Latest reviews for Food & Drink in Oxford, United Kingdom

Somerfield - Useful if the Co-op doesn't do it. by oxfordian1

oxfordian1 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:49:33 +0000

Review by oxfordian1

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01865 768210

Website: http://www.somerfield.co.uk

Tags: bargain, delicatessen, healthy food

What is there to say other than its another supermarket, in Headington. I used to Somerfield it regularly. Now I go there if the Co-op doesn't have it, but normally I am feverishly building my Co-op dividend, like the shameless penny pincher I am.

If you go in at the very end of the day the yellow labels on some of the bakery products come down pretty low.

Somerfield is sometimes useful on Sundays when it is open from 11 til 5 whilst the Co-op does 10 til 4. Somerfield has got a car-park but unlike the Co-op, you have to pay and display at this one.

It doesn't stock anything unusual. It has one of those 'deli' counters which doesn't seem to do anything remotely unusual except, randomly, a cooked chicken counter. I tend not to use this counter because I was once given a large lump of brie instead of the cambozola I asked for. Unfortunately I didn't check and was at someone's house for dinner before I noticed. I thought the deli staff might have known the difference. That was over a year ago so maybe they have had 'cheese spotter' training since then.

Occasionally it will have a good special offer on, like half price pizza, so its worth keeping an eye on. However its also worth keeping an eye on your til receipt to make sure that these actually come through into your final bill because they sometimes don't.
What is there to say other than its another supermarket, in Headington. I used to Somerfield it regularly. Now I go there if the Co-op doesn't have it, but normally I am feverishly building my Co-op dividend, like the shameless penny pincher I am.

If you go in at the very end of the day the yellow labels on some of the bakery products come down pretty low.

Somerfield is sometimes useful on Sundays when it is open from 11 til 5 whilst the Co-op does 10 til 4. Somerfield has got a car-park but unlike the Co-op, you have to pay and display at this one.

It doesn't stock anything unusual. It has one of those 'deli' counters which doesn't seem to do anything remotely unusual except, randomly, a cooked chicken counter. I tend not to use this counter because I was once given a large lump of brie instead of the cambozola I asked for. Unfortunately I didn't check and was at someone's house for dinner before I noticed. I thought the deli staff might have known the difference. That was over a year ago so maybe they have had 'cheese spotter' training since then.

Occasionally it will have a good special offer on, like half price pizza, so its worth keeping an eye on. However its also worth keeping an eye on your til receipt to make sure that these actually come through into your final bill because they sometimes don't.

Co-op Supermarket - Smart, Friendly, Handyshop, good range. by oxfordian1

oxfordian1 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:57:52 +0000

Review by oxfordian1

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01865 761800

Website: http://www.co-op.co.uk

Tags: delicatessen, bargain, helpful staff

This is a top notch co-op. Very bright and smart inside. A large range of things from fresh food to electrical goods to shaving foam to newspapers. Very popular with locals and it offers the excellent Co-op dividend scheme too. Seems to have some good special offers on all the time.

Big fair trade range, lots of organic stuff and parking and bike racks too. It is irritating that the disabled and family bays are aparently never policed so they tend to be used by the inconsiderate and rude rather than families and disabled, but you can't have everything. The staff are always very pleasant and friendly, which must say something about the co-op as a place to work as well.This is a top notch co-op. Very bright and smart inside. A large range of things from fresh food to electrical goods to shaving foam to newspapers. Very popular with locals and it offers the excellent Co-op dividend scheme too. Seems to have some good special offers on all the time.

Big fair trade range, lots of organic stuff and parking and bike racks too. It is irritating that the disabled and family bays are aparently never policed so they tend to be used by the inconsiderate and rude rather than families and disabled, but you can't have everything. The staff are always very pleasant and friendly, which must say something about the co-op as a place to work as well.

Boost Juice Bar - Definately a boost by faders321

faders321 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:14:35 +0000

Review by faders321

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01865 202572

Website: http://www.boostjuicebars.com

Tags: accessories, casual, formal

I love smoothies and often buy them in Supermarkets so when I saw this Boost Smoothie bar I went in to treat myself. They have a nice range of smoothies which are freshly made and taste amazing. I have found that in this branch in particular the staff are very friendly and always happy to help with whatever problem it is that you might have, the best thing about the smoothies from here is that they are totally natural so you know that youâ¬"re not filling your body with junk and only drinking healthy stuff. They really do give both your mind and your body a boost. I think that this is the best smoothie bar in the area and the drinks taste amazing! Recommended to anybody who likes a tasty drink and fruit.
I love smoothies and often buy them in Supermarkets so when I saw this Boost Smoothie bar I went in to treat myself. They have a nice range of smoothies which are freshly made and taste amazing. I have found that in this branch in particular the staff are very friendly and always happy to help with whatever problem it is that you might have, the best thing about the smoothies from here is that they are totally natural so you know that youâ¬"re not filling your body with junk and only drinking healthy stuff. They really do give both your mind and your body a boost. I think that this is the best smoothie bar in the area and the drinks taste amazing! Recommended to anybody who likes a tasty drink and fruit.

