More forks than fault lines: The year in best bites

It's been a so-so year for restaurants.

- Vir Sanghvi

Nothing precedent-shattering opened. Very few restaurateurs took chances. And chefs appeared to fade out and the focus shifted to bartenders, as more and more bars pretended to be restaurants.This list features some of the most talked about Indian restaurants in the world and some of the most interesting ones in India.

Gaggan, Bangkok: Still the most-watched Indian chef in the world, Gaggan Anand had us talking about him for two reasons. His much-publicised spat with Michelin, which saw his restaurant leave the star rating category (despite being voted Best Restaurant in Asia by 50 Best) ended with Gaggan returning to the list. And the Indian food world is agog with speculation that he will finally open a restaurant in Delhi this spring.

Tresind Studio, Dubai: This was a year of dramatic Michelin history. Tresind Studio became the first Indian restaurant in the world to win three Michelin stars. The stars are a tribute to chef Himanshu Saini's dedication and to founder Bhupendra Nath's belief in him. There will be two new Tresinds soon, one each in London and the US.