Can anyone recommend a nice place to eat out in Oxford?

[XBenedict]

We are meeting friends there in a few weeks time but neither party knows Oxford that well. Can anyone recommend somewhere ?

Haven't been to Oxford for a while but have a look at the restaurants in the castle quarter www.oxfordcastlequarter.com/

It's the prison grounds which have been converted into a Malmaison hotel, bars and restaurants. We generally head there to eat.

Any preferences on cuisine/price range/atmosphere? Does it need to be very central or would you happily walk for a bit?

Loads. Budget /preferences?

We're staying in the Randolph, I think that's fairly central isn't it? Healthy but not stupid budget, bistro type place not too stuffy, bit of atmosphere, would prefer non chainy type restaurants. Maybe French/British cuisine. We really enjoy the restaurants in places like Hotel Du Vin.

Pierre Victoire www.pierrevictoire.co.uk/
It's fabaroony. Well, it was when we were there a couple of years ago!

Ashmolean Restaurant (not the cafe!): just over the road from the Randolph and fab food and views. Good pub grub: Red lion in Gloucester Green , although a bit "after work". Cherwell boathouse always good and a quirky location. Gee's is nice too. None of these particularly cheap though.

Jamie's italian is pretty good, but they don't take bookings (or they didn't last time I was there)

George St has lots of chain places.

The restaurant above the ashmolean is very good, but can be quite pricey I think.

There are alot of nice cafe/restaurants in the covered market.

if its sunny skip dinner, go to G&Ds for a bagel & icecream and then go punting

I adore Gee's on Banbury Rd. The Old Parsonage is near the St. Giles end of the Banbury Rd. and is also nice.

In Jericho, there's a Loch Fyne and a Petit Blanc and a few less expensive independent restaurants.

In the centre there are the usual chains, including Jamie's Italian, Pizza Express etc.

Another vote for old parsonage.

If you like Chinese Sojo in Hythe Bridge St is fabulous.

I would second Pierre Victoire and Gee's. The Rickety Press also does seriously good gastropub type food.

Fabulous thank you for all these suggestions

Browns has always been an Oxford institution. The Talkhouse is also a favourite - that's if you fancy a gastropub with loads of atmosphere. Its a few miles out of Oxford city in Stanton St Johns but its definitely worth the trip.

DH is from Oxford & DMIL still lives there. We regularly go to the Tapas bar on Little Clarendon St. Just gorgeous. We never have Tapas anywhere else, unless we are in actual Spain.

Al Andalus I think.

I'd go for Browns. Was disappoined at Ashmolean last year. Gees is nice too but can be quite pricey.

Pierre Victoire is nice but noisy.

Loch Fyne in Oxford is revolting - seriously.

Branca (a bit further up Walton street) is quite nice, but both that and Loch Fyne are quite far out.

The Old Parsonage by St Giles' Church, and Gees further north, are both really lovely IMO.

The Tapas bar on Little Clarendon had mice a couple of years back, and I couldn't fancy it since.

Rickety Press used to be down the road from me and it is lovely - overly poncey for a pub IMO, but fun, and nice food.

I'd go for Gees, personally, like a shot.

From the Randolph I would go for Browns, followed by ice cream at G&D in Little Clarendon st. Or tapas.

The Magdalene Arms is meant to be very good too.

Btw, DH reckons I should qualify - Loch Fyne used to be good, and is now shit.

If you change your mind, Al Shami in the south end of Jericho is lovely, cheap Lebanese food, too.

Gees
Sojos
and I have always wanted to go to Edamame ('home cooked Japanese') but their opening hours are tricky
Chiang Mai is the well thought of Thai but the one time dh and I went there, we had to go for a meal afterwards - I prefer Bangkok House opposite.

The Jam Factory on Hollybush Row near the station is a personal favourite but is not particularly foodie - nice relaxed atmosphere and the service can be amiable rather than ruthlessly efficient IYSWIM.

Personally? I think Browns is terrible. Pick Gees, pick Gees.

What is Sojos like for kids?

Also years ago we used to go to this lovely Thai restaurant,huge room,very ornate.

Anybody know which it could be?

Any kid friendly restaurants?

You might be thinking of Paddyfields on Hythe Bridge?

Or possibly At Thai on the High Street.

blueskies that sounds like bangkok house - lots of carved wood?

Sojos wouldn't be the best for kids I think. I would choose either the Ashmolean, the Jam Factory or one of the chains.

Yes think so,had 2 parts to the dining room.Lots of carved wood,waitresses in costume?

Wanted to do Chinese with the kids.

Used to love Opium Den but it looks like it's ££££££ now.

So why is Sojos not good for kids?

Mind you that Jam Factory looks good.

CAn't believe nobody has mentioned brasserie blanc on Walton street. A bit pricey but great.

Or the tapas on little Clarendon. Either way loads of places for cocktails first in that area.