The hype surrounding its launch has long subsided, but this polished tribute to the ultimate French brasserie is still charged with dynamite je ne sais quoi from leisurely breakfast through to late-night nibbles. It’s got good pedigree, see: owner Keith McNally made the NYC original the place to be, and backed up the London buzz with a menu of treat-yourself French fancies, from escargots sizzling in garlicky butter, to Dover sole meunière and towering rhubarb soufflé.
December 2018: We’ve added five more Covent Garden restaurants: the Basque-influenced Henrietta Bistro, four-storey Japanese skewer specialist Jidori, bijou seafood eatery Parsons, sumptuous instant classic Cora Pearl, and the oldest French restaurant in London, Mon Plaisir.
Covent Garden is so rammed with restaurants that decision fatigue can easily threaten the quality of your dinner. But rest easy: we’ve compiled a list of the best eateries in the area, from cutting-edge spots and classy counter joints to party-ready and casual hangouts, with pre-theatre favourites and cheap eats in among them. Think of it as your Theatreland bucket list.
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