Tesco - Shopping Right Can Save You Money by Iss

Iss — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:22:42 +0000

Review by Iss

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01865 447600

Website: http://www.tesco.com

Tags: delivery service, newspapers / magazines, mobile top-up cards

I think it will only be a short time before we will be able to buy a family car or even a house with our weekly shopping from Tesco because at the moment they seem to sell absolutely everything else.
The products are good and if you go to the larger stores like the Tesco Extras then the ranges the have are much wider. I know there are many surveys that say that the likes of Aldi or Lidl are cheaper and to some extent they are right, but it depends on what items you buy from Tescos and in my experience if you shop right, Tescos can be cheaper than the other two.
To shop right I suppose you need to understand how supermarkets operate. Their profitable products are set at eye level so most people will grab those products. You also have the so called â¬Sbargainsâ¬ on the ends of the aisles to catch people as they slow down to go round the corner. But is you look around eleswhere down th aisles you may find a better bargain.
Take time to look around and you may suddenly find the cheaper items on the bottom shelf out of the eye line which many people miss. Select those and you save money. Also donâ¬"t ignore their value ranges either because some of those items are exceptional value.
I think it will only be a short time before we will be able to buy a family car or even a house with our weekly shopping from Tesco because at the moment they seem to sell absolutely everything else.
The products are good and if you go to the larger stores like the Tesco Extras then the ranges the have are much wider. I know there are many surveys that say that the likes of Aldi or Lidl are cheaper and to some extent they are right, but it depends on what items you buy from Tescos and in my experience if you shop right, Tescos can be cheaper than the other two.
To shop right I suppose you need to understand how supermarkets operate. Their profitable products are set at eye level so most people will grab those products. You also have the so called â¬Sbargainsâ¬ on the ends of the aisles to catch people as they slow down to go round the corner. But is you look around eleswhere down the aisles you may find a better bargain.
Take time to look around and you may suddenly find the cheaper items on the bottom shelf out of the eye line which many people miss. Select those and you save money. Also donâ¬"t ignore their value ranges either because some of those items are exceptional value.

Co-op Swift Shop - "You were served by Albus Dumbledore" by Oaktree

Oaktree — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:43:49 +0000

Review by Oaktree

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01865 559029

Website: http://www.co-op.co.uk

Tags: fresh fruits & vegetables, cigarettes, mobile top-up cards

This Co-op swift shop does what it says on the tin Basically a convenience store open at convenient times, to serve the people of Jericho. And somewhere you can nip out to when you realise that the Jericho restaurant you've gone to is actually 'bring your own'.

I have two main memories of shopping here. One is of the competent way the staff dealt with an abusive customer. Well, not a customer, just someone who came in and shouted incoherently.

The other is of a friend receiving a receipt from one of the self-service tills. Usually they say "You were served by U-scan 1234" or something like that. But on this wonderful occasion, his receipt bore the legend "you were served by Albus Dumbledore". Magic!This Co-op swift shop does what it says on the tin Basically a convenience store open at convenient times, to serve the people of Jericho. And somewhere you can nip out to when you realise that the Jericho restaurant you've gone to is actually 'bring your own'.

I have two main memories of shopping here. One is of the competent way the staff dealt with an abusive customer. Well, not a customer, just someone who came in and shouted incoherently.

The other is of a friend receiving a receipt from one of the self-service tills. Usually they say "You were served by U-scan 1234" or something like that. But on this wonderful occasion, his receipt bore the legend "you were served by Albus Dumbledore". Magic!

Sainsbury's - Rammed during term time by Oaktree

Oaktree — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:40:19 +0000

Review by Oaktree

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01865 722179

Website: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk

Tags: bakery, newspapers / magazines, frozen foods

You have to be very careful about timing your visit to this branch of Sainsbury's. Set in the Westgate Centre in the heart of Oxford, it's absolutely rammed during term time - though to be fair they usually have the staff on hand to keep your queueing down to under 10 minutes.

