Jaspers Coffee & Juice Bar

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

This little café tucked away on Grove Street is something of a diamond in the rough. Where other juice-bar-cafés go for décor schemes full of bold colour, Jaspers seems more softly spoken and home-spun. The approach is exemplified by their menu, a long list spread across several blackboards, paper sheets and laminated cards. They're a sign of a wide choice and regularly changing items but also the enthusiasm for honest good food that makes this place tick. Alongside panini, baked potatoes, sandwiches and cakes, there are winter warmers such as hot fruity juices or, when the sun begins to shine, iced lattes and thick shakes. A warming bowl of porridge is a healthy start to the morning, while the usual breakfast options – rolls, omelettes and cooked breakfasts – are there in abundance. Every day a different hot dish is available, perhaps a chicken and caramelised onion pastry with potatoes and vegetables. But what really puts the shine on this little gem is the huge variety of juices and smoothies, some of which almost constitute your five-a-day in one go. Try 'berry heaven', with strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blueberries and orange, for a sweet and refreshing flavour. Or how about the 'citrus blast', with orange, grapefruit and lemon, for a little more of a tangy taste. Jaspers might be easy to miss, but it's well worth seeking out.

• High point: Great menu with plenty of choice
• Low point: Not the glitziest looking place