This one’s a quick review, but having seen Moya for years without venturing in, Liz paid a recent visit to the understated St Clements venue. Let us know if you’ve been too and what you thought!

You may as well start with a drink (all 30% off before 8pm), and I sipped a fine cosmopolitan while giving the menu careful attention.

Moya serves a tempting choice of Slovak dishes ranging from hearty meats to lighter fish and veg-based plates. But who could resist a starter of ‘Devil’s Toast (£7.50)? Especially when it’s a rich, chunky mix of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and smoked sausage on sourdough bread, all topped with a flavoursome grilled goat’s cheese.

We also had Kapustnica, a substantial smoked pork hock soup (£7.25). Thickened with pearl barley and refreshed with the tang of sauerkraut, it tasted of top-quality home cooking.

My main course was Halusky, the signature dish of Slovakia. These little potato dumplings are pillowy soft comfort food, usually slathered with cheese and bacon. The veggie version (£12.95) was rich with smoked cheese, mushrooms, and satisfaction. The guinea fowl with a thyme-inflected sauce on red cabbage (£16.95) was more delicate, though equally delicious. An accompanying potato gratin was decadent without being too heavy.

Too full for pudding, we ordered them anyway. 

A steamed dumpling stuffed with fruit jam and topped with sugar, poppy seeds, and melted butter (£6.50) is the only remedy you need for cold dark weather. Plus, there is no such thing as too many poppy seeds – trust me.  If you want a less substantial option, go for the Bublanina sponge cake studded with fresh strawberries (£7.50). It’s fluffy and familiar tasting, all the better for the sea of vanilla custard underneath.

I thoroughly enjoyed my taste of Slovakia at Moya, which serves Eastern Europe flavours prepared with great finesse. You will love it, too.

Moya Oxford
97 St Clement’s St, Oxford OX4 1AR
moya-oxford.co.uk