Planet Organic - Islington

Exceptional Service with Knowledgeable, Friendly Staff

It was with a dollop of hesitant intrigue, laced with the merest sprinkle of commitment, that I found myself at the doors of Planet Organic—Islington's beacon for those enamoured by avocado zeal and kale fanaticism. Inside, the air was thick with an ostensibly organic ambiance, albeit trimmed to fit its smaller footprint compared to sibling incarnations across the city. One can't fail to notice the friendly banter amongst staff and clientele alike: it's essentially Whole Foods but minus the snobbishness, and with an eco-warrior twist. However, one bemusing caveat—leave your fashionable poodle pal at home; this eco-friendly Eden reserves its crumbs strictly for bipedal visitors.

The produce is undeniably grand, if you're prepared to relinquish a chunk of your conscience-caressing wallet. Search as I did, fresh strawberries were a lottery while organic bread seemed to flirt quite openly with expiration in no time at all. There exists, however, an admirable breadth to the selections available—think gluten, dairy-free, and vegan, each having their ceremonial quarters. Equally, there's the occasional matcha that apparently might just redefine what matcha ought to be. Yet, despite some pockets of dinginess, a culinary interlude here is served with genuine smiles that manage to gloss over even the less stellar offerings. And for your phone charging emergencies, there's always that helpful Chilean chap on standby—a nice reminder that friendliness isn’t wholly extinct in London’s shop-floor savannah. — Penelope Savory