianretailer.com and restaurantindia.in. In her tryst with Business Journalism over the last 16 years, Ritu is regarded as an authority on Startups, Entrepreneurship, Technology, Fintech, AI, Blockchain, Consumer Businesses, Retail, Luxury to Education, Restaurant, Funding and more. In her role as the Group Editor she meets and interacts with Leading Indian and Global Entrepreneurs and thought-leaders while tracking Startup and Entrepreneurial and consumer business landscape in India and Asia-Pacific.
Chef-Entrepreneur, Restauranteur and Author
He is the Founder & Principal Consultant of Ace Hospitality & Consulting and has recently
opened his Neo Indian Fine Dining Restaurant ‘Ammakase’ at 1 Raffles Place, Singapore and
LYFE Restaurant & Pizzeria in Whitefield, Bangalore.
Abhijit Saha was awarded “Chef of The Year 2023’ at the Times Food & Nightlife Awards. The
coach and mentor of Team India for Bocuse d’Or Asia-Pacific 2018; Guest Judge of MasterChef
India and Senior Judge of Young Chefs Olympiad – Abhijit Saha was inducted as a fellow of the
‘IIHM International College of Distinguished Fellows’ by International Hospitality Council,
London in 2021. As the Principal F&B Consultant of Bangalore Airport, he has been leading the
Food & Beverage Development work for Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 during the last five years.
As founder-director of Avant Garde Hospitality from 2008 to 2020 he conceptualized, executed
and managed award-winning and critically acclaimed restaurants such as Caperberry (Modernist
European Cuisine), and Fava (Mediterranean Cuisine) in Bangalore. His Michelin recommended
Signature Indian Restaurant ‘SAHA’ (2014-18) in Singapore was awarded the Epicurean Star
Award for Best New Restaurant, 2014 by the Restaurant Association of Singapore. He has
provided consulting services and technical knowhow to several Red Rhino Craft Brewery, The
Pizza Bakery, Tamara Resorts, Serai Resorts and Dream Cruises Hong Kong. Three of his recent
projects Glass Kitchen & Bar, The Pet People Café and Over Coffee have won the ‘Times Food
Award’ for Best Modern Indian Restaurant 2022, Best Plant Based-Healthy Restaurant 2022 and
Best Cafe 2024.
Partner and Leader, Consumer Products & Retail Sector, South Asia, Deloitte
Anand has around 16 years of experience from both an industry and consulting perspective. Anand is currently a Partner with the Strategy & Operations practice in Deloitte based out of Bangalore. He is a graduate from BITS Pilani and has completed his MBA from IIM Indore and PhD from IIM Bangalore. Anand started his career with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. He has been in sales and brand roles for nutritional food brands such as Horlicks & Boost. Prior to Deloitte, Anand has been a part of the management consulting practice at KPMG for the past 8 years and has worked on over 90 engagements. His work has primarily been in the consumer markets domain across various sectors such as Retail, FMCG, Agribusiness, and Education. Anand led the channel and salesforce effectiveness solution for the practice.
Founder & CEO, FreshMenu
Co-Founder, Roxie
Having over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, restaurateur Pravesh Pandey's
latest venture, Roxie is making waves in the IT city. Helmed as one of the top 30 bars in the
country, the 35,000 sq. ft., it is the largest craft brew house in India.
Apart from co-founding Roxie, Pravesh has served as a director at the Byg Brewsky Brewing
Company in Bengaluru as he has a has a thorough understanding of hospitality management,
business development, financial management, operational excellence, brand management,
marketing & strategy.
His insight into the F&B industry led him to become the Vice President of Restaurant Success
at Zomato. In an older stint, he was the director of operations for both, Brigade Hospitality
as well as JSM Corporation.
Pravesh conceptualised Roxie on the experience of meeting Roxie Catteneo on a cruise ship
(where he worked as a Maitre De) in 2003. She taught him many life lessons, and showed him
the value of relationships and people. The brewhouse, Roxie is an ode to the lady who
transformed many lives, including his. The restaurant is inspired by renditions of recipes
that she had picked up from her travels as well her traditional family preparations.
Chef-Entrepreneur, Restauranteur and Author
He is the Founder & Principal Consultant of Ace Hospitality & Consulting and has recently
opened his Neo Indian Fine Dining Restaurant ‘Ammakase’ at 1 Raffles Place, Singapore and
LYFE Restaurant & Pizzeria in Whitefield, Bangalore.
