An award winning North Indian Punjabi family run restaurant Now transitioned into a gastro pub at southall’s new green quarter
ABout Brilliant
For over five decades, Brilliant Restaurant stood as one of London’s most loved and celebrated North Indian Punjabi family-run restaurants. Voted as one of Ramsay’s Best on the Channel 4 series and famously named as King Charles’ favourite London restaurant, Brilliant became a culinary institution in Southall, renowned for its authentic Punjabi flavours with a touch of Kenyan influence — a reflection of the Anand family’s rich East African heritage.
With over 150 years of catering expertise passed down through three generations, Brilliant Restaurant was a true ambassador of traditional North Indian cuisine. The restaurant was lovingly run by Gulu Anand, alongside his daughter Dipna Anand and son Shanker Anand, each contributing their own flair while preserving the time-honoured recipes and values that made Brilliant so iconic. Under the culinary direction of Celebrity Chef and Author Dipna Anand, the restaurant earned countless accolades and an enduring reputation for delivering fresh, superbly prepared food that made every visit a special occasion.
In April 2025, after a remarkable 50-year legacy, the family made the heartfelt decision to close the doors of Brilliant Restaurant. It marked the end of an era — but also the start of an exciting new chapter for the brand.
Today, the Brilliant legacy proudly continues with the launch of our brand-new gastropub concept — Brilliant Gastro by Dipna Anand, located just five minutes down the road at Parkside Yards in Southall’s vibrant Green Quarter. This new venture celebrates the rich culinary traditions of Brilliant while embracing the modern gastropub experience. The menu marries the bold, authentic flavours of Punjabi cuisine with contemporary Western favourites with a twist, offering a dining experience that’s fresh, inclusive and unmistakably ‘Brilliant.’
Brilliant Gastro is more than a restaurant — it’s a community space where food, culture and conversation come together. Under the leadership of Dipna Anand, the gastropub continues to uphold the family’s values of quality, authenticity and hospitality while paving the way for new culinary adventures.
In addition to Southall’s Brilliant Gastro, Dipna Anand’s restaurant at Unity Place, Milton Keynes also carries forward the flavours and legacy of the Brilliant kitchen. Combining secrets from the original Brilliant recipes with Dipna’s innovative creations, the bar and restaurant at Unity Place has become a must-visit destination for lovers of Indian cuisine.
As we move forward, our mission remains the same: to serve food that’s prepared with passion, rooted in tradition, and inspired by innovation. The Brilliant brand lives on — not just as a memory, but as an evolving story, with exciting new chapters yet to be written.
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History and beyond
Bishen Dass Anand opened the first Brilliant Restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya in the fifties. His sons and daughters helped in the running of the restaurant and enjoyed growing up in and around its customers, its food, its nights and days. Together with running the restaurant, Bishen Dass also opened up a Brilliant nightclub and Hotel in Nairobi as well as ran a very busy outside Catering business, catering for the masses. Not only was Bishen Dass a master of his trade but he was known to many as being an inspiration and leader in his field. Bishen Dass frequently cooked for the Maharaja’s and Chief Ministers in Kenya. Sadly Bishen Dass passed away in 1970 and his family continued the legacy of The Brilliant.
In 1973 due to political pressure in Africa, the Anand family moved to the UK. Whilst in the UK, two of Bishen Dass’s son, Kewal and Gulu Anand decided to carry on the tradition and trademark of the Brilliant and in 1975 opened
the first Brilliant Restaurant on Western Road in Southall.
Brilliant Restaurant began its journey as a modest 30-seat establishment and, over the years, expanded an incredible seven times to become a 220-seat landmark, complete with a banqueting suite and cookery school led by Chef Dipna Anand. It wasn’t just a restaurant — it was a hub for culinary passion, family gatherings, and authentic North Indian Punjabi hospitality.
While the restaurant itself has now closed, its legacy lives on through Brilliant Gastro by Dipna Anand and a thriving retail and events catering business in collaboration with The Compass Group. You can still experience the renowned Brilliant Punjabi dishes by Chef Dipna Anand at major venues including Chelsea Football Club, The Kia Oval, Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, Harlequins, Edgbaston and The O2, ensuring the beloved flavours of Brilliant continue to reach loyal fans and new audiences alike.
Teamwork makes
the dream work
Across everything we do, the Brilliant brand has always been about more than just serving food — it’s about creating experiences. Our teams go above and beyond to ensure that every guest, wherever they choose to dine with us, leaves happy, satisfied and with a smile. It’s never simply about cooking; it’s about making people feel welcome, valued and part of something special.
Whether it was at the original Brilliant Restaurant, within our gastropub, at Unity Place Milton Keynes, or through our busy retail operation, this same ethos runs through every part of our business. Guests, customers and team members alike are considered part of the Brilliant family. It’s this genuine care, combined with our commitment to consistently high standards of food and service, that keeps people coming back — and keeps our team passionate, motivated, and proud to carry the Brilliant name into its exciting next chapter.
