OXTWO is the love child of Summertown Wine Bar and the owners of Back Lane Tavern and The Duke of Marlborough.

I first came to OXTWO to celebrate a milestone birthday and was really impressed. We indulged in an assortment of small plates to share and had a brilliant time, so when we received an invite to come and try the roast, I was very eager to return.

We arrived to a warm welcome and settled in, starting with a couple of drinks. My mum had the Cotswold Spritz (£14), Hipsterra lengthened with sparkling wine and ginger ale. Very akin to a Pimm’s, it was refreshing and light, and I had immediate drink envy.

The amount of choice, given this used to be a wine bar, is extensive to say the least. With over 200 wines from across the world, glasses are pretty pricey, but you know you’re going to have something carefully chosen and high quality. I went for a full-bodied glass of Merlot (£15), which paired perfectly with my beef.

The chef surprised us with some lovely small plates to start: salami (£8), Gordal olives (£4) and harissa-marinated anchovies (£10). The olives, according to my mum, were the “best ever”. When the anchovies arrived, we were both a little reluctant, but much to our surprise we really enjoyed them. They were meaty yet delicate, and the harissa added a smoky kick which was chef’s kiss!

There are four roast options available, including slow-roasted Tamworth pork and a squash Wellington, and you can also still order from the small plates menu on a Sunday.

We ordered the 36-day-aged rump of Belted Galloway beef (£25) and Cotswold roast chicken (£22), served with roast potatoes, caramelised cauliflower purée, leek and cauliflower cheese, miso and honey roast carrots, Yorkshire pudding, pork and apricot sausage roll, buttered greens and gravy.

The portions were really generous, with high-quality meat that was full of flavour and perfectly cooked. The gravy was almost more like a sauce, very rich and decadent. We were given a side jug but didn’t need any more.

We really enjoyed the crispy potatoes, roasted carrots, and the pork and apricot sausage roll was a real treat, with delicious flavour and a lovely sweetness. Who knew a sausage roll on a roast was just what we needed?

The buttered greens were delicious too. The Yorkshire was a good size, if a little crispier than I’d usually go for, while the cauliflower cheese was very indulgent and super cheesy, although slightly on the heavy side. Overall though, this was a really strong roast and one that’ll definitely be making an appearance in our next updated Bitten Oxford roast guide.

For dessert, we had the vegan vanilla panna cotta with strawberry and maple vinegar compote and strawberry ice cream (£8), plus scoops of mango and lemon and hibiscus sorbet (£3.50 per scoop).

The vegan panna cotta was enjoyable enough, but all the flavours were fairly mellow.

The real showstopper turned out to be the lemon and hibiscus sorbet. This was divine and the perfect way to round off a roast: citrusy, sharp, moreish and a real palate cleanser.

I remember trying the banoffee and mince pie ice creams on my last visit and loving them. This isn’t your average ice cream, so if you’re an ice cream fan, it’s well worth ordering a couple of scoops.

We decided to carry on the very enjoyable afternoon and moved over to the sofa area for a coffee. Thanks to OXTWO’s late opening hours, it’s very easy to while away a good chunk of time here quite happily. The service is unhurried, there’s lovely background music that’s not too loud, but still enough to create a great atmosphere, and the tables are spaced out well.

The overall space allows people to enjoy OXTWO however they fancy, be that a cocktail, a beer and burger on the terrace, a dog-friendly drink or a family or celebratory meal out. It really does cater for everyone.

I’m surprised OXTWO hasn’t got a bigger reputation than it does. It has two AA Rosettes and yet remains incredibly humble, serving up seriously good food with wonderfully relaxed vibes.

Although parking in Summertown can be a bit tricky during the week, there are no parking restrictions on Sundays, which is another bonus if you’re heading here for a roast. You can park up and enjoy a leisurely meal without any time pressure.

OXTWO is serving up delicious food, great wine and brilliant vibes, all without taking itself too seriously. What more could you want? Go and try it. You won’t be disappointed.

OXTWO

267 Banbury Rd, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7HT

Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own