Abhijit Saha was awarded “Chef of The Year 2023’ at the Times Food & Nightlife Awards. The
coach and mentor of Team India for Bocuse d’Or Asia-Pacific 2018; Guest Judge of MasterChef
India and Senior Judge of Young Chefs Olympiad – Abhijit Saha was inducted as a fellow of the
‘IIHM International College of Distinguished Fellows’ by International Hospitality Council,
London in 2021. As the Principal F&B Consultant of Bangalore Airport, he has been leading the
Food & Beverage Development work for Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 during the last five years.
As founder-director of Avant Garde Hospitality from 2008 to 2020 he conceptualized, executed
and managed award-winning and critically acclaimed restaurants such as Caperberry (Modernist
European Cuisine), and Fava (Mediterranean Cuisine) in Bangalore. His Michelin recommended
Signature Indian Restaurant ‘SAHA’ (2014-18) in Singapore was awarded the Epicurean Star
Award for Best New Restaurant, 2014 by the Restaurant Association of Singapore. He has
provided consulting services and technical knowhow to several Red Rhino Craft Brewery, The
Pizza Bakery, Tamara Resorts, Serai Resorts and Dream Cruises Hong Kong. Three of his recent
projects Glass Kitchen & Bar, The Pet People Café and Over Coffee have won the ‘Times Food
Award’ for Best Modern Indian Restaurant 2022, Best Plant Based-Healthy Restaurant 2022 and
Best Cafe 2024.
Co-Founder and CEO, BLR Brewing Co
Global Entrepreneur And Managing Partner, Ironhill India
Teja Chekuri is a global entrepreneur who has set up unique restaurant chains across the
world. He is currently the Managing Partner at Ironhill India and holds several board
level positions in different companies. He co-founded the Godavari Group of Restaurants in
the US and under this group he launched Madras Dosa Co (Boston ) , 1947 -Truly Indian
(Boston) , Vaanga (Boston) and an Indian Gastrobar “Don’t Tell Aunty” in Boston along with
establishing the flagship brand Godavari in 21 locations (Delaware, Toronto, Tampa ,
Jersey City, Minneapolis, Orange Country, Atlanta, Columbus, Woburn, Philadelphia,
Naperville, Houston, Schaumburg, Kansas, Charlotte, Cincinnati , Edison, Hartford,
Herndon, Morrisville and Rhode Island). After having established a robust empire on
international.
shores, he turned his attention to India. He pioneered the concept of
craftbeer in India with the launch of Prost in 2012. While it is still charting its own
success story, Teja wanted to look at experimenting more with local favours and create
unique mixes with Indian spices that can be added to the brews to bring about an
interesting experience for beer connoisseurs. That’s how Ironhill India came about. Since
its launch, the brand has established multiple footprints at a rapid pace under his
leadership and is still on an expansion mode. This is today the largest and fastest
growing chain in India. He continues to add more restaurants with unique flavours to his
list with a South Indian specialty restaurant - United Telugu Kitchens ( Vijayawada &
Hyderabad ) along with “ishtaa” – a pure vegetarian fine dining restaurant in Hyderabad
(2022) that is wowing foodies with its unique menu. Launching a retail brand is on the
cards in the near future.
CEO, GoPizza India
Mahesh Reddy is the CEO at Korean Pizza Chain GOPIZZA. Before joining GOPIZZA as CEO, he was National Head at Café Coffee Day for almost 17 years. He has overall 23 years of experience working in the QSR sector. He is a graduate from Christ University, Bengaluru
CEO, NKP Empire Ventures
Shakir Haq is the CEO of NKP Empire and is steadfast in his business principles and strategy, Shakir is a big proponent of learning from constant experimentation. His extensive knowledge of restaurant business management and strategic acumen, nurtured by his education at IIM Bangalore, fuel constant pursuit of growth and innovation at NKP Restaurants. A 3rd Gen Entrepreneur, his vision is to create a Global Food Company.
Co-Founder, Samosa Singh
"Think Big! Trust Yourself and Make it Happen”, this is the mantra that Nidhi Singh,
Co-Founder of Samosa Singh lives by.
Nidhi was heading the Business development vertical for a US based healthcare company,
BioXcel Corporation. She worked a decade before quitting her satisfying job to start Samosa
Singh.
