Branca Restaurant and Bar in Oxford

Really great experience on Friday night. Cheerful, attentive service, delicious selection of tasty food. Wine was good but quite expensive. Tiramisu was particularly good but we enjoyed all of the food. Restaurant seemed to thin out relatively early.

I do like this place and go regularly, but I'd recommend going after 9/10 in the morning. The cafe opens at 8, but they are still vacuuming and sweeping up the main cafe floor (where customers are sitting) for about 45 minutes. It's loud and chairs are moved around for it. For coffee or breakfast in the morning it's not a great time.

I ordered a red mullet dish (today’s special) and was underwhelmed. Besides that the portion of fish was tiny. Aside from that the rest of the dishes were decent. They give you delicious focaccia when you first sit down.

The deli salads are daylight robbery! £18 for two small salads. They pack them with the heaviest items to up the weight. Couldn’t believe my ears when I heard £18!!

The cake was lovely but the service was appalling. The young man who serviced me was rude and told us to go elsewhere, when I asked to be seated inside. He then didn’t bring our cakes and tea to the table this was the service provided to all other paying customers. Branca teach your staff manners they cost nothing.

It was a wonderful lunch for our family gathering. I am grateful that they were able to accommodate my request to change my booking. The food was delicious, and I highly recommend the halloumi salad.

Just been for my birthday lunch. Our server was so lovely and welcoming. Food was great and plenty of it and a lovely atmosphere. I would definitely recommend.

Fantastic service and food. The serving staff always make us feel welcome and are really nice to the kids.

Friday 20th September Our server was Faye, who I think is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She made sure every person at the table was happy with our orders and if something was not on the menu or available, she found a perfect alternative. There are good and fantastic serves, but I think Faye was far superior!! We all had a fabulous evening, which was mainly due to Faye. An enormous thank you to her. The food was also perfect! I had a classic margarita pizza with a sprinkle of cheese (I don't like too much cheese) and they did exactly that and it was delicious! We also ordered another pizza and the Vegan plant based burger which again was fantastic! Ps. It is dog friendly!!!! I hope this is seen by the relevant people and both Faye and the Chef's get the recognition they deserve! Thank you for a lovely evening!

Excellent cocktails and the best tiramisu I’ve ever had 🤤

Really disappointing experience. All food in the deli is expensive, the service was slow and disinterested, I paid £15.80 for not much takeaway salad to only find massive big piece of plastic hidden inside the food when I got home. The server purposefully put the heaviest ingredients of the salad into the box &avoided other parts of the salad ingredients entirely i.e. added loads of potatoes but I had to ask can I also have some of the smoked salmon included in this salad, loaded up on the butter beans and I also had to ask can I have one of the half eggs with the butter beans as a key ingredient of that salad... I could get a restaurant sit in salad for the same size or bigger for £15.80 and not have plastic left in it, skimped on ingredients and someone who actually cared about customer service. On the positive, the taste of the salads I did have were delicious and the deli has a nice selection of deli and non deli items to buy. I am debating if it is worth going back or not.

Really nice place. Excellent whiskey sour. Ladies at the bar are very nice and friendly.

An ideal and great place to visit with friends for a catch up, eat and dine or get together for laid back occasions in Oxford Jericho over the years, it is my local classic. The food, the atmosphere and the service is great, definitely recommend it.

Have written reviews before on Branca which has great modern atmosphere and really friendly staff but were a little disappointed with the food last time but had a great meal this time. We opted for a burger but didn't want a large one. Being meat eaters we were reluctant to try the vegetarian smaller one but what a revelation! Couldn't tell the difference and it was delicious!! Thanks again for a great time and trying to help us remember the name of a local pub we had visited previously! See you next time we are in Oxford.

The customer service was amazing. Really attentive and friendly staff which have a lot of initiative and kindness. Our server was Grace, and she really took care of us and made sure our experience was fulfilling. The food was also great. I strongly recommend the prawn linguine.. would also recommend desert. Everything 10/10 and will deffo be coming back

Nice sandwich for lunch, although not cheap ~£6. A tasty treat but can't afford it too often!

We had a table of 20 downstairs to ourselves, and were welcomed into the restaurant with smiles and warmth from the staff. The room was perfect for us, and has lovely original features including a brick fireplace big window, despite it being in the basement. The staff were very attentive and, despite us milling around catching up at the beginning, they were excellent at keeping our glasses full and remembering who had ordered what drink. We had pre-ordered our food, and on arrival they had put name labels with our orders on the table which was very helpful for all, and a lovely detail. I was very impressed with the food too - delicious and well presented. I would highly recommend this place for a group booking, and would come again. Thank you Branca!

We had a table in the gorgeous courtyard for my wife's birthday and took our young adult kids with us. We were well attended by the friendly staff and everyone found favourites to eat and drink. Branca always takes the time to wait and serve properly and they even brought a water bowl for our dog. A lovely place for a meal together.

Went as a group and was at the underground room. This room was very stuffy and we didnt have enough staff coming to check on our needs. The starter gazpacho was nice but the lamb kebab was ok and the lemon tart was too sweet. I can imagine it will be different for smaller group menu but felt disappointed.

Fantastic for lunch or dinner. Be aware that hours are for deli and restaurant. The morning and lunch food is from the deli for takeout or eating in the restaurant.

