Chutney Mary, a well-known Indian restaurant in London, has been honoured with the prestigious title of "Restaurant of the Year" at the annual AA Hospitality Awards, a prestigious event that celebrates excellence in the UK's hospitality sector, including restaurants, hotels, spas, and pubs.
Located in the heart of central London, this 33-year-old establishment has long been a favourite dining spot for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and a popular hangout for numerous celebrities. The award was presented to Chutney Mary during a ceremony held in London on Monday night, news agency PTI reported.
The 'AA Restaurant Guide,' renowned for its coveted AA Rosette ratings that are the culinary equivalent of the French Michelin stars, marked a significant milestone with the release of its 2024 edition, marking its 30th year of showcasing culinary excellence in the UK's hospitality industry.
Camellia Panjabi, the Indian-origin Group Director of MW Eat, the UK-based hospitality company that operates Chutney Mary and other acclaimed Indian restaurants like Michelin-starred Veeraswamy, Amaya, and four branches of Masala Zone, expressed her surprise and gratitude for the award. She stated, "This award is completely unexpected, but greatly appreciated by my fellow directors and the committed long-serving team at Chutney Mary," as reported by news agency PTI.
Panjabi went on to highlight the restaurant's enduring success, saying, "It is particularly noteworthy since Chutney Mary is a 33-year-old restaurant; to be acknowledged now for this significant and esteemed achievement is especially touching, considering the focus among media is so often on the newest restaurants, food trends, and rising star chefs".
After 25 years in Chelsea, Chutney Mary has been located on St. James's Street near London's Ritz Hotel since 2015. The restaurant's interior design exudes the artistic traditions of various regions in India, and its menu showcases contemporary Indian cuisine.
The restaurant received recognition for the originality, regionality, and innovation of its cuisine, as well as its exceptional hospitality. Chutney Mary stood out as the sole Indian restaurant to be honoured at this year's AA Hospitality Awards ceremony, which saw the attendance of over 1,000 representatives and celebrities from the UK's hospitality industry, the PTI report said.
The AA's hotel and restaurant guides were established in the UK in 1967, with the Rosette Awards dating back to 1956 as the nation's first comprehensive scheme for recognizing excellence in restaurants and hotels.