Just a month ago another new restaurant opened somewhat quietly in the centre of Oxford. With no big promo or social media splash heralding the arrival of Banana Tree, it was only spotted by the Bitten team on a casual walk by. With several locations in London and one in Milton Keynes, this seems to be another chain keen to spread its wings. Intrigued to try another … [Read more...]
Meet The Producers: Aston’s Bakehouse
A lunchtime wander through the Covered Market led to me quite literally stumbling across a new bakery (courtesy of a little old lady and her shopping trolley - of course I apologised whilst she perambulated merrily along). Aston's Bakehouse opened last Thursday in Avenue Two, in what used to be the little wood trinket shop. Aston's have been popping up at farmer's markets and … [Read more...]
The Perch Oxford: Review
A recent Bitten meeting seemed to be a good opportunity to visit The Perch Oxford, seeing as none of us had been since it's reopening. My most recent experience had been that it was a somewhat sniffy and pretentious feel for what is essentially a pub in a good location so I was keen to see if it had changed at all. On arrival, we were given a choice of where to sit and as we … [Read more...]
Best Chinese Restaurant in Oxford
Some time ago there was one of our regular heated discussions on just where was the best Chinese in Oxford and it was agreed that the only way to resolve that discussion was to visit as many as possible and compare them all so that is what we have started to do. Sometimes, it might be just Jacqui and I, other times we are accompanied by our honorary Bitten members, including … [Read more...]
Turtle Bay Preview
This is kind of a preview but also a review so bear with me! Turtle Bay opened for a soft launch last night and officially opened to the public today.Housed in what used to be the much loved, eclectic clientele, pub Far From The Madding Crowd in Friar's Entry news of another chain restaurant opening was met with sighs and grumblings. There aren't many different pubs in Oxford … [Read more...]
Bitten Street announces Oxtoberfest and BWing
It's almost a year since our first Bitten Street and so much has happened in that time! We've made some mistakes, learnt a lot, made some awesome friends and had a generally fantastic time. Almost a year to the day since that first street food festival at Oxford Castle, we'll be holding a special Bavarian style Bitten Street on Saturday 3rd October. Welcome to #Oxtoberfest! … [Read more...]
All the ice-cream!
Summer, school holidays, perfect time to eat lots of ice-cream, yes? There are some that say any time is a good time to eat ice-cream but I'm not one of them. Yes, despite my love of all things sweet I am not a fan of frozen stuff that makes my teeth hurt and my temples throb. So of course it fell to me to test and write about not one but two new ice-cream parlours that have … [Read more...]
Frankie and Benny’s – Review
All this week I have been a dutiful parent. I have ferried my two youngest children across Oxford to participate in entirely worthwhile yet eye wateringly expensive swimming lessons. Today, pleased with their progress and utterly knackered, we headed into Frankie and Benny's for dinner. It's a chain with a New York Italian menu and feel. Think Frank Sinatra and Al Capone … [Read more...]
Cafe Rouge Oxford Reopens
We recently got invited to the reopening of Cafe Rouge Oxford, in Little Clarenden Street, and I have to be honest it didn't fill me with excitement. It's a restaurant that has hovered on the outskirts of town for some time, notable for, well pretty much nothing. The decor was unremarkable, the food not particularly appealing and the last time I went, even the staff were … [Read more...]
Big Ron’s Burrito Shack: Preview
Tonight saw the soft launch of Big Ron's Burrito Shack, the new addition to the Atomic stable. Housed in what was the original Atomic Burger on Cowley Road, Ron's is a wood and corrugated metal shack but more comfortable than it sounds. Gone are the retro toys, images and tunes to be replaced by an oddly larger, stripped back but more sociable environment. Wood benches and … [Read more...]
Bitten Bake Off
This Saturday sees an extra Bitten event from our usual regular spot on the first Saturday of the month. This Saturday we're going summery with our first fete. Of course, there will be the usual epic street food vendors - we've got Toro Poco and StakeHaus bringing ALL the meat, Becky's Blimming Good Bhajis aren't just for the vegetarians (by the way, that's what we're calling … [Read more...]
New Smokehouse Coming To Oxford
It's well documented that I love my barbecue and am constantly on the search for authentic barbecue here. That is to say, something that is equivalent to the giant plates of happiness I've had in the US. And so far, I haven't found it here. So tonight, in anticipation of a new smokehouse opening in Oxford, Oxford Blue Smokehouse to be precise, I dragged the family over to … [Read more...]
Oxfork: Breakfast Review
An impromptu meeting on a sunny morning seemed a perfect opportunity to have brunch at Oxfork and so we toddled off down Magdalen Road. There's a range of breakfasts on the brunch menu, starting at a fiver up to a tenner for the poached egg platter - a sample of eggs benedict, eggs royale and eggs florentine! Jacqui played safe and went for the simple eggs florentine [Jacqui: … [Read more...]
