Brigadiers

The Verdict

4.5 stars across 2,715 Google reviews is the number that matters most here. At a ££ price point, Brigadiers is one of the most consistent value propositions for Indian food in central London, and it earns two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) to back that up. Book it for groups, sport, and live-fire Indian cooking that punches above its price tier. If you want a quieter, more refined Indian meal, Amaya or Trishna are better fits. But for energy, value, and a format that works for four or more people, Brigadiers is the right call.

Portrait

Brigadiers sits inside Bloomberg Arcade in the City of London, spreading across several rooms on the ground floor of one of the area's more architecturally distinctive buildings. The concept draws directly from the army mess clubs of India, which is not an abstract theme: it shapes the atmosphere, the seating format, the multiple screens showing sport, and the emphasis on communal eating. The room is loud on a normal evening and louder still when a match is on. Come in knowing that, and it becomes part of the appeal rather than a problem.

The cooking centres on live fire, and the kitchen's approach to Indian barbecue is the main reason to visit. Verified by Michelin in both 2024 and 2025, the programme blends street food with grill-focused dishes. The goat tikki bun kebab is the item most cited in the venue's own descriptors, and it illustrates the kitchen's method well: the same techniques applied to street food formats, with enough technical execution to earn a Michelin nod at this price level. The beer and whisky selection is deliberately extensive, which makes sense given the mess club frame and the food's affinity for both.

The Feast menus for groups are a material consideration for anyone bringing four or more people. They remove the friction of individual ordering, which suits a loud, multi-room venue far better than a la carte does. For a table of two at Brigadiers, the a la carte route works, but you will feel the format less. For six to eight people, the Feast structure is the stronger choice and likely the leading version of the experience the kitchen can offer.

Service at ££ pricing with Michelin recognition creates a specific expectation gap worth flagging. Brigadiers is a high-volume, loud venue with sports screens. The service model is efficient and generally attentive, but it is not the careful, considered delivery you get at Benares or Amaya at higher price points. That is not a criticism: it fits what the venue is. But if you are coming with the expectation of Michelin-level service polish to match the Michelin Plate recognition, reset that expectation before you arrive. The kitchen earns the recognition; the floor prioritises throughput and energy over precision.

Booking is classified as easy, and that is accurate for mid-week. The City location and office-crowd timing mean Friday evenings and match nights require more lead time. For a standard Tuesday or Wednesday dinner, you are unlikely to need more than a week's notice. Weekends are more variable given the sport calendar. Ambassadors Clubhouse in the same casual Indian category books on a similar pattern, for comparison.

For anyone who visited once and ordered conservatively: the live-fire dishes are where the kitchen's investment is most visible. The goat tikki bun kebab is the verified reference point, but the barbecue and grill section of the menu is where returning visitors should concentrate. The street food dishes are solid, but the live-fire cooking is the differentiating factor versus most Indian restaurants at this price tier in London.

Brigadiers sits in a distinct position relative to the City's dining options. At ££ with two Michelin Plates, it offers better cooking than the category average at this price, in a space designed for noise and sport rather than conversation. It is not the right venue for a business dinner requiring focus, and it is not trying to be. It is the right venue for a group that wants technically credible Indian barbecue in a lively setting without committing to a fine-dining budget.

If you want Indian cooking at higher precision and quieter surroundings in London, Trishna in Marylebone is the first alternative to consider. For a similar energy level with a different cuisine, Babur in Honor Oak offers a comparable commitment to modern Indian cooking at accessible prices. For Indian cooking that has earned full Michelin Star recognition rather than Plates, Opheem in Birmingham or Trèsind Studio in Dubai represent a different tier of the format entirely.

Brigadiers is part of a strong cluster of London Indian dining options. See our full London restaurants guide, and if you are planning a wider trip, our London hotels guide, London bars guide, London wineries guide, and London experiences guide cover the rest.

Ratings at a Glance

• Google: 4.5 / 5 (2,715 reviews)
• Michelin: Plate 2024, Plate 2025
• Price tier: ££

Booking

Booking difficulty: Easy. Mid-week dinners can typically be secured within a week. Match nights and Friday evenings fill faster. No phone number is listed in current venue data; book via the restaurant's website or a reservation platform directly.

Practical Details

FAQs

• What should I order at Brigadiers? Start with the live-fire and barbecue section of the menu. The goat tikki bun kebab is the most cited dish in verified venue descriptions and gives you a clear read on the kitchen's strengths. If you are in a group, the Feast menu removes the ordering guesswork and is likely the format the kitchen executes leading.
• What should a first-timer know about Brigadiers? It is loud by design, not by accident. The army mess club concept means sport on screens, communal eating formats, and a room built for energy rather than conversation. At ££ with two Michelin Plates, the cooking quality exceeds what the setting might suggest. Come with four or more people if you can, and lean into the Feast menu.
• Is Brigadiers worth the price? At ££, yes. Two Michelin Plates and 4.5 stars across over 2,700 reviews indicate the kitchen is delivering well above the price tier. For context, Benares and Amaya both cost more and offer a different experience rather than a definitively better one. If your priority is value for live-fire Indian cooking in central London, Brigadiers is the stronger call at this price level.
• Is the tasting menu worth it at Brigadiers? Brigadiers operates Feast menus rather than a traditional tasting menu format. These are designed for groups and work leading with four or more diners. For two people, the a la carte route is more practical. The Feast format is worth it specifically if you want to cover a wide range of the live-fire and barbecue dishes without individually selecting each course.
• How far ahead should I book Brigadiers? Mid-week, one week is usually sufficient. For Friday evenings or evenings when major sport is scheduled, book two to three weeks out. The City location means the weekday lunch and after-work crowd is the primary pressure point; weekend evenings are more variable depending on the sports calendar.
• Can Brigadiers accommodate groups? Yes, and groups are arguably the target diner. The Feast menus are designed for this format, and the multi-room layout across several spaces in the Bloomberg building means larger parties are absorbed without the disruption you get in tighter single-room restaurants. Contact the restaurant directly for group bookings above eight; no phone is listed in current venue data, so the website or reservation platform is the right route.
• Can I eat at the bar at Brigadiers? Verified venue data does not specify bar seating, but the venue's extensive beer and whisky selection and its mess club format suggest a bar or counter component exists. Contact the venue directly to confirm availability before planning a solo or walk-in visit around bar seating specifically.
• Does Brigadiers handle dietary restrictions? No specific dietary accommodation policy is in the current venue data. Given the live-fire and barbecue focus, the menu skews meat-forward, but Indian cuisine at this level typically includes vegetarian options. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if dietary restrictions are a primary concern rather than assuming on arrival.

Further Afield

If you are travelling wider and want Indian cooking at a higher precision tier, Opheem in Birmingham is the UK reference point. For serious destination dining outside London, Waterside Inn in Bray, L'Enclume in Cartmel, Moor Hall in Aughton, Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Hand and Flowers in Marlow, and hide and fox in Saltwood represent the strongest cases for leaving the city.