British, Modern Restaurants in Oxford
1. Cherwell Boathouse
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
Bardwell Road - OX2
“Such a nice location, and the food is good… for Oxford”: this “beautiful and calm”, “old favourite” – “splendidly situated” on the river – is “especially lovely in good weather, when you can dine outside and gaze at each other, as well as at the assorted waterfowl that glide serenely past”. Its top culinary feature is its “exceptional wine list, with a very good range from acceptably cheap to ridiculously expensive”.
2. The Vaults And Garden Cafe
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Radcliffe Sq - OX1
In the University’s Old Congregation House, this “beautiful medieval room, brimming with students, churchy types and visitors”, offers a “uniquely Oxford experience”. A “very informal self-service” set-up, it revolves around “ample well-cooked dishesb using seasonal and organic ingredients”.
3. The Oxford Kitchen
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
215 Banbury Rd - OX2
“It’s nothing much to look at (from either the outside or the inside!) but the standard of cooking is remarkably good” (albeit somewhat “cheffy”) at this modern British venue on Summertown’s main drag. “There is no getting away from the fact that it is in a row of shops, with its ground floor windows onto the street” – “it’s better to sit upstairs in the front room, where the atmosphere is calmer and more relaxing”.
4. The Old Parsonage
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
1 Banbury Rd - OX2
2014 Review: “The food can be very good, although never exciting, but the room is lovely…”; this old stone building (plus gorgeous courtyard) houses a “very pleasant hotel and tea room” and is just the job for a “great Sunday brunch”, a “good-value lunch”, or “very civilised afternoon tea”.
5. The Fishes
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
North Hinksey Village - OX2
2017 Review: “Well-sourced, thoughtful cooking, careful service and a great choice of puds” are three reasons why “you always leave The Fishes feeling cheerful” – others being the attractive waterside setting and pleasant garden.
6. The Black Boy
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
91 Old High St - OX3
2014 Review: In Headington, a “contemporary dining pub”, which attracts consistent praise for its “reliable” and “good-quality” cooking.
7. The Punter
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
7 South St - OX2
2016 Review: An Osney Island pub with a “great” riverside location; the European/North African food is a little “variable” at times, but generally attracts positive reports (if not quite as many as we’d like).
8. The Folly
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
1 Folly Bridge - OX1
2016 Review: A “beautifully located” spot by the eponymous bridge “looking out at boaters on the river” whose food, while sometimes “very good”, tends to play second fiddle to the setting.
9. Gee’s
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
61 Banbury Rd - OX2
This “very busy” long-established Victorian glasshouse in north Oxford makes “an exceptional venue for a meal” and, as ever, there’s a strong theme in feedback: it’s “a lovely environment but overpriced for what it is”, with food that’s “OK” (but “surely they could do better”) and service that’s “always friendly” but “occasionally slow”.
10. Ashmolean Dining Room
British, Modern restaurant in Oxford
Beaumont St - OX1
“Sitting out in the centre of Oxford looking into the attic rooms of the Randolph and the rooftops of colleges” provides “a lovely setting for a sunny day” at this museum café. Mostly there’s praise for the “tasty and well-priced” cooking, although it’s pretty “unadventurous”, but “tea is quite a bargain with good scones, sarnies and cakes”, and you can stay entertained “watching the procession of tourists coming outside for selfies”.
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