• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Oxford OX4 4EL

oxfordian1 said
The Isis Tavern
I give this a very hesitant 4 stars. The location is great on a sunny day, when you can sit by the river and watch the rowers toil whilst you sip a drink. The garden is large enough to lost several boisterous children. If you are just drinking and its not too busy, you could have a perfect afternoon here. However this pub seems to be haunted by the ghost of service past. Fo as long as I can remember it has been run in mysterious ways.

In its latest incarnation food choice is limited - the veggies with us only had one option, and for a place where you would expect a high proportion of veggies to go, that seemed poor. The rataouille really was lovely, but if you didn't like ratatouille, well it was beans on toast for lunch! We were also told at 12.10 that the kitchen didn't serve food until 12.30, which for a weekend seemed a little odd. I hope this was a one off.

The tea and cakes are always excellent - I think it is now run by the people who ran the little boathouse cafe just down the tow path, and they were always great there too.

All in all I would recommend it and take people back there for the fantastic location, but I really hope the current incumbents are the ones ot finally exorcise the ghost of strange management and make this the great pub it should be.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Oxford OX4 1HP
01865 200777

oxfordian1 said
Tick Tock Cafe
I was delighted to stumble across the tick tock cafe. We just wandered in one day looking for a quick lunch, and lucked out. Although its small, there is normally a table, especially out of term time. They sell nice enough snacks, and huge portions of chips, which delighted my son. Coffee was nice enough and the rest of the food was standard cafe fare - all reasonable value, especially the breakfasts which were sizeable. Staff were friendly and the atmosphere is good. A huge array of clocks adorns the walls for no apparent reason - perhaps they had nowhere else to store them. Anyway my son tries to lead us there as often as possible now. All in all an excellent place for a post hangover fry up.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Oxford OX3 7SP
01865 744332

oxfordian1 said

Cafe Bonjour in Headington is my favourite Headington Coffee shop. Okay, so there are not too many to choose from, but this one does lovely strong coffee, lots of nice cakes, biscuits, baklava etc, lovely looking salads, and just feels really cosy. What I like best about it though is the staff, who are always friendly, even when my little angels are less than perfectly behaved. Its a popular place with all sorts of people, and they don't seem to mind when furniture is pulled all around in the back room, to fit whichever type of group has come in. Another great place to sit and watch the world go by, and the staff are quite content to let you do that if they don't have people hovering for tables. Breakfasts are good, but I generally go for the coffee and cakes.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Oxford OX4 1HP
01865 200232

oxfordian1 said
Cafe Coco
Cafe Coco does not seem to have changed in 10 years at least - probably longer, and frankly, it shouldn't. It has always had a great atmosphere - buzzy at night, laid back in the day. It has always served tasty mediterranean food, at good prices. Mainly pizza with some nice salads from time to time. Deserts can be very good. And the wine is not too pricey and not too bad. In the day its a great place to sit, drink coffee and watch the world go by. In addition I don't recall ever seeing a grumpy member of staff in there. If you are in St Clements and have time or hunger, it won't let you down.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Restaurants

Oxford OX4 1UH
01865 794945

oxfordian1 said
Aziz
Aziz is Oxford's most consistent Bangladeshi/Indian restaurant. It has been going for ages and although it fluctuates, this is between good and superb. The staff have always been friendly and efficient. And although it costs a little bit more, its not much more, and it is always nicely decorated and feels just that little bit more classy.
The menu doesn't change too often but it doesn't need to - there are lots of dishes and they are all pretty good. I prefer the fish curries personally, but the vegitarian range is also excellent and wide ranging. Mr Aziz (I think that is his name) is always friendly and seems to do lots of charidee stuff too, which I think is nice - he doesn't need to because people will always come here for the food alone!