The Big Society

Cowley Road

Reviewed by Hannah Holt

I’m sure as students you’ll all come to have your favourite pub - the local that manages to churn out hearty grub when you need it most. For me it’s always been ‘Bic Soc.’.

Not only is the building itself lovely, and situated outside the town centre which gives you a reason to explore a little more of Oxford, but the garden area is adorably decorated. And with free table football, if you can manage to bag a slot, as well as the scrumptious food.

Burgers and ‘dogs a plenty, the mere smell of the food will make your stomach growl, though admittedly it’s the bacon man ‘n’ cheese that is my guilty pleasure.

Add all this to the fact that they serve up stacks of pancakes and waffles until the late hours, there isn’t much room for them to go wrong!!!

Food type - Burgers
Food/Drink quality -3/5
Dietary requirements - 2.5/5
Service - 4/5
Value - 4/5

Décor - 3.5/5

Find out more www.bigsocietyoxford.com

All Bar One

Oxford City Centre Reviewed by Hannah Holt More often than not I try to avoid chain restaurants. There’s just something about a family-run café on a corner that you don’t usually get with a business that has hundreds of outlets.

All Bar One, however, never fails to please. With tons of offers available throughout the day, from a cheaper lunch menu to discounted cocktails all evening, it’s a magnet for students looking for quality food at takeaway prices.

For those of you wanting something a little different and willing to spend a little bit more, there are plenty of customisable options to their larger, full price menu. Guacamole is a must with their burger selection.

They also proudly sport a wide variety of wine, to satisfy those more sophisticated evenings out, even if it is only one glass.

In a nutshell, All Bar One serves wonderful food, ranging across many cuisines, whilst offering up great promotional deals only a well-established chain could, and did I mention they serve breakfast too?

 

 

Food Type - International favourites
Food/Drink quality - 4.5/5
Dietary requirements - 3/5
Service - 4/5
Value - 3.5/5

Décor - 4/5

Find out morewww.allbarone.co.uk/all-bar-one-oxford

Turl Street Kitchen

Oxford City Centre

Reviewed by Hannah Holt

In the heart of Oxford’s centre is a little blue restaurant on a corner, the Turl Street Kitchen, located underneath the home of the Oxford Hub. The Hub is a student-run organisation centred around volunteering and campaigning, and the eatery below it is a magnet for students.

The rustic styled establishment doubles as a simple café during the few hours it isn’t serving glorious comfort food, meaning you can always grab a strong coffee to power through those never ending essays.

Like other restaurants in Oxford, it takes advantage of local suppliers, meaning that the menu changes daily so you get the chance to taste all that Oxford has to offer. One of my personal favourites is their vegetable and blue cheese bake, and if you get a chance the sticky toffee pudding too - perfection in a bowl.

With meals to make you feel like you’re right back at home for barely more than £10, their cheap treats are more than worth indulging in when you’re at your most homesick.

Food Type - Seasonal British favourites
Food/Drink quality - 4/5
Dietary requirements - 4/5
Service - 3.5/5
Value - 4.5/5

Décor - 5/5 (The long sharing tables make it that much more homely)

Find out more www.turlstreetkitchen.co.uk

Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK)

Oxford City Centre

Reviewed by Hannah Holt

Having frequented Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) many times myself, and dragging friends along relentlessly as well, I can honestly recommend it as a fail-safe burger place. It’s a brilliant student haunt, with customizable milkshakes a plenty, from peanut butter to lime, and well worth a visit or two.

With a wonderfully broad menu that often showcases specials including buffalo and Persian lamb, it’s a burger lover’s dream.

Don’t stop at mains though, sweet potato fries have long evaded my cooking skills and GBK is one restaurant that does them perfectly, along with complimentary ‘baconnaise’ to die for.

The GBK app gives all students 30% off the bill, and the £5.95 lunch menu offer are just more little extras that makes this restaurant, in my opinion, a brilliant cheap treat for all students.

Food type - Burgers
Food/Drink quality - 4/5
Dietary requirements - 4/5
Service - 5/5
Value - 4/5
Décor - 4/5 (Complimentary monkey nuts by the bar)

Find out more www.gbk.co.uk/location/oxford