She aspires to offer nostalgic and Indian delicacies both online and offline. She believes
that the goal is to recreate and dominate the Indian snack category.
Her experience has enabled her to establish strong client bases that have assisted in
reaching out at the corporate level for the business's growth potential. Her management and
sales experience aided exponential growth and was critical in steering the startup by
establishing a strong and healthy brand image.
Having a vision for developing healthy and hygienic food in India. Nidhi recognized a huge
market opportunity and reached out to 10,000 customers in one day, delivering the samosas.
Founder & CEO, Bogmalo Foods and Hospitality LLP
Sundeep Singh is the CEO and Co-founder of Uncle Peter’s Pancakes with 40 outlets across 15
cities in India. Sundeep has a rich experience in the food industry and aims at delivering
the best food experience to customers through his brands under Bogmalo Foods & Hospitality
LLP.
Sundeep is an engineer from BITS Pilani Goa and started his journey in the food industry from
college itself. He is extremely passionate about this industry and is also a foodie.
Considering his deep rooted interest in this industry, he launched a corporate catering
company in 2014 and delivered homely means to 100+ companies in Bengaluru for 3 years. This
experience helped him to understand supply chain, operations and customer needs in depth.
Post this stint, Sundeep then planned to foray into the B2C food industry along with his
Co-founder, Akash by launching key brands like Uncle Peter’s Pancakes, Chainama and Sub Spot
through Franchise model.
Sundeep has a clear vision of delivering differentiated food experience to his customers. He
is passionate about building brands from the ground up, has an eye for detail, is extremely
determined and specializes in strategy and ops to bring his ideas and vision into existence.
Three key building blocks for this vision are Operational excellence through curating SOPs,
leveraging technology to drive great experience and strong brand building to drive brand
awareness and customer reach.
Partner and Leader, Consumer Products & Retail Sector, South Asia, Deloitte
Anand has around 16 years of experience from both an industry and consulting perspective. Anand is currently a Partner with the Strategy & Operations practice in Deloitte based out of Bangalore. He is a graduate from BITS Pilani and has completed his MBA from IIM Indore and PhD from IIM Bangalore. Anand started his career with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. He has been in sales and brand roles for nutritional food brands such as Horlicks & Boost. Prior to Deloitte, Anand has been a part of the management consulting practice at KPMG for the past 8 years and has worked on over 90 engagements. His work has primarily been in the consumer markets domain across various sectors such as Retail, FMCG, Agribusiness, and Education. Anand led the channel and salesforce effectiveness solution for the practice.
Founder, Long Boat Brewing Co
A beer lover and founder of Longboat Brewing Co. Microbrewery in Bangalore, Vinay is an experienced US Tax professional with 3 years along with international experience in the field of US tax with the Big4. Manager in the field of real estate and development for more than a year. Has developed extensive project management skills and skills including decision making and team building.
Director- Food and Beverage, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru
With an illustrious career spanning over a decade in the food and beverage industry, Deepak
brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of achieving revenue targets while
ensuring an exceptional guest experience. Currently, as the Director of Food and Beverages,
JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, he will be overseeing the Food and Beverage operations for the
restaurants at JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, including Bengaluru Baking Company, Alba, Spice
Terrace, JW Kitchen, Merak Brewhouse, and Uno Izakaya.
Known for his unwavering commitment to excellence in operations, quality, hygiene, and staff
training, Deepak is a seasoned leader in food and beverage management. His profound
understanding of the intricacies of food and beverage operations and his knack for driving
business success underscore his dedication and leadership.
His remarkable career includes pivotal roles at prestigious establishments such as Director
of Food and Beverage at The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, and various other key positions
at renowned hotels and resorts.
Co-Founder, Kompany
Avinash, a well-renowned and respected beverage expert with an illustrious career spanning 14
years, is an inspiring figure in India's cocktail industry. Renowned for his innovative
approach and dedication to quality, he has earned acclaim both nationally and
internationally.
Having collaborated with some of the world's leading liquor brands, his expertise has been
instrumental in shaping the landscape of bars, restaurants, and the cocktail culture across
India. His tenure as a key figure in the industry has seen him contribute significantly to
the success of various renowned establishments such as Scene, Prime Golf, Ohana, House of
Commons and many more.
