Bukhara Is Off The World's Best Restaurant List, But Other Indian Joints Are Catching Up

In 2006, ITC Maurya's Bukhara restaurant made it to the world's list of 50 best restaurants at rank 46. One would expect international cities like Paris, London, New York and Tokyo to occupy these positions, but Delhi in India was finally on the gastronomy map. Since then, Bukhara has been visited by the who's who of the world, including Bill Clinton, who made it a point to dine there every time he was in the capital.

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The following year, Bukhara was upgraded to the 37th spot, surprising visitors on how a traditional restaurant with rugged and rustic settings could appeal to the palate of an international jury. But little did we know that it would never make an appearance on the list again. 

Although the recognition of Indian gastronomy disappeared off the international circuit as fast as it appeared, its spirit has remained within the best 50 restaurants in Asia, with Bukhara on the list, sadly still holding the bottom rungs. Ironically, Gaggan, another restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine based in Bangkok holds the top position. 

A handful of restaurants in India have been mentioned in Asia's Best 50 Restaurants since 2013. Overtaking Bukhara at rank 26 was its home rival Dum Pukht at the 17th position, followed by Wasabi by Morimoto in Taj Mumbai at the 20th position. 

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A silent winner seems to Chef Manish Mehrotra's Indian Accent, specialising in contemporary Indian cuisine, which was at rank 41 in 2013. It has now risen to the 22nd position overtaking both Dum Pukht and Wasabi. In fact, Mehrotra's restaurant has been voted as one of India's finest. 

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Moral of the story, change brings success to establishments that want to make it to the fine dining scene. Personally, I feel Bukhara is overhyped and living off its past glory. But I haven't lost hope on Indian restaurants, as I wait for our next culinary champion to put us back on the map again.