Mon Plaisir

French Restaurant in Covent Garden

6 / 10 from 3 reviews

Address
21 Monmouth Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9DD

Map

Telephone
020 7240 3757

Cuisine
French

Region
Covent Garden

Nearest Station
Covent Garden
0.14 miles

Opening Times

Monday	Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 17:45 - Closes 23:15
Tuesday	Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 17:45 - Closes 23:15
Wednesday	Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 17:45 - Closes 23:15
Thursday	Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 17:45 - Closes 23:15
Friday	Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 17:45 - Closes 23:15
Saturday	Open 12:00 - Closes 15:00 Open 17:45 - Closes 23:15
Sunday	Closed

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Renowned as one of London's oldest French restaurants, Mon Plaisir is a family-run restaurant that has been established for more than 60 years. Serving a variety of authentic gastronomic delights, Mon Plaisir emanates a lively atmosphere and can cater for private parties of up to 10 guests upon request.

Mon Plaisir Picture Gallery

All In London Review

Very satisfying, old-fashioned food - for the price it’s sensational

London’s oldest French restaurant has a plaque on the wall that proudly announces Mon Plaisir has reached the grand old age of 69. All the classic bistro conventions are here: the tiled floors, mirrors and colourful vintage posters on the walls, patriotic blue and red lettering. The menu doesn’t stray from tradition, with old-fashioned dishes like coq au vin, steak frites and pissaladière.

It’s in a tourist hotspot, in Covent Garden’s recently re-branded Seven Dials district, but Mon Plaisir’s food is authentically Gallic, rather than just presenting enough French-sounding dishes to encourage the hungry passing trade on their way to and from Leicester Square to step in. They even run classes on how to make steak tartare, which takes a certain amount of know-how.

We stick to the set lunch menu, which is priced at a bargain £12.95 for two courses, £14.95 with dessert. There’s a smooth vichyssoise with a blob of cream that tones down the combined flavour of leeks and chives, and a light sardine tart has wispy pastry topped with a large grilled butterflied sardine.

The leg of rabbit is tender and full of flavour, served with mash potato; a sizeable fillet of lemon sole is coated in herbs and garlicky, salted butter with roasted new potatoes. It’s all very satisfying, and for the price it’s sensational. Add to that friendly staff and a few tables outside so you can people-watch, and it all adds up to a very pleasing lunch.

Reviewed by Leila
Published on Aug 20, 2013

In The News

Owner of London's oldest French restaurant Mon Plaisir celebrates 70th birthday

Owner's favourite menu available on Bastille Day on 14th July

User Reviews

Anonymous

Feb 20, 2010

We visited Mon Plaisir on 17/2/10 at 7.30pm. Greeted by unsmiling staff. The restaurant was not busy. The overall impression of the room we dined was extremely cramped and trapped in student 70s bedsit style. The most appetising offerings on the supplementary paper menu were tomato soup and pork belly.It was certainly not good value for money.

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Anonymous

Sep 5, 2009

I am French and nowhere in London can you find a more truly French restaurant as you do with Mon Plaisir (it puts to shame some of the restaurants in France that I ate in...).
The last time I went they sold out of my favourite dish of calves liver, and I had an authentic and delicious boeuf bourguignon instead. My partner and I ordered cheeses which was extra on the set lunch time menu. With an amazing array of French cheeses came two huge glasses of Bourgogne, compliment of the house as I did not get my chosen dish!
The atmosphere is soooooo French! The best time to go is mi-week for a lingering lunch, but go early or book as it gets very busy.
Prices are more than fair for the quality of the food, service and ambiance.
I don't need to highly recommend this place...word of mouth has done its job.

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