Cafe Monico

As ever, Cafe Monico was excellent - the food, service and value for money.

It was a bizarre situation as my friend and I visited just before the Government imposed the various coronavirus restrictions and I think we were the only customers. It was extremely quiet.

I hope for the sake of Cafe Monico and all the staff normality returns soon - I will certainly be heading back as soon as I can!

The service was good and food delicious. When we arrived, we’d been assigned a table upstairs. Mum and I have mobility impairments so asked to sit downstairs. This was no issue.

The service was prompt and staff polite. Mum wanted an omelette and we were glad there was in the menu. Mum loved her food and finished it all off.

I had lemon sole and a side of beans. I needed the beans as the fish didn’t have anything with it. Both were delicious.

Pre theatre dinner. Good meal, second time we’ve been.

The Cafe Monico is very handy for the Gielgud Theatre and the Prix Fixe menu good value for London. I would certainly eat here again next time I'm in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Just next door to the Gielgud Theatre - terrific ambience, decor very stylish, like being in a swish club with the central square bar, some banquette seating and good lighting (love the lamps on the bar!). Food very good, as it was quite late after the theatre I chose a salad with chicken, avocado, crispy panchetta and egg. It was fresh, very tasty and huge ! Sadly could not eat it all there was so much. Husband said his Salad Lyonnaise was delicious. Great value for money. Waitresses excellent. We will return.

It was a lovely experience. The steak tartare was wonderful.

Easy bistro menu with something for everyone. Good selection of Italian and French wines. The lighting is quite dim, especially for early evening and the music was very noisy. Hard to have a conversation without shouting. We had a great waitress and service was prompt.

Beautiful cafe, great location. Staff very good, food was ok, had to send a main dish back as the quality of the steak was poor. The place was very quiet for 9pm on a Saturday night and it lacked atmosphere, which is a shame as it is beautiful cafe.

As TripAdvisor suggested, this venue has too little light and too loud music! Food good, but hard to enjoy as a table of six when we couldn't even speak across the table, never mind along, or really see what we were eating. We had reserved but table not ready. '

Perfect location, charming staff, lovely food. Many thanks.

So great from start to finish, great food and service for a reasonable price. It’s great to sit up starts and look down at the bar

Pre-theatre menu selection fine but main meal portions small for prices and vegetable sides warm rather than hot. Came quickly though and waitress service throughout excellent. No quiet spots possible in design of layout so not really suitable for the hard of hearing what I am. Would not look to return mainly for that reason.

It was more expensive than anticipated and although my husband, whose birthday it was, enjoyed his main immensely I didn't as I had not realised the fish would not be filleted and therefore got mouthfuls of small bones. There wasn't a great deal of choice. It was also dark - as mentioned by other patrons - but I didn't find it too bothersome although one did have to use ones 'phone to read anything. I wouldn't say it was a restaurant to make a fuss about - or to pay so much money for. With its central bar it did remind me of authentic French bars.

The size of the fish on the fixed menu is tiny, apart from that we had an enjoyable evening and the waiter was very helpful

Great service staff, friendly and efficient
Starter of burr at a and pesto was lovely, the Primitivo wine was as you would expect. The rump steak was small (that was Ok) but a quarter of it was gristle and the medium rare did not render it tender even with the help of a steak knife, The staff did not respond to my observation.
The fries stayed lovely and hot to the end and the sides of spinach and beans were very nice. Great tasting coffee

A great Prix Fixe meal, at a good price. The table was perfect, overlooking the bustling Shaftesbury Avenue.

The croque M - was a little disappointing - it's wasn't grilled enough on top.
The salmon starter didn't have enough going on. Maybe 4 pieces of cucumber to alot of salmon but not much dressing - could have another element - a crisp perhaps.

Really convenient for Théâtre it’s next to Gielgud has low expectation but meal was good service was friendly food was a little slow but enjoyed it overall

Was very disappointed to be hugely embarrassed when staff refused or did not recognise the open dining cheque other restaurants have the courtesy to advise whether they accept cheque or not I was hugely embarrassed in front of my partner I saved it for tonight now perhaps will run out of time to use it
So the restaurant likes the booking but said did not understand the cheque never seen one before so be wary if you plan to use a cheque

Great service and good value for money set menu.
Staff were friendly and attentive.
Online booking request for specific table was granted.

