Championing itself as ‘the oldest of French restaurants in London’, Mon Plaisir looks exactly how you’d imagine; a French flag billows outside on Monmouth Street, while the inside is a dimly-lit affair, the walls plastered with posters and every possible nook and cranny filled with assorted brac-a-brac. There’s a distinct French bistro feel to the place, with cosy couples dining on cramped tables and the waiting staff sashaying back and forth from the kitchen and using the narrow hallways as their own personal catwalks. ‘The Front’, as it is called, is the original restaurant and dates back over 50 years, while the other rooms are more recent additions to deal with the overspill. Each has its own vibe, and ours – dubbed ‘Next Door’ – was more contemporary in design than the others, with large bay windows at the front and a bar complete with skylight set behind. There are no prizes for guessing what food is on offer, with a small but perfectly formed menu of French classics such as French onion soup and steak tartare. As you’d expect, the wine list is entirely French, too, with prices ranging from £18 to £100. In short, Mon Plaisir is the perfect place to come for a cosy meal pre- or post-theatre. Hell, you could even come here when you’re not going to the theatre. A winning combination of good food, good wine and good company make this a firm Hg2 favourite; no wonder it’s been around for so long.