Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Church Rd., Great Milton.
&
800/237-1236
in the U.S., or 01844/278881. Fax 01844/278847. www.
manoir.com. Reservations required. Main courses £41 lunch or dinner; lunch
menu du jour
£63; 5-course
lunch or dinner £110; dinner or Sat-Sun lunch
menu découverte
£135. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon-2:30pm
and 7-10pm. Take exit 7 off M40 and head along the A329 toward Wallingford; after about 1 mile, look
for signs for Great American Milton Manor.
EXPENSIVE
Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant
FRENCH/CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH
This Oxford landmark on the River Cherwell has an intriguing menu that changes every
2 weeks, to take advantage of the freshest vegetables, fish, and meat. The success of
the main dishes is founded on savory treats such as pork belly with a foie gras terrine,
crispy pork cutlets with a Provençal sauce, and confit of duck in a port sauce. Save
room for the traditional English puddings, which are justly celebrated.
Bardwell Rd.
&
01865/552746.
www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk. Reservations recommended. Main
courses £15-£22; fixed-price dinner from £21; Mon-Fri set lunch £19. AE, MC, V. Daily noon-2:30pm and
6-9:30pm. Closed Dec 24-30. Bus: Banbury Rd.
Fishers
SEAFOOD Oxford's best seafood restaurant. Predictably, the interior is
decorated with a nautical theme, with porthole windows and red sails fluttering in the
breeze. The fish always tastes remarkably fresh, and the long list of starters includes
everything from beer-battered tiger prawns to deep-fried whitebait. Irish rock oysters
are served over crushed ice, and you can also order sensational hot and cold shellfish
platters. Canadian lobster is flown in, but the traditional favorite of students is had-
dock and chips. Black mussels from the Scottish Highlands, succulent turbot from
Wales, and red mullet caught by Cornish fishermen round out the menu. The light
set lunch is a bargain at just £5.
36-37 St. Clement's St.
&
01865/242003.
www.fishers-restaurant.com. Reservations required. Main
courses £9.95-£23; light set lunch £5 (2 courses). MC, V. Mon-Sat noon-2:30pm and 6-10:30pm; Sun
12:30-3pm and 6-10pm.
MODERATE
Brasserie Blanc
BRASSERIE Master restaurateur Raymond Blanc took a for-
mer piano shop and converted it into this stylish eatery. The menu is a tribute to the
food his mother once cooked him in Besançon, France. The informal brasserie, with its
striking modern interior, offers a taste of this famous chef 's creations without the high
prices of the swanky Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons (see above). Options are more
straightforward here, featuring highly praised dishes such as slow-cooked beef and
onions with a parsnip purée or gnocchi with braised chestnuts and Roquefort sauce.
71-72 Walton St.
&
01865/510999.
www.brasserieblanc.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses
£8.25-£16. AE, MC, V. Mon-Fri noon-2:45pm and 5:30-10pm; Sat noon-10:30pm; Sun noon-9pm.
Gee's Restaurant
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH This restaurant, in a spa-
cious Victorian glass conservatory dating from 1898, was converted from what was once
the leading florist of Oxford. Its original features were retained by the owners, who have
turned it into one of the most nostalgic and delightful establishments in the city. Clas-
sic English dishes are likely to include confit of pig cheeks with dandelion, exquisite
pheasant and ham terrine, and roast partridge with bread sauce and game chips. Finish
with a British classic: steamed treacle (sugar syrup) sponge pudding. It's worth staying
for the live jazz every Sunday evening (8-9:45pm), even if you're just having drinks.
61 Banbury Rd.
&
01865/553540.
www.gees-restaurant.co.uk. Reservations recommended. Main courses
£14-£23; fixed-price 2-course menu £24, fixed-price 3-course menu £27; set lunch and pre-theatre menu
£14-£17. AE, MC, V. Mon-Sat noon-2:30pm, Sun noon-3:30pm; daily 6-10:30pm. Bus: Banbury Rd.
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