The Culinarium, Ooty: Celebs’ Favorite & A Must-Visit For Farm-To-Plate Experience

Disclaimer: The author visited the restaurant at her own expense. This is not a sponsored article. The images used in this article are the author’s personal photos and are not to be reused for any purposes whatsoever. Read about our editorial policies.

I stumbled upon The Culinarium on Google while planning my Ooty trip. A quick search promptly revealed it to be one of Ooty’s most-loved Bakery & Restaurant. So inevitably, I landed up for a meal at The Culinarium. 

Sitting grandly at a bend along the scenic Ooty-Coonoor Road, the restaurant turned out to be a true gem, offering exotic cuisine coupled with the most stunning view of the Ketti Valley. 

Over the past 10 years, The Culinarium has been attracting both Indian and foreign food lovers, owing to their soul-stirring Continental menu. 

Their visitors also include famous movie celebrities. So don’t be surprised if you notice actors such as Dulquer Salmaan, Atul Kulkarni, or Nazriya Fahadh, enjoying a pot pie next to you. In 2020, they won The Living Foods Epicurean Guild Award, which recognized them as one of the best restaurants in the country. 

To know all about my experience at The Culinarium, their must-have dishes, and other exciting activities they offer, stay with me till the end of the article. Let’s begin with the highlights.

Best Parts About Dining At The Culinarium, Ooty

Global, Farm-To-Plate Food

The head chef at The Culinarium specializes in French, Italian and English cuisines, with over 14 years of experience acquired in the United States. He and his team of culinary experts, create the most exquisite delicacies that unite innovation and tradition, while staying true to their culinary roots.

During a tete-a-tete with their head chef Mr. Sagayaraj and manager Mr. Adam, I learned that all their ingredients are locally grown on their organic farms, without the use of pesticides. These even include rare produces such as heirloom carrots, mango ginger, parsley and lavender! In fact, one of their farms is located just below the restaurant, beside the parking lot, and you can see their local farmers gruelling away to give you a farm-to-fork experience. We’ll talk about the dishes I tried in a while.

The View

Situated away from the bustling streets of Ooty, The Culinarium ensures its guests enjoy comfort food while immersing themselves in the serenity of the mountains. The restaurant is perched at an altitude that offers you an uninterrupted view of the picturesque Ketti valley from its glass-covered interiors. 

In-House Boutique

The Culinarium houses an exclusive boutique that showcases clothing from unique brands around the globe. It also stocks hair accessories, perfumes, cushions, handmade greeting cards, and souvenirs, making it a perfect shopping spot to pass your time while you await your food.

Herbs On Sale

The Culinarium had a small display of herb and spice plants such as Thyme, Rosemary, Singapore Red Chilli, Orange Chilli, Garlic Chives, and more on sale. They were cutely planted on tender coconut casings, making it convenient for taking them home. Their Instagram Account also gives you details of how to grow these plants. 

I was also told that their pure organic honey is harvested in a bee hive in Coimbatore, and their premium turmeric powder is sourced from Masinagudi. These are also available for sale at the restaurant’s counter. 

Learn Thread Craft

Their Pony Craft Store has an amazing collection of crochet, Do-It-Yourself-Kits, embroidery material and many other sewing accessories. What’s more, is that you can also book an hour’s session (chargeable) and have an expert teach you the nuances of thread craft.

The Ambience At The Culinarium, Ooty

A blended symphony of a mid-tempo English melody, interlaced with soft giggles from a nearby table, and an occasional loud sizzle of the coffee machine made up the soothing ambience at The Culinarium. Its elegant white and azure interiors, lit up by golden ceiling lights created magic. It was further complemented by the lush greenery surrounding the restaurant. 

However, one of the most captivating features at The Culinarium was their custom-made, conical copper fireplace gracing the centre table. Further, their modern coffee bar, exquisitely adorned with white and gold decor, featured an overhead inverted wine glass rack. It added to the opulent charm of the restaurant. 

Food At The Culinarium, Ooty

I had stepped into The Culinarium after making a reservation. I recommend you do the same, especially during the peak seasons. 

The Culinarium is famous for their mouth-watering pot pies, a typical American & English comfort food. They also have a complete section of the menu dedicated to vegetarian and vegan delicacies. 

The restaurant also features a bar called ‘The Rose And Crown’ near its outdoor seating area that serves a good variety of Indian and foreign liquors along with mouth-watering snacks. 

Trust me when I say that the Classic Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie I had ordered was perfect for Ooty’s cold and wet October weather. Its puff-pastry was delicately flaky, with generous fillings of fresh ooty mushrooms and chicken. It was layered with French Bechamel sauce and seasoned with a hint of thyme. 

Plated beautifully and served with a Lettuce Salad with Raspberry Reduction, the pot pie enveloped my palate in a symphony of flavors — my perfect definition of soul food.

