Mon Plaisir at 19-21 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, is London's oldest family run French restaurant, founded by Jean Viala and his wife in 1943.[1]

Mon Plaisir, Monmouth Street, Covent Garden 01.jpg
Map
Restaurant information
Established1943
Previous owner(s)Jean Viala
Street address19-21 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden
CityLondon
Postal/ZIP CodeWC2H 9DD
CountryUnited Kingdom
Websitewww.monplaisir.co.uk

It was opened by Jean Viala and his wife in 1943, and bought by their head waiter Monsieur Alain Lhermitte in 1972 who expanded it from one to four dining rooms, retaining the zinc bar that came from a brothel in Lyons.[2][3] In April 2022 Alain Lhermitte retired and the restaurant was acquired by Fabio Lauro & Family, making them the third family to successively run this venue.

The team behind BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze would have dinner on Wednesday evenings at Mon Plaisir, while Hugo Gryn (1930-1996), the rabbi and broadcaster, was alive.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Mon Plaisir - Seven Dials, London". Sevendials.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Our History". Monplaisir.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  3. ^ "CHESTER Boyd, the caterers, and the Worshipful Company of Butchers » 3 Jan 1998 » The Spectator Archive". Archive.spectator.co.uk. 3 January 1998. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  4. ^ Hugo Gryn (25 November 2010). Three Minutes of Hope: Hugo Gryn on The God Slot. A&C Black. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-4411-4035-7.
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51°30′52″N 0°07′36″W / 51.51455°N 0.12675°W / 51.51455; -0.12675