Brigadiers

The Verdict

At a ££ price point, Brigadiers is one of the most consistent value propositions for Indian food in central London, it earns two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) to back that up. Book it for groups, sport, 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, 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, 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, it becomes part of the appeal rather than a problem.

The cooking centres on live fire, 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, 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, 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, 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. 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

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.