Me and my husband had a fantastic time the staff was attentive but not over bearing, food was lovely and the cocktails we would definitely go again

I have eaten there twice recently and I would definitely recommend it. The service and food were great and the ambience is perfect.

Very enjoyable visit. Steaks and fries over-salted.
Service could not be faulted

We had a lovely dinner before our show. All of the service was great, and the personnel, friendly. The ambience is great. I wish we could have stayed longer. I would definitely return to Cafe Monico.
P.S. The tiramisu was amazing!!

Food very dissapointing, really small portions (smaller than childs portion), complained to the management and was resolved by giving a full refund, was very upset because it was for my 65th Birthday and cannot bring that back, would not go back there, it is a beautiful place, but the food badly lets it down, would not reccomend, with that said the staff were wonderful.

Perfect place for a business lunch. Food is fine, the house red is really good, the service was superb. The decor is impressive and it's really quiet so you can have a conversation.

We chose Cafe Monico partly due to the location near theatres, and because it looked the ideal kind of pre theatre dining experience - we were not disappointed. The prix fixe is good value and good food - the creme brulee is excellent. All served quickly and efficiently - pleasant staff. Would go again.

Third time here. Very accommodating to my special request ( a table that could easily host blind people (ie accessible and not too noisy). Great food and service.

Lovely atmosphere good good relaxed meal.

Food was lovely but service was a bit slow. For main course we had Beef tartar and it was amazing. Truffled French fries was good but was a bit not enough truffle.

Lovely restaurant close to theatres. Slightly limited menu but adequate for lunch. Staff were very attentive but kept their distance. Would definitely return.

This was our second visit to Cafe Monico and it was most enjoyable. A continental atmosphere in Shaftesbury Avenue with very good reasonably priced food and friendly service. The fish and chips was the best ever!

Perfectly situated for the Sondheim Theatre. We had a pre theatre lunch here which was very good.

The menu is small but varied and everything is done very well. Lovely food, at a reasonable rate, served with efficiency and a smile. And the setting itself is wonderful, and right in the heart of theatreland. We had a window table and indulged in a little people watching on Shaftsbury Avenue, but from the first floor you could equally look over the balcony to ground floor diners. I really couldn't fault the whole experience.

Excellent service, food & drink. Great ambience. So close to theatres

We came an hour before our reservation to have a drink. The bar service and drinks were very good, as was the subsequent table service. My criticism is that the food was less impressive. Portion sizes were small - so small that we both had to buy more food at the theatre we went onto. If you don’t feel able to produce a decent meal for the set-menu price then either scrap the pre-theatre menu or increase the price so that you can deliver on quality and quantity.

Good food in fantastic setting. Wonderful service 😁

I was made to feel immediately welcome by the excellent usherette who showed me to my table with a smile. I was seated on the balcony where I had a fabulous view of the bartenders below shaking exciting cocktails at breakneck speed. I was also able to watch the chefs at work preparing the food.

I was asked if I was going to the theatre (which I was) and the service speed was increased accordingly.

Starter of green olive tapinade was superb and the portion rather generous. Main course of duck and lentils was flavoursome and hearty. House red wine was excellent.

The decor is pre-war French vintage with Morris-esque wallpaper, unpretentious chandeliers, cosy lighting and lots of warming wooden tones.

This restaurant is very versatile. It would impress a date; it would be intimate enough for a couple; it would suit friends catching up. Not too many tourists; fellow diners seemed like well-heeled professionals.

Considering the location (on Shaftesbury Avenue, the main drag in Soho) the bill was not eye-watering and represents good value for money.

I wish that I had stayed at the restaurant for brandy and coffee rather than going to the theatre!

A perfect pre-theatre dinner in a large two storey bistro akin to a Cafe Rouge. Good food and service.

Food good value. Waitress friendly and helpful. Had to wait a long time for dessert and asked 3 times when it was coming. Waitress very apologetic

Good location, friendly staff (although not enough of them so it impacted the service). Food disappointing.