Dirty Bones is the home of next-level American comfort food, so where better to go for a massive pile of pancakes on the happiest day of the year? (I’m ranking Pancake Day over Christmas this week). True, if you are a crepes-with-lemon-and-sugar traditionalist then this might not be the joint for you, but I bet even the most hardcore of stubborn lemon-lovers could be converted by these babies. Fluffy, buttery American pancakes piled high on my plate? Yes, please.

Dirty Bones offered a ‘build your own’ situation, with diners choosing up to four toppings from a list of sheer joy and delight. We went for one savoury plate of buttermilk pancakes – hello fried chicken and crispy bacon – and one sweet plate – the healthy choice of bananas, strawberries and, um, chocolate sauce and clotted cream. Both came with little pots of dark, glossy maple syrup.

This place does really and truly excellent fried chicken so that was always going to be a winning choice for anyone who likes moist meat and flavoursome crispy skin, and chucking it on a pancake is a genius move. The sweet option also did not disappoint; the caramelised banana was properly caramelised, the cream rich and decadent (well, this is all decadent, let’s be honest) and the whole plate being just as delicious as it sounded.

Thank you, Dirty Bones, for brightening this cold and rainy Tuesday. The good news is that even if you can’t make it down today, they offer the fried chicken and pancakes on their regular and brunch menus, and I’m sure they’d make you a combo platter if you asked nicely…

Dirty Bones
304 The Westgate, Queen St, Oxford OX1 1PG
01865 808040
dirty-bones.com

We dined as guests of Dirty Bones, all views remain our own.