It does have the advantage of having the massive Westgate Centre car park literally on its doorstep, but unless I lived in the town centre, or was going to shop in town for something else I wouldn't take a special trip to this particular branch, as there are larger Sainsburys supermarkets on the ringroad and on the way to Kidlington.

Having said that, it was my 'local' supermarket for a year, and a very good one too.You have to be very careful about timing your visit to this branch of Sainsbury's. Set in the Westgate Centre in the heart of Oxford, it's absolutely rammed during term time - though to be fair they usually have the staff on hand to keep your queueing down to under 10 minutes.

It does have the advantage of having the massive Westgate Centre car park literally on its doorstep, but unless I lived in the town centre, or was going to shop in town for something else I wouldn't take a special trip to this particular branch, as there are larger Sainsburys supermarkets on the ringroad and on the way to Kidlington.

Having said that, it was my 'local' supermarket for a year, and a very good one too.

Somerfield - Rebranded to do "nice" fresh food by Oaktree

Oaktree — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:32:34 +0000

Review by Oaktree

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01865 552610

Website: http://www.somerfield.co.uk

Tags: delivery service, mobile top-up cards, frozen foods

After a few years as a bog-standard Somerfield, this shop was rebranded with black marble effect all over the place, presumably to give the place an greater air of class in the light of the large M&S food hall that opened up practically opposite!

It's repositioned itself with prominent displays of fresh fruit and vegetables and an altogether less sticky-floored shopping experience than was previously the case.

I haven't shopped much there since it rebranded (due to moving) but did enjoy the new potatoes I bought from Somerfield a couple of months ago while passing through Summertown. Parking is limited (especially with the current roadworks situation) but there's a decent cycle rack outside the store.After a few years as a bog-standard Somerfield, this shop was rebranded with black marble effect all over the place, presumably to give the place an greater air of class in the light of the large M&S food hall that opened up practically opposite!

It's repositioned itself with prominent displays of fresh fruit and vegetables and an altogether less sticky-floored shopping experience than was previously the case.

I haven't shopped much there since it rebranded (due to moving) but did enjoy the new potatoes I bought from Somerfield a couple of months ago while passing through Summertown. Parking is limited (especially with the current roadworks situation) but there's a decent cycle rack outside the store.

Iceland.co.uk - Pick up some special offers by Oaktree

Oaktree — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:23:48 +0000

Review by Oaktree

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01865 762134

Website: http://www.iceland.co.uk

Tags: delivery service, frozen foods, deli counter

I have to admit that I don't shop in Iceland much - how often do you need to completely restock your freezer?! When I do shop there, it's for the special offers, prominently displayed in the front window.

They often have 99p deals on, or deals where you buy a whole load of specified frozen food for a specified knockdown price. OK, so you get a few items you may not have bought otherwise, but it's nice to try some variety.

On a slightly darker note, I fear I may have become addicted to their amazing rocket lollies. :-)I have to admit that I don't shop in Iceland much - how often do you need to completely restock your freezer?! When I do shop there, it's for the special offers, prominently displayed in the front window.

They often have 99p deals on, or deals where you buy a whole load of specified frozen food for a specified knockdown price. OK, so you get a few items you may not have bought otherwise, but it's nice to try some variety.

On a slightly darker note, I fear I may have become addicted to their amazing rocket lollies. :-)

Millie's Cookies - Not as good as Ben's but more for the money! by drjohnson

drjohnson — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:43:30 +0000

Review by drjohnson

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01865 721167

Website: http://www.milliescookies.com

Tags: sandwiches, savoury - pies, hot food

This is part of a chain, they offer special deals if you buy more than three and offer a very wide selection of different flavours. Baking is on all day long so you are likely to get them hot but if you donâ¬"t they can be a bit disappointing but they stay nevertheless chewy and soft. They resemble the main supermarketâ¬"s own fresh cookies quite a lot in terms of taste, structure, texture and size but are available in plenty more flavours. Queues can get rather big but ideally located so when the man or woman in your life is in Primark you can wait to get your treat. They are not as good as ben's though!This is part of a chain, they offer special deals if you buy more than three and offer a very wide selection of different flavours. Baking is on all day long so you are likely to get them hot but if you donâ¬"t they can be a bit disappointing but they stay nevertheless chewy and soft. They resemble the main supermarketâ¬"s own fresh cookies quite a lot in terms of taste, structure, texture and size but are available in plenty more flavours. Queues can get rather big but ideally located so when the man or woman in your life is in Primark you can wait to get your treat. They are not as good as ben's though!