Janie Jones brings touch of Brit-culture to Gerrard strip

Photo: Dean Seguin

Janie Jones, a collage of Brit-influenced food, culture and music, is now open on Gerrard St. E in the former space of Manzen Sushi.

Chef Davy Love, the former head behind The Old Laurel and The Bristol Yard, has launched his latest place for "booze and brunch, caff and cocktails," as he puts it.

The decor and menu is heavily influenced by '60s and '70s mod, rudeboy and British punk rock. A baby blue 1959 Vespa VBB hangs from the ceiling, headlight on, while a classic black-and-white print of The Specials looms over the front of the bar. 

Open for breakfast and dinner, plus late-night shenanigans, the menu showcases heavily on British comfort fare with the signature spin Love has become known for in his creations.

Expect a range of eye-opener plates that range from mushrooms on toast to The Full Monty, Love's award-winning full English breakfast. All breakfasts come with tea or coffee included, or you can kick things up a notch with an impressive 1.5 oz brunch cocktail list to indulge in.

On the dinner side, the menu runs through all of the proper English and Scottish pub favourites including pies, curries and sandwiches. Janie Jones is also serving a full-on traditional Sunday roast dinner featuring roast beef, roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips, roast Brussels sprouts, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It's topped off with sticky toffee pudding, all for $20. 

The bar has an imaginative cocktail menu, including a build-your-own lineup of fine gin and alternative tonics. Bottles and cans of local and imported beers are also in order, and the bar will have its very own custom cider, Janie Jones' Two Stroke Scrumpy, a cask scrumpy cider with a touch of black currant made by Avenue Cider. 

Janie Jones is a reference to the '60s English singer who became renowned for holding sex parties, and who The Clash immortalized in one of their first ever songs of the same name, Janie Jones.

Janie Jones will be open for brunch Sunday Sept. 25, followed by Sunday roast dinner later that same day. They'll be open again for regular dinner service on Wednesday Sept. 28.

Janie Jones is located at 1030 Gerrard St. E.