Indian fine-dining restaurant Benares regains Michelin star

Renowned Indian restaurant Benares in London’s Mayfair has regained its one Michelin star following the unveiling of this year’s Michelin Guide.

The establishment lost its coveted star a year after parting company with high profile Indian chef Atul Kochhar in 2018 over a number of anti-Islamic tweets.

But the restaurant’s consistency has since paid off thanks to the hardwork of Executive Chef Sameer Taneja who was rehired by them in 2019.

Having left Benares in 2015 to head the kitchen of Talli Joe, another Indian restaurant in London’s Covent Garden which later closed, Sameer returned to launch a new à la carte and tasting menu.

Announcing the achievement on Facebook, Benares said: “The Benares team & Executive Chef Sameer Taneja are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded 1 Michelin Star in the Michelin Guide 2021!

“In what has been such an unprecedented year for every single one of us, we would like to thank the Michelin Guide, all of our lovely customers and, most of all, the front line workers who have been fighting endlessly against Covid. We couldn’t have done it without you all! Thank you so much!”

Being one of the few Halal-friendly restaurants to hold a Michelin star, Benares are currently running their home delivery service Benares@Home during lockdown.

Other restaurants that have retained their Michelin stars, and who have confirmed with FtLion zero cross-contamination during the preparation and cooking of their Halal dishes, include:

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (Park Lane, London), Celeste (Hyde Park Corner, London), Hide (Piccadilly, London), The Goring Dining Room (Beeston Place, London),  Quilon (Buckingham Gate, London), Trishna (Marylebone Village, London),