A star by name: regulators will mark restaurants and cafes in Moscow
The capital's cafes and restaurants will be the first to receive stars from regulators: soon the Ministry of Economic Development will begin testing a mechanism for public assessment of catering in the city, the department said. In fact, this assessment will be a signal that the institution fulfills the mandatory requirements and, for example, it is difficult to get poisoned in it. Such cafes will have a marker on their facade that will allow people to quickly identify the food culture of the establishment. The norm on this approach has already been fixed in the law "On State Control". How the business reacted to the innovation is described in the Izvestia article.
How will the authorities evaluate cafes and restaurants
The Ministry of Economic Development is launching a pilot project, during which Moscow's catering industry will begin to receive a public assessment. This was stated by Alexander Vdovin, Director of the Department of state Policy in the field of licensing, control and supervisory activities, accreditation and self-regulation of the department, speaking at the Food Safety conference.
In practice, the supervisory authorities will check how the cafe or restaurant complies with all regulatory requirements, and it will be possible to get an assessment based on the results of scheduled inspections or preventive visits, the agency added to Izvestia. Those who perform them will be given a high score. Such establishments will be able to place stars or smiley faces on their facades, which will indicate the quality of food there. Such marks will cause consumers to have more confidence in such catering outlets, Alexander Vdovin added.
The authorities will also create an electronic rating of establishments that will help people navigate the gastronomic map of Moscow. The Izvestia department did not specify which cities, besides the capital, will take part in the experiment and when exactly it will start — officials are still discussing these points. In the future, such a system may be extended to hotels and social institutions, such as schools.
The official also noted that in December 2024, the Ministry of Energy had already legalized the mechanism of public assessment, consolidating this provision in Federal Law No. 248-FZ "On State Control." The agency's specialists are currently developing by-laws that will specify all the details of this project. He also mentioned that this approach is actively used abroad, in parts of Europe and Asia. For example, in the UK, catering establishments are checked by inspectors online.
— The key advantage of this system is the motivation of businesses to independently maintain a high level of service and security. Public assessments posted at the entrance to establishments will become a powerful incentive for entrepreneurs to improve the quality of services, while meeting all regulatory requirements. This will ensure a high level of safety and comfort for consumers, while reducing the administrative burden on a bona fide business," the Ministry of Economic Development added.
So, it can be assumed that, for example, Rospotrebnadzor will evaluate how cafes comply with veterinary, sanitary requirements and the level of food safety. And the high score after the raid of the service will indicate that you can not get poisoned in the cafe.
Rospotrebnadzor told Izvestia that the law "On State Control" made it possible for a public assessment. But the rules and criteria for its assignment have not yet been established.
Restaurateurs support this approach, said Igor Bukharov, head of the Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, speaking at the conference.
According to Rosstat, the number of public catering facilities (restaurants, cafes, bars, canteens, snack bars) in Russia increased by 8.4% in 2024 and reached 143.3 thousand, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reminded Izvestia.
Roskachestvo is ready and intends to assist the Ministry of Economic Development in the implementation of the new assessment system, the organization noted. She will provide the regulator with her own audit and certification results for restaurants, as well as consumer feedback that they receive on their social networks and mobile application. Since 2023, Roskachestvo has been working with catering and retail companies to ensure food safety, they recalled.
What should be evaluated first?
However, public figures do not agree with this approach of the department. According to Oleg Pavlov, head of the Public Consumer Initiative, in such a sensitive area as catering, only service can be evaluated with stars or points: the convenience of the site, the possibility of booking a table, the courtesy of the staff, the variety of menus, the availability of children's rooms, etc.
— The fulfillment of mandatory requirements for the quality and safety of products in the institution should not be the subject of a public assessment by the supervisory authorities. Violations of such norms should be suppressed in accordance with the law, and violators should be held accountable. For example, if there is no registration in the Mercury or Honest Sign state systems, non—compliance with sanitary rules, technical safety regulations, consumer protection law, etc., he noted.
Such supervision and control by regulators are key factors of efficiency, because today the consumer votes in rubles. Moreover, people are now choosing establishments, taking into account the reviews and reviews of other consumers, Konstantin Derevskov, CEO of Start of Quality, told Izvestia.
— The main risk of this project is the requirements and evaluation criteria. It is important that they are not overly strict, do not create an unreasonable burden on the business and comply with the current legislation. Of course, these standards should not be underestimated, otherwise the system will lose its value," the expert said. — I must say that alternative solutions already exist in the capital and are working successfully. For example, scores on the platforms reviews ("Yandex Maps", Google Maps, etc.) — a kind of voluntary certification where consumers vote for the quality, though not always sharing this concept with safety.
This initiative will help the development of the restaurant industry: the mechanism of public assessment of enterprises will be able to contribute to increasing transparency, as well as standards in the industry, the press service of Yandex noted.
— Yandex Maps annually celebrates establishments that are trustworthy. In 2025, more than 6,000 restaurants across Russia received the "Good Place" award. To do this, the institution must have a rating of at least 4.5, and its profile must be confirmed by the owner. This means that the information in the card — the menu, photos, contacts — is regularly updated, which reduces the risk of errors for guests.
Such an assessment is necessary — it will give consumers the right to choose and understand where it is safe in a simple and understandable form, said Alexey Koitov, Chairman of the Consumer Union of the Russian Federation.
— There are risks only in terms of details in the implementation of the initiative. I would call them similar to the problems with issuing quality certificates, where companies periodically appear that openly trade these documents without any real evaluation," he told Izvestia. — But the new approach is still better than no control at all.
There is a Michelin restaurant rating system in the world. One star indicates that the restaurant offers good cuisine. Two stars indicate excellent food, and to try it, you should change your route and stop by the restaurant. Three stars characterize the restaurant as an institution that is worth a special visit, and the chef's work as excellent. This approach is radically different from a public assessment: in order to receive a star, an institution must fulfill several mandatory conditions. For example, to ensure high-quality food, maintain the desired level of taste characteristics of dishes, plus the institution should also stand out for its originality, show a serious class of service, use local seasonal vegetables, etc. The first Michelin guide to Moscow restaurants was published in December 2021, but the company suspended operations in Russia in March 2022.
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