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Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison

Rating: 3.9

Location: 19-21 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3757

Website: http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/

Tags: lively, family & home feel, business, crowded, expensive, french

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.]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:53 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir2144281053 lively family & home feel business crowded expensive french 51.513822573856 -0.12792911295666 Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir
Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison

Rating: 3.9

Location: 19-21 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3757

Website: http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/

Tags: lively, family & home feel, business, crowded, expensive, french

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.]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:53 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir40619182 lively family & home feel business crowded expensive french 51.513822573856 -0.12792911295666 Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir
Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison

Rating: 3.9

Location: 19-21 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3757

Website: http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/

Tags: lively, family & home feel, business, crowded, expensive, french

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.]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:53 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir1647841362 lively family & home feel business crowded expensive french 51.513822573856 -0.12792911295666 Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir
Mon Plaisir - review by amandaharrison

Rating: 3.9

Location: 19-21 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3757

Website: http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/

Tags: lively, family & home feel, business, crowded, expensive, french

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.]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:53 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir777699837 lively family & home feel business crowded expensive french 51.513822573856 -0.12792911295666 Nyonya - review by Litro_K http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1e72o8m/nyonya
Nyonya - review by Litro_K

Rating: 3.2

Location: 2A Kensington Park Road, W11 3BU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7243 1800

Tags: malaysian

What a shame about our experience at Nyonya! The location is fantastic, near Notting Hill Gate and en route to the markets of Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road. It's a stylish little place too, set on a corner and boasting large convex windows that allow for great people-watching opportunities.

However, the day we came (a Saturday, around 5pm, when they should have been gearing up for customers), the two staff members could not have been more disinterested in us. (The restaurant was empty save for another couple). We were vaguely waved over to a table, had menus thrown down haphazardly, and were then left to our own devices while our waitress stood chatting to the front of house man standing behind the serving counter. He went off for a cigarette a few minutes later (we could see him smoking outside the window) and she found a copy of Vogue to read while we waited, aghast, to have our orders taken.

Once we did order, food appeared quickly - almost oddly so, and although hot and spicy, our rice noodles in the Penang Char Kway Teow were flabby and overcooked and the large, appealing-looking prawns in both our dishes were actually pretty flavourless. Had our service been better, I'd probably have left feeling fairly satisfied, because nothing here costs too much.

Maybe we were just being overly fussy. Maybe watching too many episodes of 'The Restaurant' and hearing Raymond Blanc purr about customer happiness had made too great an impression on us. But I doubt it. They just weren't that interested in us. Never a good sign.]]> Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:21:34 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1e72o8m/nyonya1820506049 malaysian 51.50994440667 -0.19803285598755 Kaslik - review by fairy600 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1n92x7l/kaslik
Kaslik - review by fairy600

Rating: 3.4

Location: 58 Greek Street, W1D 3DY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 1585

Website: http://www.kasliksoho.com/

Tags: cosy, intimate, lebanese

Booked here for a friend birthday. There were about 20 of us that went and took over most of the basement! The seats were low to the floor and it was extremely cosy. The music was great and the atmosphere fantastic. It makes such a different from the typical restaurant. We ordered the meze menu per person and we thought the starters were the main course! Lots of food- all extremely good. When the mains turned, we weren't sure where to start. The food was brilliant. We then ordered their lebanese shots- not recommended for the light hearted! At the end of the meal we had a belly dancer performing for the group. It was a fantastic evening and I would recommend booking the basement in large groups!]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:13:06 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1n92x7l/kaslik682051199 cosy intimate lebanese 51.514583 -0.131259 Arancina - review by bellaphon http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/cafe/1n82y7v/arancina
Arancina - review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.4

Location: 19 Pembridge Road, W11 3HG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7221 7776

Website: http://www.arancina.co.uk

Tags: italian, sicilian, top food, proper food, pizza, lively

The lure of that sawn up orange Cinquecento is a great marketing exercise.

I donâ¬"t normally care much for pizzas in this country but at Arancina the Paletta (to all intents and purposes; by the slice) portion of parmacotto ham and mushrooms was outstanding. It tasted fresh, utterly Italian and the total absence of the dreaded stodgy thick crust. This portion was more than enough for lunch, but if you can fit it in and not be too conscious of the Atkins Diet the delicious arancinas (Sicilian rice balls) belong to the dangerous â¬Übingeingâ¬" category.

I included fast food as one of the things I love when I played the TasteMatcher, Arancina upholds the inclusion without fail. Bravo.
]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:58:25 +0000 /review/uk/london/cafe/1n82y7v/arancina461255566 italian sicilian top food proper food pizza lively 51.509917 -0.197341 Arancina - review by shopaholcleo http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/cafe/1n82y7v/arancina
Arancina - review by shopaholcleo

Rating: 4.4

Location: 19 Pembridge Road, W11 3HG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7221 7776

Website: http://www.arancina.co.uk

Tags: cosy, quick bite, cultured

While wandering around Notting Hill with an empty stomach, I noticed this bright and inviting deli, and after seeing it had been reviewed already, I thought I may as well try it. I was pleasantly surpised, the pizzas were not too expensive and they had some nice looking pasta dishes as well. I ordered a mini calzone thing to take away, not bad for £2.50, would've liked a bit more filling, but it was nice to eat anyway. Will definitely try to come back before my next visit to Portobello market, to try some more of their dishes, as the reviews look good.]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:29:55 +0000 /review/uk/london/cafe/1n82y7v/arancina552341645 cosy quick bite cultured 51.509917 -0.197341 Arancina - review by theonlyone http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/cafe/1n82y7v/arancina
Arancina - review by theonlyone

