Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a restaurant with flats above on Old Compton Street in Soho.
A member of staff saw smoke coming from a basement bin store room and called the Brigade after discovering the fire. Crews investigated on arrival and discovered the small fire was out.
Around 55 customers and staff left the building. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1125 and the incident was over for firefighters by 1257. Fire crews from Whitechapel, Islington, Lambeth, Soho and Paddington fire stations were at the scene.
The fire is believed to be accidental and caused by rubbish being ignited by used cooking coals from the previous evening.