Mon Plaisir

amandaharrison

Former glory or a bad day?? 19th November 2008

1 found this helpful

I haven't been for years but I was very much looking forward to a return trip to Mon Plaisir. After hunting high and low on Monmouth Street to find it (a sense of direction was never my strong point)I entered into one of those traffic jam situations when everyone stands around looking gormless with a kerfuffle of coat-taking and the like.

It was worse for me as my nose was chilly wind-induced running(nice)and the first thing I did was to ask for a tissue which got 'em. By the time I was offered a serviette (napkin?)my host thought I was being most strange just hovering there not going to the table.

Anyway. At the table, I sat myself down, and said host offered me a sip of his kir royale, saying it had taken him ages to get a drink. I don't know about you but that's not what I want to hear when I go to a restaurant. I want to unwind from the journey before being hassled head-first into ordering food.

So I had to do that wave thing and try and catch the eye of a waiter/ress/ron ANYone to get me a drink, whilst trying to hold a "hello how are you isn't this nice thanks for inviting me to lunch" conversation. With my nose running. Not good.

Food was just OK. I didn't have the snails as I was going to the dentist the next day and didn't want to freak him out, particularly as he looks like he should be in a boyband. I had scallops (too salty) and I forget what else, and I only went last week. Just shows. I think there were all sorts of comfort food on the menu from what I recall, coq au vin and the such, but nothing waved any flags at me.

Happy to be taken (sort of); I wouldn't host lunch there myself.

gastro1

Non 3rd March 2008

1 found this helpful

Sorry to disagree with my fellow reviewers.

Pas mon plaisir.

For me this is a bad joke a french TGI's.

Poor food prepared and designed to achieve high margins with average ingredients.

Good French bistro food does not exist in the UK or at least I have not found it.

Mon Plaisir is really poor if you want to sample the real thing jump on the Eurostar to Paris and try L'Ami Louis ,Allard, Benoit ,Aux Lyonnais and Moissonier just to name a few.

Browners

Everything changes but this 13th December 2007

5 found this helpful

We've been eating at Mon Plaisir before and after plays and on special occassions now for about a decade. It's authentically French and gives you the chance to show off with a few choice bon mots.

I think one of the main reasons we've stayed loyal to Mon Plaisir as a family is that Dad rather likes the lingerie shop next door. Needless to say the rest of us find this a bit creepy!

The first time we came here I ate perfect French onion soup followed by a rare entrecote steak frites with creamy peas with lardons. And it was so good that I have eaten the same thing each time! In many ways the peas are the star of the show. A bit like a pea carbonara they're so good they'll have you hooked like a smack addict. They set the standard for French bistro food in London.

Over the years I've sampled (nicked from other peoples' plates) some fantastic garlic snails, delicious grilled salmon and a disturbingly cold coq au vin which Mum was too embarassed to send back! That one disaster apart we've collectively fallen in love with Mon Plaisir and will continue coming back until either they or we shut down!

FluffyRona

French charm 23rd October 2007

5 found this helpful

A slice of old-school France in the centre of Covent Garden!

Ask for a table upstairs and you can while away a happy afternoon with some superb traditional French grub. Great Muscadet on offer with some wonderful fish last time I went.

And don't let the sneer of the waiter deter you - they DO take bookings and WILL let you choose the table YOU want!! ;-)

ChrisHarrison

Stable, solid, unexciting 9th October 2007

1 found this helpful

As a pre-theatre venue it delivers - quick service, tasty food, reliable dependability which being decently cheap, if almost a parody of its Frenchness. It won't blow your socks off, but by not changing visit-on-visit, it won't disappoint you, either.

JulesHolmwood

26th July 2007

2 found this helpful

I went for lunch one Friday after an exceptionally busy week and felt like I'd stepped out of the hustle and bustle of professional life into a rural French bistro. It seemed a million miles from Central London both in ambience and style. Had a lovely meal and a great experience. Food was fabulous. Would definitely recommend this as a restaurant for both romance and business; certainly when I went you could have enjoyed either

gilka

15th July 2007

4 found this helpful

my favorite french restaurant!
cosy and beautiful. You can get the pre theatre menu if you want to pay less than £20. sometimes on mondays they have accordion player which adds to the atmosphere!

simonB

22nd March 2007

4 found this helpful

This is a favourite restaurant of mine and its classic French dishes never disappoint. Probably the most authentic 'french bistro' experience you'll find in London?

The only negative I have is that the tables at the front of the restaurant are exceptionally close together....you dining neighbours are definitely going to hear every word you say so it's definitely not the place for wispering amorous thoughts or doing high powered business deals!

tristan

8th March 2007

2 found this helpful

Romantic and oh so French. Great menu. Last food orders need to reach the kitchen before 11.15 so it's a good spot for after the theatre too. It's also surprisingly bigger on the inside than it appears ... although the best place to sit is up front near the windows to catch the full flavour.

valtaylor

Fabulously French!! 24th September 2006

4 found this helpful

You just can't go wrong when you go to Mon Plaisir. For private or business dinners it NEVER dissappoints. I could kill for those deserts....