Oxford has no shortage of places to eat, from quick student bites to more polished affairs. These are snapshots from our recent visits — from French bistro to tapas, from the ever-familiar Ivy to the underwhelming Thai spot that locals seem to love.
Do not forget to give the pig a clap before leaving, for luck.
One of the more popular restaurants in Oxford, although technically just outside in Summertown. We had some hope, but perhaps it is unfair to expect more in what is essentially a student city.
It is tucked away on a small street off the main road. In summer, the area feels calmer than the city centre, with a few other restaurants worth trying. It is a short taxi ride and worth it for the change of pace.
Pompette was a mix of highlights and disappointments. We had hoped for more traditional French starters, but our eyes were on the Côte de Bœuf and the cheese service afterwards.
The menu stated medium rare, which was fine by us. But for some French chefs, the beef is ready as long as it is no longer running away from the pan. So in came the meat — amazing quality but far too rare for us. There was a lot of it, so we ate from the ends.
When they asked about the meal, we mentioned it. They agreed and offered to put it under the grill, but there is no cut of meat that benefits from a post-cook trip under a salamander.
On the bright side, the Béarnaise sauce had that lovely vinegar sting and balance. The Beurre au Pompette was an absolute delight. They also served real bread with salted butter — no sourdough in sight. We ended with three excellent cheeses.
As we said at the start, mostly good, but it lacked that something. We will give it another go next time we are in Oxford. We left “un petite pompette” and happy enough, but it did not have that French bistro soul you find at places like Silberbauers in Copenhagen or Josephine in London.
Pompette
Summertown, Oxford
A new tapas restaurant in Summertown, opened in March this year. The menu looked tempting, so we booked.
Five months in, the teething problems should be over. They were not. The restaurant is big, and dishes arrive in whatever order the kitchen feels like, which is fine, except it means servers are constantly running single plates to different tables.
The service bell kept ringing. The front of house clearly could not keep up.
At one point, I almost wanted to walk into the kitchen and tell them to slow down. All drinks go through the central bar, where the bartender crouched down three times to check his pour. On a packed Friday night, that is not a winning strategy.
The pacing was bizarre, slow at first, then suddenly everything landed at once. The bell race was on.
The acoustics do not help. We had a table next to the kitchen corridor, and while there are sound-dampening panels on the ceiling and under tables, they did nothing against a group of eight girls in their twenties setting fire to their parents’ credit cards.
It was a “VIP” table, roped off on a small platform, and their shouting dominated the room. The couple next to us looked miserable. Why the manager did not ask them to turn it down a notch is beyond me. Imagine saving up for a special night and getting that.
From the kitchen, someone was loudly sorting cutlery into bins — the whole dining room could hear.
The cheese plate came straight from the fridge, never a good idea. Serve it properly or take it off the menu.
Service was fine — a little cheeky, but pleasant enough.
Oxtwo
Summertown, Oxford
Good food? Maybe. Beware of an allergy reaction.
The moment you walk in, there is a heavy scent, like grandmother overdosing on perfume. Perhaps that is why it is popular, a familiar scent?
The margarita pizzetta was tasty. A bit oily and a little doughy, but enjoyable. The tempura starter tasted like it came from a freezer bag at Costco (never been, so that is just my imagination).
It seems to be popular for birthdays and celebrations. Probably best to go just for drinks and enjoy them on the terrace. The highlight was the Kiss & Candy cocktail — the candy floss was probably the best my wife has ever had.
Victors
Westgate, Oxford
The same Ivy as in London (two locations there), with the original opening in the East End back in 1917. We chose it out of convenience despite mixed reviews , it is close to the Old Bank Hotel.
It was a good lunch. The chicken Milanese was perfectly cooked, and the truffle sauce paired well. The Thai duck salad was also spot on, with crisp, well-flavoured duck.
Service was excellent. The only downside was the heat — the air circulation was poor. Better food than Quod, but worse air.
The Ivy Oxford
High Street, Oxford
Located in the Old Bank Hotel where we stayed, the breakfast, lunch, and dinner are standard hotel food. Nothing bad, nothing thrilling — just solid. The burger was nice. The white and brown crab meat with fennel was fresh and perfect when I needed something lighter after the visit to Mai Chai.
One thing: the bottled Blenheim water, which is nice instead of tap water, is served warm. Why not chill it? Staff were friendly but clearly stretched thin. The courtyard is the restaurant’s saving grace, making up for the otherwise dull standard hotel menu.
Quod
High Street, Oxford
Plenty of locals when we arrived, usually a good sign. We sat on the second floor, and it was not a big dining room. Cosy and with charm, so it looked promising. Unfortunately, it was just like a Thai restaurant back home. We had hoped for more.
But their water carafe was in better shape than at The Hand & Flowers, so in that department they beat a two-Michelin-star restaurant.
Chiang Mai Kitchen
High Street, Oxford
Yes, we know, this is not in Oxford but in Bicester Village, about 20 minutes by car from the city, an outlet shopping area with plenty of big-name brands.
We went for some bargains. And if you need to fill up the energy when there, we recommend you do that at La Tua Pasta.
The service was good, and my wife told me it was one of the best pasta dishes she had in a long time.
I just went for some zucchini fritters and they were nice too.
La Tua Pasta
Bicester Village, Bicester
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