Well hasn’t this been a long, hot summer? Between unbearable tube journeys and weekend heatwaves, we’ve had a proper sizzler on our hands. So when I was sat in Ask For Janice watching my dinner date park up his bike across the road and perform a quick t-shirt swap, I was strangely unsurprised. Because no one wants a sweaty cyclist rocking up to a restaurant.
Nestled between Barbican and Chancery Lane, Ask For Janice sits opposite the iconic Smithfield Market. I’d been here before, for tipsy pancakes after a few drinks at Oriole down the road. But this time was much more refined… cue outfit change. Even on a Wednesday, the place was packed. Good luck getting in without a reservation, because Farringdon locals really seem to be hungry for the foraged greens and craft beers in über cool surroundings.
Industrial interiors with splashes of greenery make Ask For Janice a coveted City corner.
Gearing myself up for the pisco club that I’d spotted when having a peek of the menu earlier, I was disappointed to discover that the bar was actually unable to make it. Instead, I begrudgingly ordered the rhubarb & rosemary paloma (£9) only to find that this short sip was a beautifully tart number. An inconspicuous concoction of tequila, grapefruit, lime, agave and the housemade rhubarb and rosemary sherbet, it was a substitute that raised no complaints.
As my dinner date inhaled his Wild Beer Co pale ale (£5.70), we made our way through the menu. Not only is he a sweaty cyclist, but he’s also veggie so that meant we were in for a plant-based spread. Skipping the drool-worthy slow-cooked chorizo and pork belly, we started with AFJ’s signature labneh (£4.50) and flatbread (£1.80). Because this isn’t any yoghurt… it’s an unmissable creamy mix dappled with smoked sea salt and herbs.
Simple but effective; how AFJ does a spread.
Veggie flatbread saw wisps of soft courgette layered with feta and greens. It may have looked pretty but it a lack of flavour left us underwhelmed. Thank god for the London burrata (£7.50); a saving grace centred on a creamy blob of that of-the-moment cheese perfectly undercut by mint and punchy pickled watermelon that enveloped my mouth with a kick-ass tang.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Ask For Janice may lie in Farringdon, but it’s got a real Shoreditch vibe about it. It's cool and collected, yet bustling at the same time. Whether you came for the tasty small plates or just need to get your after-work drink fix, you can rest assured that you'll be in good hands here, and with an atmosphere that'll make you want to stay past closing.
