The Fig and Olive: as colourful as its food

Does this invite you in for coffee and cake? Photo credit: Kathrine Anker

Islington’s Upper Street is known for its dynamic and vibrant atmosphere. The district is forward looking and in vogue: the greasy takeaway is replaced by a fashionable Ethiopian gourmet restaurant with zebra fur decorations on the wall and the food you grab after 4 a.m. is something different than fish and chips.

These features account for Upper Street’s lively and colourful aura. But it is in this lively atmosphere where it is hard to choose between one restaurant from another. However, the Fig and Olive might be a welcoming choice for anyone in the area.

The Fig and Olive, which proclaims itself as serving ‘modern European cuisine’ is not eye-catching at all and can be easily overlooked by customers. But once entered, the olive-coloured frame of the restaurant makes for a bright and sophisticated establishment.

The furniture is a mix of 17^th century vintage and modern classic divulging a slight atmosphere of glamour.

The Fig and Olive welcomes the coffee-going crowd with low tables and some luxurious armchairs in the front. The middle of the restaurant’s long rectangular space seats groups of two- and four-seated dining tables. Passed the small cluttered bar at the back sits a long, wooden table for groups of ten and above.

The restaurant is a place for every occasion: to pop in for coffee and cake, to have a hangover brunch, or to go for dinner. It is also suitable for a chilled-out cocktail evening with friends as it is open until midnight.

Most people come to the Fig and Olive for a sweet treat. Photo credit: Kathrine Anker

In addition to the traditional lunch, dinner and wine menus you can choose from the variety of freshly baked goods, which are proudly displayed by the window. For example a pistachio tart, decorated with spirals of dark chocolate and a lemon cherry pie for the reasonable price of £3.50.

The Fig and Olive’s two-page wine list covers almost every type of wine and does not focus on particular regions (glass £4.50 and bottle from £12 to £18).

Main dishes (£8 – £12) are mostly meat-based and not extraordinarily unique. The most imaginative one is wild boar with apple sausages. There are also vegetarian options such as the aubergine with sautéed mushrooms and lighter dishes like grilled Mediterranean vegetables with cheese.

Despite the great selection of food, most visitors are there for the pastries. They are the real secret of Fig and Olive and it’s worth trying more than one.

The Fig and Olive
151 Upper Street
London N1
020 735 42605
www.figandolive.com