I’m often unamused by the food options in the City of London. But perhaps there are exceptions. With the hype around Brigadiers, a sleek, modern Indian barbecue restaurant, we are very curious to try it out ourselves. We don’t know how, but we successfully secured a walk-in outdoor table for a busy Friday dinner. Located bang on by Bank station, it is no surprise that the outdoor area of the restaurant was packed with people drinking after work in typical British summer style. It was a bit loud compared to the opulent dining atmosphere inside the restaurant. But hey, it’s our fault for not making a reservation early beforehand.
Brigadiers: Modern Indian Barbecue & Sports Bar
As a sister restaurant to Trishna, another upscale Indian restaurant in London, Brigadiers is all about chic sophistication. It is also run by the same people responsible for other high-profile restaurants like the Michelin-starred Gymkhana and Hoppers. The restaurant has a colonial-style decor that’s inspired by the army mess bars in India. Other than being a modern Indian restaurant, Brigadiers is also a live sports bar and has a pool table, where socialising is encouraged.
Yes, chicken & lamb are halal at Brigadiers. No pork, but alcohol is served at the restaurant.
Bank station (Central Line) is the nearest tube station to Brigadiers, located just a 1-minute walk away. Alternatively, Mansion House station (Circle Line / District Line) is located a 2-minute walk away.
Looking for more halal-friendly Indian restaurants in London? Check these out too:
The Food at Brigadiers (what we ordered)
Date of visit: August 2019
Masala Chicken Skins (£6)
To start, we ordered the Masala Chicken Skins as a little snack. Seeing “chicken skin” on the menu really intrigued us, so we decided to give it a try.
In Cantonese cuisine, we have this little nibble dish called fried fish skin – and it’s literally crunchy pieces of actual deep-fried fish skin. So we kind of half-expected it to be similar. But what came up on our table was this elegantly put-together, canapé-looking dish.
Interestingly, the fried chicken skin had been cooked to this wafer-like texture with a light crisp, topped with a tangy pickle mix. It’s certainly something different from what any of us anticipated. It stood out with its surprise element of the dish, but the overall flavours were not particularly mesmerising.
Konkani Coast Masala Scallops (£10.50)
I love scallops, but I never had a tremendous experience with them in the UK, as I find myself being so picky about the seafood quality. I was slightly hesitant to order them, but decided to go for it in the end. And oh my am I so glad to have done so!
These scallops were simply spot on in every aspect. First of all, it certainly came in a larger size than I originally anticipated. Scallops are rather easily overcooked, but these were cooked to the utmost perfection. It was cooked to that sweet spot of having the perfect soft, moist and pillowy texture.
What I loved most was the spicy fried onions on top, which added texture to the dish. It’s balanced out with a bed of mint sauce, but all of this didn’t overpower a single bit of the natural sweetness of the scallop.
Afghani Lamb Cannon Kebab Skewer (£12)
We ordered two skewers of the Lamb Kebab – and so glad we did because they’re delicious! These lamb kebab skewers were super tender and juicy. The meat was fatty – at just the perfect amount for that luscious sensation, and very flavoursome. The green peppers sandwiched in between the meats have soaked up all the delicious essence and turned out very flavourful too.
Original BBQ Butter Chicken Wings (£10)
Originally, I thought this would just be regular chicken wings with a dry spice rub. But Brigadiers have no such thing as ordinary in their vocabulary. These chicken wings were succulent and smothered with this creamy, flavourful butter sauce.
The wings have a beautifully spiced exterior crust. That created layers of flavours, which made them so enjoyable. They may not be the meatiest wings I’ve had, but they were definitely one of the more flavoursome ones that made an impression.
Tawa Carabinero Biryani (£32)
Here is another absolute star of the meal. Originally I was slightly hesitant on ordering this biryani as it’s the more expensive one out of the other options. But it’s worth splashing out for it.
The biryani has such an irresistible alluring aroma upon serving. Every bite was a burst of umami flavours seductively dancing on your palate. It’s so incredibly flavoursome, with generous amount of prawns and fluffy rice. I couldn’t recommend this dish enough!
Half Rack Tandoori Lamb Chops (£25)
You get to choose either a half rack or a full rack. The half-rack has two pieces, whereas the full rack has four. It’s only the three of us, so we ordered a half rack with an additional one.
The lamb chops came in a sizzling hot iron plate. Its aroma and sizzling sound filled the table upon serving. Each lamb chop carries a beautiful crust and was tender in texture. The chops were served over a bed of onions, which has totally soaked up all the flavours from the lamb chops and very delicious.
Mango Lassi (£5.50)
The best way to combat the blazing sun and (mild) heat, is a cup of Mango Lassi. This Mango Lassi was certainly the perfect drink to start. It was very refreshing and not overly sweet.
Bombay Chai (£3)
Lastly, we finished off our meal with a cup of Chai. Nicely spiced and not too sweet. It was the perfect cuppa to wrap up the meal. Though it’s not particularly special.
Brigadiers Restaurant Review Summary
All in all, it’s been a lovely experience at Brigadiers. Despite the loud Friday drinkers, we thoroughly enjoyed the food and had a great time. If you’re looking for an upscale modern Indian restaurant in London, Brigadiers is certainly one that’s worth a visit.
RATING:
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Food
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Value
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Atmosphere
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Service
Halal Status
Chicken & Lamb are halal are Brigadiers.
Alcohol is present at the restaurant.