Apart from their signature pot pies, I was told that their homemade Salted Caramel Ice-Cream and their Vegan Nusscremes are popular among their visitors. 

While the Salted Caramel Ice-Cream was delicious, it was the Berry Swirl Nusscreme that blew my mind. It came in a vibrant mauve color and was a heavenly combination of raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, and coconut. The restaurant also has 500 ml tubs of these Vegan Nusscremes that you can take home.

Apart from these, the Parsley Vol au Vent, Ravioli with Ricotta & Walnut, Lucious Cheese & Vegetable Melange (Pot Pie), and Ortolana Pizza are some of the other must-tries. For non-vegetarian eaters, apart from The Culinarium’s signature Pot Pies, the most popular dishes are the Chicken Diavola Pizza, Crevettes au Curry, Beef Burger, Hungarian Lamb Goulash, and the all-time favorite Bangers And Mash. 

Their most sought-after desserts include the Classic Creme Brulee, Opera Cake, Edelweiss, Croissants, Lemon & Lavender Cake, Lemon Bread, and Hot Cross Buns.

TWT Tip: The Culinarium also offers a special Afternoon Tea and a Veg & Non-Veg Assorted Titbits menu. To enjoy these specialties, you need to make a reservation with the restaurant’s manager a day in advance. 

The Service At The Culinarium, Ooty

As expected of a fine dining restaurant, The Culinarium delivered exceptional service. I was attended by the manager himself, who patiently guided me through the menu and recommended the specialities. Food was served quickly with a minimum wait time of 10 minutes.  

Major Annual Events At The Culinarium, Ooty

Cake-Mixing Ceremony

The Traditional Cake Mixing Ceremony is a fun event where all the staff and guests at The Culinarium come together to welcome Christmas. The event is usually planned around September last-week or October first week. So if you are visiting Ooty or Coonoor during this time, don’t forget to drop in for an unforgettable experience. Watch this video from The Culinarium’s Instagram account featuring this year’s cake mixing ceremony.

Christmas

The Culinarium curates a special Christmas menu every year, featuring the finest Continental delicacies prepared with the best seasonal produce from their farms. The menu also includes a wide variety of Christmas special breads, pastries, and desserts that are simply irresistible during the festive season. 

TWT Experience Summary Of The Culinarium, Ooty

The Culinarium is owned by the renowned Needle Industries (India) Private Limited. And the owners ensure that this fine dining establishment meets international standards. From farm-fresh vegetables, artisan cheese, ocean-caught seafood, to world-class chefs, the restaurant makes no compromise on their food quality. In fact, the restaurant’s stubborn desire to consistently serve good food is one of the main reasons they survived the pandemic. To sum it up, The Culinarium, Ooty is a must-visit if you love English and European cuisine and harbor a penchant for French desserts. 

Inclusivity checklist: 

✅Wheelchair-friendly

✅Kid-friendly

✅Family friendly

✅Vegan-friendly

✅Organic food

✅Halal food

✅Eco-friendly

✅LGBQT+ friendly

Price Of A Meal For 1 At The Culinarium: INR 1000-1500

Address: The Culinarium

No. 7/75b, NH 67, Ooty Coonoor Main Road. Yellanahalli, Kotagiri, India, 643243. 

9PHW+CR Bicketty, Tamil Nadu

Location: Google Maps

Contact: 09487187293

Frequently Asked Questions About The Culinarium, Ooty

1. Is The Culinarium located in Coonoor or Ooty?

The Culinarium is located on the Ooty-Coonoor Main Road at Ketti, near Yellanahalli. However, it is commonly searched as The Culinarium, Ooty or The Culinarium, Coonoor on Google. The restaurant is located roughly 8 km from Ooty and 10 km from Coonoor, making it easily accessible from both the hill stations. 

2. What type of cuisines are available at The Culinarium?

The Culinarium serves European and English cuisines, with Pot Pies being their signature dish. They also have a variety of freshly baked breads, cakes, and pastries.  

3. Does The Culinarium have a spacious parking lot?

Yes, The Culinarium has an expansive free parking lot below the restaurant. 

4. Who are the owners of The Culinarium?

The Culinarium is owned and managed by Mr. Theophilus Arputharaj Devagnanam and his wife Mrs. Shunmugam Vasanthi Devagnanam. The other directors of the restaurant are Mr. Vishnu Samuel Devagnanam and Mr. Rajaseelan Pragasam.

5. Does The Culinarium deliver to other cities?

Yes, The Culinarium has outlets in Bangalore and Chennai from where you can pre-order vegan and dairy ice-creams, organic turmeric powder, pure organic honey, Italian parsley, tamarind and even their signature dish Frozen Pot Pie.

The Chennai outlet address is: Needle Industries, 27V6+84F, Bishop Wallers S Ave, CIT Colony, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004. Ph No. 044 2499 2833

The Bangalore outlet address is: Pony Craft Store Private Limited, No 32, The Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052. 

 

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