As the co-founder of Kompany, he continues to demonstrate his leadership and commitment to
excellence. If those weren’t enough hats to wear, he is also the host of Cocktail Klub, the
industry's favourite podcast, where experts share their stories and skills. A valuable
resource for aspiring professionals, the podcast showcases stories of success in the food and
beverage industry.
In addition to his role at Kompany, Avinash has been instrumental in the establishment and
success of other notable ventures, including Jamming Goat and SOKA. These endeavours further
attest to his entrepreneurial acumen and his profound impact on the industry at large.
COO, True Palate Pvt Ltd
A veteran in the hospitality industry, Sumit Wahall, COO, True Palate Pvt Ltd, brings with
him over 15 years of experience.
Born and raised in Delhi, Sumit has done MBA in Hospitality Management, post commencing his
career with Marriott Welcome Hotel, Saket in 2002. Ever since then, he has worked across
renowned brands in India like The Imperial, Shangri-La Hotel, Hyatt Regency Delhi, Sahara
Star Hotel Mumbai amongst others.
Before joining True Palate Cafe, Sumit spearheaded Azure Hospitality as the President for 11
years, wherein he looked after the operations for both India and Nepal. His integrated role
involved looking after the Operations, Sales & Marketing as well as Training & Administration
work.
Co-Founder, RNR Donne Biryani
Ramya Ravi is the co-founder behind the delicious and mouth-watering RNR Donne Biryani in
Bengaluru.
She's not just a businesswoman, but a force to be reckoned with in the food industry.
Ramya's journey began with her completing her Bachelor's degree from Christ University,
followed by a short term course in Harvard University. With an experience of eight years in
the hospitality industry along with a passion for food, she knew she had to create something
special that would set her apart from the rest. And that's exactly what she did.
In the midst of the lockdown, Ramya along with her sister Shweta, launched RNR Donne Biryani,
and it quickly became the talk of the town. The unique blend of spices and flavours, combined
with the traditional donne biryani recipe and unique packaging, has created a biryani
experience like no other. RNR Donne Biryani spearheads the new era of popularizing Donne
Biryani in the organized sector, a vibrant, throbbing market with people wishing to explore
and experiment with various taste palettes.
Co-founder, Biggies Burger
Abilash Bellur is the co-founder and serves as the COO of Biggies Burger, leveraging over a
decade of operational management experience to drive the brand's success. Beginning his
career with prominent apparel retail brands, Abilash transitioned to become an early
franchisee of Biggies Burger before joining the founding team in 2016. In his current role,
he oversees key functions such as franchise store operations, audit, and supply chain
management, emphasizing operational excellence at every step.
With a relentless commitment to optimizing efficiencies and enhancing customer experiences,
Abilash plays a pivotal role in shaping Biggies Burger's trajectory. His strategic vision and
hands-on approach have propelled the brand to new heights, establishing him as a valuable
asset within the organization and a dynamic leader in the realm of operational management.
Culinary Director, Bastian
New Delhi-born-and-based culinary authority Suvir Saran is the author of three celebrated
cookbooks: Indian Home Cooking, American Masala, and Masala Farm. Chef Suvir has created,
curated, and crafted F&B concepts, menus, catered events and culinary conferences globally.
Chef Saran created ‘Devi’ in Manhattan, the first of 18 restaurants that won a Michelin Star
when the guide first came to North America. Devi was also the first non-Northern European and
Indian restaurant to get a Michelin Star in North America.
His recipes and writings have been featured in countless national and international
newspapers and magazines and are read and loved world over.
GM, IFFCO Group
Sumit Nair is a growth-oriented General Manager at IFFCO Group, a leading food ingredients
manufacturer and distributor in India and abroad. He has over 20 years of rich experience in
various successful multinational food companies, including Coca Cola, TUV, Diversey, Brenntag
Ingredients, Doehler and Newly Weds foods India.
He has been instrumental in creating a 5-year culinary ambition plan for IFFCO Culinary in
India and growing the culinary BU in region as a change agent. He was instrumental in setting
up the first CeC for culinary in India for IFFCO very recently.
Before IFFCO he was the Country Director for Newly Weds Foods India and worked for 9 years
with the group. He joined Newly Weds Foods, a global leader in food coatings and seasonings,
in 2014 as the Commercial Head for India, and was promoted to the Country Manager role in
2017. He was responsible for setting up a world-class manufacturing plant, a R&D centre, and
a culinary centre in India, and growing the market share and revenue of the company
significantly. He led and mentored a team of over 100 employees, fostering a culture of
collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
ASM, Nestle
I have 6 years of experience in Nestle Professional’s Out Of Home business across channels in Food services , Vending and Key Accounts Management” Nanda leads Nestle Professional’s sales in Bangalore.
