Over the past few years, The Grapes on George Street has been a bit unloved in my opinion. The Grapes to Beerd, then back to The Grapes. The décor has changed multiple times – as has the menu – with the beer being a bit hit and miss. Now West Berkshire Brewery has taken on the pub and I was lucky enough to be at their opening party. Following an extensive makeover, I'm happy … [Read more...]
A first look: The Plough
Oxford's newest pub, well, returning pub anyway as it originally opened in 1656, is The Plough on Cornmarket Street. Since Austin Reed’s closure in 2016, it had been empty until the back end of last year. At the moment they're going through a ‘soft launch’ with the grand opening in February. In talking with Steve Jones, who will assist in running the bar, he mentioned they … [Read more...]
Preview: Hamblin Bread
I meet a lot of people working on Bitten, lots of chefs, restaurateurs, new business owners. The ones I love meeting the most, are the ones with genuine passion for what they're doing. The kind of passion that radiates out of them and immerses you in their dream. Kate Hamblin is one of those people. A baker by trade, with stints at E5 Bakehouse, Moro, and bakeries in … [Read more...]
Bitten Bites: Michelin star AND new restaurant for Summertown
Hot off the heels of The Oxford Kitchen winning an actual flippin' Michelin star this week, it's been confirmed Portabello has been sold and will soon be under new management. Michelin Star for The Oxford Kitchen Under the helm of Head Chef Paul Welburn, The Oxford Kitchen was this week awarded its first Michelin star. Paul isn't a newbie to Michelin star standards, or the … [Read more...]
New Oxford Restaurants, June 2018
As if we aren't already stuck for choice, there are even more cool chow-downs recently opened or coming our way over the next few weeks. Here's our round-up of our favourites. If we're missing any, let us know! Barefoot, King Edward Street We do love Barefoot cake and it is instantly recognisable. They've been expanding and now include a cafe in Woodstock, with this new site … [Read more...]
Bitten Bites: New Oxford Restaurants, April 2018
Usually, we'd publish a separate article for each new venue opening or closing, but there's so much going on in Oxford over the next month that we're cramming it all into one big Bitten news buffet! Closing: The Bear & The Bean The Cowley Road coffee shop is closing at the end of May after a three-year run. Owner, Jordan O'Shea, announced the closure on Facebook over the … [Read more...]
Bitten Bites: Souvlaki Brothers opening soon at Covered Market
Street food favourites Souvlaki Brothers are opening at Oxford's Covered Market later this month, and we can't wait! Greek brothers Panny and Yanny Skrivanos started Souvlaki Brothers from scratch, serving traditional Greek souvlaki out the back of a street food trailer. You may well recognise them from Bitten Street, as they've been a regular trader with us for a while … [Read more...]
Bitten Bites: Vine Oxford to Return
Those of you in the know will have visited pop-up wine bar and takeaway Vine Oxford during its temporary appearance on Cowley Road last year. Those who aren't in the know can find out more here. The good news is, it's returning. And the better news is it will be permanent! Opening from early April in the original Atomic Burgers building, Vine will be a wine shop and cafe … [Read more...]
Preview: GAF Oxford
When news broke recently that Oxfork was being taken back over by Drew Brammer, we were all intrigued to see what he would do with the place... but then further news broke that the much-loved cafe was changing its name to GÄF (I'm dropping the umlauts for the rest of the post), and you might as well have told Oxfork fans that Drew wanted to slap their grannies in the face with … [Read more...]
Preview: SeaSalt, St Clements
Jacqui - Preview There seem to be plenty of restaurant openings to get excited about in Oxford at the moment, Pint Shop, Spiced Roots (more to come) and of course SeaSalt. The next adventure for La Cucina owners Yola Drage and Alberto Brunelli, SeaSalt in St. Clements looks light, clean and airy since it's cool grey refurb, a simple but very effective change from the darker … [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...]
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...]
Win Tickets: Thaikhun VIP Launch
THAI FOOD. JUST. GOT. INTERESTING On Friday May 1, Thaikhun Oxford will be opening their doors to the public for the first time, and we have teamed up with the restaurant to offer one lucky reader and three friends the chance to be the first to experience all things ‘Thaikhun’, mouth-watering authentic Thai cuisine, delicious cocktails with a Thai twist and funky … [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...]