I must have stomped past Café Monico hundreds of times whilst working in Soho. I vaguely assumed it was a touristy sort of rubbish place and never gave it another thought. Now that my maternity leave has ended I’m in Soho a few days a week and I’ve decided in order to cope, that lunch will always be somewhere nice, so I started looking up all the somewhere nices within 5 minutes walk of me and low and behold Cafe Monico came up. It’s actually quite french and very good. The service is snappy and was often peppered with the response ‘why not?’ to any request I had.

I literally wolfed down a three course meal here in 40 minutes flat so if your children are at the we must eat now or I will scream phase (it’s not a phase, is it?) then Café Monico is a good shout because they are very prompt.

The space is grand and and comfortable with room for buggies, the lighting is soft and they’re playing jazz. It’s up market but not overly expensive for the area and a perfect pre-theatre option.

What’s good? The Paris Brest and the Chicory, Roquefort, pear and walnut salad. The brunch options.

Child friendly? Oui.

✗baby change facilities

✓highchairs available

✓cool with breastfeeding

✗loads of other parents

✓space for buggies

✗children’s menu

✗toys/play area

Rating ???