WC2E 8JD. Covent Garden is pretty dire for eating out, pandering to tourists it is full of chain restaurants - it is a shame that such a popular area has such a penury of decent eating establishments.
Finding Clos Maggiore is the exception to this rule however. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful restaurants in London and deserves the accolade it repeatedly wins of most romantic restaurant in London. Being someone who rarely eats soup in restaurants I was shocked to find that the onion soup the first dish I ever tried there was one of the most delicious dishes I have ever had the pleasure of putting in my mouth; it was simply mesmerising.
The waiting staff compliment the stunning looking restaurant, providing excellent, discreet service throughout your dining experience. The main room at the back of the restaurant is by far the best place to be seated and when reserving a table I would always ask to be seated there — in summer the roof of that room is able to slide back allowing you to sit in a Mediterranean courtyard when the weather is suitably kind.
The wine list is truly encyclopaedic; previously picking up awards for wine list of the year. I have had the tasting menu on a couple of occasions and whilst extremely enjoyable I would in future certainly stick to the a la carte. The tasting menu rarely has a selection of dishes that come up to the brilliance of the rest of the menu. WC2H 9DD. Unsurprisingly, the food is very French and clearly in the time that they have been open they have learnt how to turn out very reliable and well-cooked Gallic grub.
The menu certainly ticks all of the boxes for a French restaurant — snails, steak frites, duck confit, steak tartare.. Luckily it is a popular restaurant and has a good pre-theatre following so there is a buzz at most times. To my mind there is however certainly a time when it is exactly what you may be looking for. For me the greatest draw for Mon Plaisir is the pre or post-theatre menu. Accomplished and reliable French cooking, for me the a la carte is a little on the expensive side however the pre-theatre is certainly worth a punt.
