Brigadiers – Where Smoke, Sport and Spice Come to Play
There are restaurants that feed you, and then there are restaurants that host you. Brigadiers, tucked into the Bloomberg Arcade in the City of London, is unapologetically the latter.
A place where you can polish off a plate of butter chicken wings, pot a ball on the pool table, sip a peated Old Fashioned, and catch the latest Premier League fixture — all without leaving your seat for long.
It’s not just a meal. It’s a night out.
My best sailor impression …..
The Sethi Touch
Behind it all are the Sethi siblings — Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina — the minds behind JKS Restaurants (think Gymkhana, Hoppers, Bao). Brigadiers is their most boisterous offering. A love letter to Indian barbecue, British bluster, and the idea that eating out should never be boring.
The concept draws inspiration from Indian army mess halls, where camaraderie, meat, and mischief flowed freely. Here, they’ve added streaming screens, self-serve beer taps, and a whisky vending machine. Yes, really.
Let the Games Begin
There’s a gamified element to the whole space. Private dining rooms are named like battalions – The Kukri Room, The Pot Luck Room – and come equipped with smart TVs, pool tables, and even card games.
You’re not so much seated as deployed.
It feels like an experience tailor-made for carnivorous City types with a sense of humour. But it’s also surprisingly thoughtful in execution. Every detail, from the etched glass to the scent of smouldering charcoal, feels placed with intent.
So so classy ….
Butter Chicken Wings Worth a Mess
Let’s talk food.
There’s no subtlety in Brigadiers’ kitchen. That’s a compliment.
Start with the butter chicken wings — perhaps the most hands-on and joyful thing on the menu. They arrive lacquered in that familiar sweet-spiced sauce, with a smoky depth that suggests time spent near a serious grill. Eat them with your hands. Lick your fingers. Regret nothing.
Then there are the lamb kebabs — served hot off the sigree grill, still hissing. The kind that singe the nostrils slightly with clove and chilli before melting away.
And if you’re after elegance, go for the scallop moilee. It’s a dish that whispers while everything else roars. Perfectly cooked shellfish in a silky coconut sauce, it shows the kitchen isn’t just about bludgeoning flavour – they can finesse, too.
I could have these for every meal , seriously …
A Feast Built Around Fire
The mains continue the theme: big, bold, and built for sharing. Bone marrow biryani, tandoori sirloin, smoked aubergine rotis. Nothing shy. Everything well judged.
And the sides do more than support — they compete. The truffle kulcha could hold its own in a Parisian bakery. The dal is thick, buttery and downright drinkable.
If you’re here with a group, surrender to the feast menus. They read like victory parades.
Drink Like You Mean It
This isn’t a “would you like a glass of wine?” kind of place.
The drinks list is playful and punchy. Indian-inspired cocktails, whisky from all corners, pints that pour themselves. There's even a strong case for arriving early just to drink at the bar.
And they don’t just match drinks to food. They’ve paired them to dishes — a detail that shows someone back there really cares about your night.
Magnificent balance of flavour ….
Where Everyone’s a Regular in the Making
Yes, it’s a restaurant. But it’s also a clubhouse.
You could bring your boss. You could bring your mates. You could come alone, perch at the bar, order a plate of lamb chops and a beer, and no one would look twice.
That’s the thing about Brigadiers — it’s loud and luxurious, but never loud about being luxurious. It makes space for indulgence without judgement.
A place where being a bit much is entirely the point.
My Thinking is …
In a city saturated with “concept dining”, Brigadiers actually delivers on its concept — and then some.
It’s a place that understands the simple joy of grilled meat and cold beer, but elevates it with craft, service and just enough theatre.
And when the scallops are soft, the wings are sticky, and Arsenal are one goal down on the big screen — you know there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.
We just need one in the north , north now …..
Here's to a Bright Future, Rooted in Our Rich Past 🧔🏻
#Brigadiers #LondonFoodScene #ButterChickenWings #IndianBarbecue #SethiSiblings #MatthewFortStyle #GameOn 🍗🥃🏏
