Chef-owner Abishek Sharma is a Queens-raised restaurateur and the founder of A13 Hospitality. His journey began with his family’s Upper West Side restaurant, Swagat, and he later creating Madam Ji and A13 Events. In 2026, he opened Badshah Social in Park Slope, Brooklyn—a lively, contemporary restaurant that reimagines regional Indian street food through bold flavors, shareable dishes, cocktails, and an atmosphere that brings together Indian heritage and Brooklyn energy.
What first interested you in your area of the hospitality industry?
I grew up around restaurants and saw very early that hospitality is about much more than serving food. A restaurant can make people feel welcomed, introduce them to a culture, and become part of the rhythm of a neighborhood. I was drawn to the combination of creativity, discipline, and human connection—and to the idea that a single meal can create a lasting memory.
Who are a few of the people who have encouraged your career?
My family has been a constant source of encouragement because restaurants have always been part of our lives. I have also learned from the cooks, servers, bartenders, and managers who work beside me every day. Guests have encouraged me as well: when someone connects with a dish or returns with friends and family, it reinforces why we do this work.
What challenges do you think people face in your industry?
Hospitality asks people to balance creativity with very real operational pressure. Rising food and labor costs, long hours, staffing challenges, and constantly changing guest expectations can make the work demanding. The challenge is to protect quality and care while building a business that is sustainable for the team. That requires discipline, communication, and a willingness to keep learning.
Can you cite a few accomplishments that have given you great pride and elevated your work?
I am proud of building a hospitality portfolio that includes Swagat, Madam Ji, A13 Events, and now Badshah Social. Opening Badshah Social in Brooklyn has been especially meaningful because it allowed me to bring together the regional flavors I explored during months of travel across India with the energy of the city where I grew up. I am also proud whenever a team member develops into a stronger hospitality professional, because a restaurant’s success is never the work of one person.
What piece of advice can you lend to others who are considering a career such as yours?
Learn every part of the operation and never believe any task is beneath you. Spend time in the kitchen, on the floor, with vendors, and with guests. Listen carefully, stay consistent, and understand your numbers—but do not lose the generosity that makes hospitality special. Talent may open a door, but humility and repetition are what build a lasting career.
Everyone who works in hospitality has a story to tell about something incredible that happened on the job. What’s one that you often tell?
The moments I remember most are when a guest tastes something and immediately connects it to home—a childhood memory, a family celebration, or a street-food stall in India. Those reactions can transform a busy service. They remind the entire team that what feels like one plate leaving the kitchen can carry history and emotion for the person receiving it.
What do you hope people understand about those who work in your area of hospitality?
I hope people understand how much invisible work goes into a restaurant experience. Every plate and every welcoming moment depends on preparation, teamwork, timing, and care across many roles. Hospitality professionals are craftspeople and problem-solvers. Even on the busiest night, they are working to make the experience feel effortless for the guest.
Is there anything else you want Woman Around Town readers to know?
I would love readers to experience Badshah Social as an invitation into the sensory energy of India’s streets—bold flavors, contrasting textures, color, music, and the pleasure of sharing food. We are located at 212 Flatbush Avenue in Park Slope, close to Barclays Center, and we serve dinner during the week along with brunch and dinner on weekends. We want Badshah Social to feel rooted in Brooklyn while telling a broad and contemporary story about Indian food.
Website and Social Media
Website
Instagram: @badshahnyc
Address: 212 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (347) 987-3010
Photo credit: Courtesy of Chef Abishek Sharma and Madam Ji Ki Shaadi.
