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 ?

[hopkinette]

Mondrian The bathtub is still there! Clint did open another branch of Coco's in the space under the Royal Oxford Hotel (where Smollensky's was - close to the station) but it didn't last long. Nothing ever lasts long in that site, it seems to be doomed, but there's a new Korean place that's just there opened so it'll be interesting to see if they can make a go of it.

OP if you're still looking for somewhere to eat, I really love Door 74 on the Cowley Road. It's tiny and quite casual. I love their food. Alternatively, if you want to stay closer to the city centre, I'd recommend Turl Street Kitchen. They get very very busy so the service can be a little bit slow, but I like the staff and the food has always been insanely delicious (the menu is very small and changes daily - always lots of seasonal produce, and they do a lot of slow-cooked stuff. I had slow-cooked lamb there last week and it was SO GOOD) so if you're not in a tearing hurry it's a very good option in my opinion. If you like Chinese food, do try Sojo,
I've always had good experiences there.

[GingerPCatt]

Pierre's is awesome and they do a good pre theatre menu. If you want a takeaway, il principe on cowley does the best pizza I've had outside of Italy. There are loads of restaurants on cowley. I've heard magdalen arms (pub on iffley) is good but it look ver ver posh so never tried it. Fishers is good for seafood and moya across the road is good Eastern European food.

[Mondrian]

If you have a car to get around Blenheim palace might be fun and they usually have some summer events, my DCs loved "Crocodiles of the world" which apparently is the only crocodile zoo in uk or at least was a couple of years ago when we visited.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Climb one of the church towers - you can look out over everything? Not necessarily a must-do but nice IMO.

If it were me I'd do the deer park at Magdalen(e? I really have no clue) rather than Botanic gardens.

This thread is making me hungry.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

"e" for Cambridge, no "e" for Oxford, LRD...

Yes, the Botanic Gardens aren't that big really.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

There is no way I am going to remember that, but thank you!

[Mondrian]

Vaults & Garden is a nice lunch venue on a sunny summer's day.

Thanks everyone (particularly OP) for a trip down memory lane.

[rootypig]

oh yes Turl Street Kitchen! can't believe I didn't think of it - ate there last time I was up, a few months ago. it is lovely atmosphere and good food with, irc, an ethical slant (local produce). A bit homely in the sense that 1. service is madly slow and the staff seem to think you're nutty if you have somewhere to be afterwards so bear in mind if you have a babysitter - we booked a table for 8pm and (including not being sat down til 8.30) struggled to leave by 11 and 2. they didn't know how to make a martini! (they do advertise cocktails) 3. our waiter seemed to think we were interested in his life story

but then maybe I am being all twatty and London about it. It's a local place, the food was good, the room is lovely and it's in the middle of town. You would defo need a reservation.

[Oxpops]

Mondrian" I even remember eating banana splits at Wimpy and later took my first job there, only lasted 2 nights before I started working at Maxwells."

I used to love Maxwells. A friend and I used to pop in for the delicious Pecan pie whilst at uni.

[Oxpops]

"any other Oxford kid must dos?"

There's the Story Museum nr Pembroke-not been there though.

Museum of Modern Art has a very child friendly cafe

Museum of Oxford usually has kid friendly activities going on

Woodstock Museum also good

My dd loved the Open top bus and we could get on and off and visit other places in Oxford

Mr Simms sweet Shop is obviously kid heaven though not exclusive to Oxford

[joanofarchitrave]

for kids - have a look at the story museum

DONT FORGET THE PITT RIVERS IS SHUT TIL 12

leaflet for activities across oxford museums

[Mondrian]

Oxpops My fav was the lemon cheesecake at Taylor's. Along with the rasberry cheesecake at Harveyniks they were the best - light & fluffy not sure why but they both stopped doing it sometime in the 90's.

[CrowmarshGibbon]

Hi all
This has been a fascinating thread for me to read as the Local Editor for Oxford - what are my chances of persuading you all to pop over to MN Oxford's Restaurants, Cafe or Pubs & Bars listings to post listings and reviews for these venues?

It would be so helpful for people needing the same information as the OP in the future.

[CrowmarshGibbon]

Oh - and here's some Family Friendly stuff that's on at the moment!

[XBenedict]

Wow what a fantastic response thank you all so much

[Mondrian]

Crow - didn't even know that section existed, will definitely start to post reviews upon each visit from here onwards.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

I think you hit a rich vein of nostalgia OP!

[OliviaMMumsnet]

And we will move this thread to MN Oxford, too because it would be a terrible shame to lose this thread as it was started in Chat.

[CrowmarshGibbon]

Thanks Olivia!

There are less family friendly areas - ie: The going out section

Want to add a few nightclubs Olivia? ;)