Thaikhun: Restaurant Review
It's almost a month since Thaikhun opened their Thai street food restaurant on Oxford's George Street. The Bitten team attended the grand opening, along with the Royal Thai Ambassador. We loved the decor which apparently is pretty authentic to the streets of Bangkok. There is literally stuff everywhere and you can't stop looking, until the food arrives of course! The samples … [Read more...]
British Street Food Awards THIS WEEKEND!
It's been a busy time in Oxford recently! Atomic Pizza has had a refit and reopened last week. Thaikhun is officially opening today, May 1st and this weekend sees the launch of the British Street Food Awards right here at Oxford Castle. You already know how much we love street food and so we were chuffed when the organiser of the awards visited us in March and asked if we would … [Read more...]
El Mexicana: Restaurant Review
El Mexicana recently opened its first branch in Oxford's Gloucester Green. Having previously only known of them as a service station outlet, I was intrigued to see what a restaurant location could offer to the hungry masses of Oxford. It's well known and documented that Mission Burrito is far and away the best Mexican food supplier in our city. That's not to say it's amazing … [Read more...]
Oxford Food & Drink News: Oxford’s First and Only Smokehouse!
Joe Perks & Co opened at the end of last summer and quickly became known for their pretty good cocktails and their mighty fine hot dogs, often accessorised with special toppings from Bitten Street traders. They're a regular at Bitten Street with the dogs and beer regularly being a sell out. Now though, things are getting really exciting with the news of a new menu and … [Read more...]
Oxford Food & Drink News: Thaikhun Oxford Opening on George Street
Word reached us yesterday of a new Thai restaurant called Thaikhun opening in town, George Street to be specific. We've already got a few Thai restaurants, Chiang Mai being the first that springs to mind in the centre of town (yes, obviously I haven't forgotten Oli's Thai, I'm just thinking more central!) and then Angrid Thai, At Thai, Bangkok House, Sasi's Thai and The Old … [Read more...]
Marco’s Oxford: Preview
The High Table on the High Street is no more. It was a good restaurant, definitely better than a certain restaurant/hotel further up the road but lacked atmosphere and warmth which contributed to its lack of customers. Now though, that could all change with the opening of Marco's Oxford, one of nine across the UK serving a menu designed and overseen by Marco Pierre White … [Read more...]
White Hart Wytham: Restaurant Review
Becca Here at Bitten, we've been fans of St Giles' Cafe ever since it's much mentioned metamorphosis from a dark, dingy and nicotine stained greasy spoon to a cool, calm and chilled cafe. It was with baited breath that we heard the news that Baz, owner of St Giles Cafe, was taking over the White Hart in Wytham. There's been so many occasions when we've had our hopes raised for … [Read more...]
Atomic Burger Moves! Preview
We caused a bit of a stir on Twitter and Facebook recently when we exclusively announced that Atomic Burger was closing - temporarily! Well, it has now moved (two doors up where Route 66 used to be) and oh my gosh, it's awesome! It's no secret that we, along with many others, are big fans of the Atomic ethos. Great settings, childhood memories, thick proper milkshakes and … [Read more...]
Portabello Oxford: Restaurant Review
It's cold outside. Really, properly cold which is to be expected considering it's January. Having just left a breakfast meeting where not even coffee was offered, let alone a flaky pastry of some kind, I needed something to warm me up a bit and as I just happened to be in Summertown, I decided to try Portabello Oxford for brunch. I had lunch at Portabello last year, their set … [Read more...]
Bitten’s Letter to Santa
Around this time of year, you can't avoid seeing Christmas wish lists everywhere. I'm not sure who writes these lists and exactly who they're aimed at, but they never seem to include anything I'd wish for! Which makes this a perfectly good time for Jacqui and myself to do our own foodie based Letter to Santa... Becca - I've been pretty good this year, I think. It's been … [Read more...]
Bitten Street Serves Up More Events
Following the success of the recent Bitten Street street food events at North Parade Night Market, Oxford Castle and Brookes University, plus a mention in The Guardian (which you might notice agrees with a number of places in our Bitten Top Ten), we are delighted to announce that Bitten Street Serves Up More Events as we bring you more awesome street food and drink traders … [Read more...]
Meet the Producers: Chocsford
Last week, as part of our series on Oxfordshire food producers, I finally got round to having a proper chat with Sheree, the lady behind Oxford’s yummiest handmade chocolates. It may have been one of the first proper wintry days of the year and for some reason we were sat in a rooftop bar, but in between sips of a hot drink and shivering, we managed to talk a lot about all … [Read more...]