Rating: 4.4

Location: 19 Pembridge Road, W11 3HG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7221 7776

Website: http://www.arancina.co.uk

Well, I come from Italy and I've tried several pizzas across the UK in the last years. This is definitly the best one. I've always took it "take away" and it was also cheap, don't know if you'll eat in, anyway really good pizza, don't miss it!]]> Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:20:59 +0000 /review/uk/london/cafe/1n82y7v/arancina1034521931 51.509917 -0.197341 Le Boudin Blanc - review by Brodule http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1901c7u/le-boudin-blanc
Le Boudin Blanc - review by Brodule

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Trebeck Street, W1J 7LT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 3292

Website: http://www.boudinblanc.co.uk

Tags: lively, good value, french

The restaurant is in a very old, atmospheric building in Shepherds market in the centre Of Mayfair. We were a party of 12 (the miniumum) in a private room for dinner on a Friday. We were greeted very nicely and served fizz so we could mingle & chat before being seated. We had a Mersault and a lesser Burgundy from their list with our meal and both were above average. After we sat and during ordering we were served excellent 'Frenchâ¬" bread that was freshly made, if a little heavy. There was a slight delay in getting the starter to table but thereafter all flowed in a timely manner and our waitress was attentive throughout. I had Beef Carpaccio followed by pan roasted Chicken. The starter portions were too large in my opinion & others. They were however good eating all agreed, though I found my beef a little bland. The follow on dish had moments of above average flavouring and was correctly cooked. Thanks to stuffing myself with the bread & starter I wilted a little, but finished most of my dish. The vegetarian risotto alternative was good & flavourful, though after a few mouthfulls you realised it was over salted, and again too generous and so did not get finished by those who chose it. I chose the Tart Tatin to finish, and though flavourful it was a little too caramelised and the icecream accompanyment was much needed. The cost was £65 a head. I would go again if in the area and it was appropriate, but there is huge competition closeby!]]> Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:58:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1901c7u/le-boudin-blanc524174486 lively good value french 51.50675 -0.147415 Le Boudin Blanc - review by StephenGrayston http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1901c7u/le-boudin-blanc
Le Boudin Blanc - review by StephenGrayston

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Trebeck Street, W1J 7LT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 3292

Website: http://www.boudinblanc.co.uk

Enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, although typicallly, you cannot park anywhere in that area.]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:47:08 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1901c7u/le-boudin-blanc976045608 51.50675 -0.147415 Kaslik - review by tomc http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1n92x7l/kaslik
Kaslik - review by tomc

Rating: 3.4

Location: 58 Greek Street, W1D 3DY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 1585

Website: http://www.kasliksoho.com/

Tags: lebanese, middle eastern, shisha

A really friendly, tasty and comfy place in the heart of soho serving great food and smooth shisha.

The menu isn't huge but it's certainly good stuff - the mezze plates to share are highly recommended! £26 and easily enough for two hungry people.

If shisha is your thing then this is one of the best places I've found for it in london - really smooth shisha and a great view sat outside watching soho life pass you by!]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:29:35 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1n92x7l/kaslik1842771996 lebanese middle eastern shisha 51.514583 -0.131259 Kaslik - review by amandaharrison http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1n92x7l/kaslik
Kaslik - review by amandaharrison

Rating: 3.4

Location: 58 Greek Street, W1D 3DY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 1585

Website: http://www.kasliksoho.com/

Tags: lebanese, north african, good value, pretentious

I actually booked this place by accident, not remembering the name of Maison Touaregue just down the road, which is a great place.

I'm all for lounging around on cushions but the seats were so uncomfortable. Mezze for two was a bunch of dishes that all tasted the same. Hoummous blah, vine leave blah, other stuff blah.]]> Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:55:32 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1n92x7l/kaslik671241393 lebanese north african good value pretentious 51.514583 -0.131259 Mon Plaisir - review by gastro1 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir
Mon Plaisir - review by gastro1

Rating: 3.9

Location: 19-21 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3757

Website: http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/

Tags: french, crowded, expensive

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.]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:36:13 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1154f8/mon-plaisir1493169835 french crowded expensive 51.513822573856 -0.12792911295666 Le Boudin Blanc - review by VictoriaR http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1901c7u/le-boudin-blanc
Le Boudin Blanc - review by VictoriaR

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Trebeck Street, W1J 7LT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 3292

Website: http://www.boudinblanc.co.uk

Tags: lively, good value, crowded, french, romantic

I can only echo the previous lovestruck reviews - this is a gorgeous gem of a restaurant, in one of those hidden corners of Mayfair that make you feel as if you've stumbled back into a more romantic era of London altogether. Food and service are deliciously French; my steak was perfectly rare, and the frites were divine. It's quite a crowded room, but that only adds to the buzzy atmosphere. Highly recommended.]]> Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:56:01 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1901c7u/le-boudin-blanc1588133272 lively good value crowded french romantic 51.50675 -0.147415