Mon Plaisir

A big French flag, perched proudly at the front, greets you when you arrive at this little pleasure of a restaurant. Funnily, it is facing another outlet with an equally massive, British flag on the other side of the street -things never change, do they?! This street should be renamed "Channel Street"!

Anyway, this venue has been serving simple, authentic French cooking -as opposed to exuberant "tour-de-force"-type French cuisine- for more than 50 years, apparently. The place is charming, cosy, not to say old-fashioned, with an interior resembling a French bistro.

Dishes are old French classics: for example, I had an onion soup with croutons and melted gruyere which was delicious -and I am not even a big fan of soups, although I adore cheese! (where I come from, they call me "The Che"). ;OP...sorry...couldn't resist the fat pun!

Having to rush before going to the theatre, I skipped having any piece de resistance and finished with a sinful chocolate mousse: sheer delight.

Otherwise, the staff is young, "lovely", friendly, attentive and mostly French -if you love the accent, then it will be an extra piece of entertainment for you!

In a nutshell, if you like French food, cooked simply but expertly, then ZIS IZ ZE place TOU BEE, in Covent Garden. They do have pre-theatre menus at 12.50/14.50 for two/three courses, including a glass of wine. Unbeatable, you say? Mais oui!....is it a coincidence then that this place is situated on "MON-MOUTH" Street?! I wonder.