169 Hemingford Road, Barnsbury, London N1 1DA
www.figbistro.co.uk
In 2006 Danish chef Christoffer Hruskova opened his first restaurant, ‘Fig’ in Barnsbury, Islington. His Nordic and notably seasonal menus of delicate flavours, exceptional ingredients of wild herbs and selected rare vegetables, resulted in Fig gaining a batallion of keen followers. Hruskova has since found a new, more prominent location to showcase his innovative cooking, which means that Fig will be serving a more ‘bistro-inspired’ menu.
The popular neighbourhood haunt is glass-fronted restaurant with warm shades of taupe and browns with the kitchen situated at the end of the room and a garden beyond that where a formidable fig tree shading diners in the summer months. Contemporary art hangs from walls adding a touch of sophistication to this home-from-home dining room.
Hruskova’s new bistro menu consists of predominantly British ingredients because he holds the island’s produce in the greatest esteem, and ensures that his creativity is still evident even with the simpler dishes. For example, a terrine might involve in house smoked foie gras and pig’s cheeks, homemade quince aioli and sourdough. ‘Gourmet salad’ is a sizable medley of cured ham, artichokes, tomato compote and variety of salad leaves. Other dishes on the opening menu include:
-Langoustine bisque with Jerusalem artichokes
-Roast wood pigeon, salt baked celeriac and pan-fried foie gras
-Galloway onglet, béarnaise, homemade chips and mixed leaves
-Pan-fried wild Dorset Seabass, artichokes, fennel & black olive sauce
-Chocolate fondant, rum braised pineapple and vanilla ice cream
-Quince trifle with warm white chocolate
Starters are priced £6-£8.50, mains from £8-£17 and desserts approximately £5.50.
A two course set menu will be served on Sunday and Monday evenings (£15) while a ‘Bistro Special’ menu is also available priced at £35 for four courses, with matching wines for £28 per person. The 60 bin wine list has been carefully created to compliment the menu with a wide range of wines offered by the glass and carafe.
Fig Bistro is open for dinner, Monday-Sunday and Saturday and Sunday for brunch. The bistro is certainly a welcome addition to the area and to London as a whole, serving well-priced exceptional bistro fare with attentive yet informal service in homely surroundings.