Key Account Manager- South, Nestle Professional
Currently serving as the Key Account Manager-South for Nestle Professional with a strong background in sales. He brings 6 years of experience in sales nurturing and expanding key accounts.
Culinary Leader & Director of Operations
Chef Mahesh Padala is a culinary virtuoso, whose journey through the realm of food science began in the vibrant streets of Vizag. From a young age, he found himself enchanted by the wonders of science, yet it was the allure of the kitchen that truly captured his heart. With a tattoo as a testament to his dedication, Mahesh's world revolves around the kitchen. Inspired by culinary giants like Marco Pierre White and Raheel Ahmad, Mahesh embarked on a culinary odyssey, traveling across the globe, from the vibrant streets of China to the bustling kitchens of the USA and Thailand. These experiences enriched his craft, allowing him to blend diverse cooking philosophies into his own authentic style. From European delicacies to the aromatic spices of South and North Indian cuisine, Mahesh's expertise knows no bounds. Rooted in simplicity and authenticity, his cooking is a tribute to his grandmother's teachings, reflecting a profound respect for tradition while embracing innovation. With over a decade of experience at Marriott International and in overseeing standalone restaurants, Chef Mahesh Padala's culinary artistry shines brightly. His repertoire reflects not only corporate expertise but also an unmistakable entrepreneurial spirit.
Owner, Vidyarthi Bhavan
S. Ramakrishna Adiga, with over six decades of experience in the restaurant industry, stands as a pioneering figure, having achieved remarkable success. Hailing from a Vedic lineage of priests in Shankaranarayana village near Kundapura, Udupi district, Mr. Ramakrishna Adiga embarked on his journey to Bengaluru in 1962 at the age of 17, following the completion of his 10th standard education. Under the mentorship of Shandi Shankaranarayana Bhat at Hotel Lakshmi Bhavan in the Cantonment area of Bengaluru, Mr. Adiga gained comprehensive knowledge of restaurant operations, laying the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial endeavours. Driven by a profound passion for establishing his own restaurant, and recognizing an opportunity, Mr. Adiga bought over and took on the responsibility of managing Vidyarthi Bhavan in March 1970, which was previously under the stewardship of Parameshwara Ural. Since then, Vidyarthi Bhavan has evolved into a renowned establishment, garnering nationwide acclaim for its distinctive service style, impeccable cleanliness, delectable cuisine, and customer-centric approach. Originally established in 1943 as a humble eatery catering to students (hence its name), Vidyarthi Bhavan has transcended its origins to become an integral part of Bengaluru's culinary legacy. Despite a change in management, the restaurant has retained its name, traditions, and recipes, along with the steadfast dedication of many long-serving employees. Its enduring popularity and enduring demand stand as testaments to its unwavering commitment to taste, flavour, and culinary excellence. Beyond his contributions to the restaurant industry, Mr. Adiga has also made significant contributions to the society through his social service. He has been actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives aimed at supporting the underprivileged sections of society, promoting education, and fostering community development. Through his leadership and generosity, Mr. Adiga has left a lasting impact on the lives of many, embodying the spirit of compassion and service to others. In addition to his culinary achievements and philanthropic endeavours, Mr. Adiga also serves as the President of the Dakshina Kannada Sanatana Dharma Sangha, furthering his commitment to serving t he community and upholding traditional values.
Senior Brand Manager - Bakery & Food Services, Cargill
Shubhankar Otta has 13 years of experience in brand marketing and retail marketing. He joined
Cargill as Brand Manager in 2018 and has worked on building the NatureFresh Professional
Bakery portfolio and the Cocoa & Chocolates business in his close to 6 years of association
with Cargill. Currently working as a Senior Brand Manager- Bakery & Branded Food Services,
Shubhankar played an instrumental role in achieving business goals for Bakery & branded food
service by Product Launches, Innovative Marketing Ideas & Customer led engagement
activations.
Prior to Cargill he has worked with Future Retail and Pantaloons Fashion & Retail across
category management, retail marketing and consumer activations.
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