We picked this spot to have a family meal when in Oxford for my nephews wedding. My Mum was turning 80 and we wanted to have a meal together. We are a party of vegetarians, meat eaters and some picky people and two kids but Branca had something for us all. Lovely Italian food and beautiful cocktails (the Raspberry Cosmopolitan was lush). 2 of our party were late and there was no fuss. We were served by a lovely Italian man (long hair tied up) and he was very attentive to my Mum. Thank you Branca for helping to make my Mums day special. Hope to return some day.

We really loved it here! We DJed here last night for Martin's wedding and had such a good time! The staff are so so kind and helpful and everything ran smoothly. 100% recommend for any party or wedding in Oxford!!

Always fantastic food and top notch service

I’ve been a loyal customer of Branca for years, but my recent experience at the salad bar was incredibly disappointing. I asked for a salad with beans and eggs. When I requested an additional egg, the gentleman serving me only added half an egg and refused to add another when I asked. He claimed it was to ensure everyone had a chance to get an egg, which seemed ridiculous to me. This kind of service felt very disrespectful and has made me rethink my choice of getting lunch here. It's a shame to receive such poor customer service from a place I've enjoyed for so long. I will definetely not go back.

2 dishes that we ordered simply sat in a puddle of watery liquid. I can't remember the exact dishes but one was an aubergine dish and another was a seafood pasta dish. To call it a sauce was laughable. The burger and risotto were fine.

Nice place for sure but the food is average, nothing to get excited about. The quality isn’t bad but It’s all pretty safe and not really authentic.

Delightful shady courtyard for lunch, excellent salads and coffee. And plenty of seating. Friendly staff. A great find.

Always welcoming and friendly, with good value food and drinks.

Food great. Deco beaut. Company awesome

The din and dong of relentless birthday cheers bashing your ears will need much better pizza to stomach.

First visit in 10 years. I was taken here by friends to celebrate my birthday. The food was very good and better than I remembered, plus there was a great wine list. Knowledgable staff and great service. Would definitely go back.

Excellent food, stunning setting. 🙂

We went to celebrate my 50th birthday in early May and booked the downstairs private dining area for lunch. The staff were wonderful, catering for our every need and the food was exceptional. Way better than other more “prestigious” restaurants in Oxford that we have been to recently. Congratulations to all the staff you are a credit to the company. We’ll be back.

We had such a good night here which was made even better by our waitress Katie - she made our evening special, checked we were all happy and had such good energy. Would definitely like to be served by her again when we next come in!

The deli is a great spot to grab lunch.

This is an amazing restaurant. The staff are incredibly nice, the food is well presented and tasty too. I encourage anyone in the area to visit this restaurant

A great afternoon in Branca on the bank holiday. Service was fantastic, particularly as they were hosting a wedding at the same time. The atmosphere was good and the food was great.

It took a while to be noticed and seated. The area inside next to the courtyard dining area was quite dark and not very well lit. The ambiance and setting was very nice and the food very good. Deli board and prawn linguine was lovely, paired very well with the pinot grigio. Service was attentive and professional. Would return again

Amazing venue to work with, friendly staff and the parking was easy.

We had a lovely family dinner with children. Toby and Francesco were fantastic waiters, so considerate and polite. Recommend the good service here :)

Didn’t really enjoy my experience here.

I am normally a regular here but today I have encountered the owner of the restaurant and had the most terrible experience I have ever had in any restraurant / bar. I was in a work call with a cappuccino sat at a bigger table because the small ones were all taken. The owner asked me to move in a very unpleasant way and i said I would move to a smaller table as soon as available (baring in mind there were 5 other people doing the same as me for the lack of smaller tables). When I still had not moved after 5 minutes e came back and thretened to take my stuff away. I then said that i would finished the call and leave and added that I did not appreciated the tone e proceded to take my cappuccino from me (which was still full) as well as the water. I am still under shock for how he behaved and I am almost lost for words...I will never go there again. Shame because I was a regular!

Shame on the owner. I was present when I saw him screaming against a guest who sat by helself in a bigger table with just a coffee. The girl was polite but after just few minutes he came back and screamed at her again and took away HER coffee and her water on the table. I could never tolerate violence or any abusive behaviour , that’s why I will never go back and never recommend to anybody!

The deli has great pizzas, salads, and desserts. The restaurant is slightly overpriced

Had a fantastic time here! The food was delicious and the waiting staff could not do enough for us, will definitely be returning.

Very popular venue. Vibrant atmosphere. Food was extremely tasty. Portions are large. Absolutely loved the gourmet deli and range of vibrant, healthy salads and freshly baked breads. Yum! Friendly and efficient staff. We have been travelling around Europe and this business is a real standout — run so well. Thanks for having us!

Thanks for an amazing dinner and really attentive service from Jos!

Lovely food, well presented. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was really nice and lively. Would recommend

Great meal, lovely evening at a reasonable price. Would thoroughly recommend. 👍

Great attentive service very warm and welcoming The restaurant is full of vibes super vibrant full of energy Location is also great a touch away from the busy centre which is full of character Good value for money as per location and service The disappointed part is the food. Great salad but poor pasta. Not quite to the Italian standard but the intension is clearly there. Just need to brush up a bit to get there.

Good food, amazing service and superb atmosphere.

Francesco was such a lovely host! The food was fantastic and its a beautiful atmosphere!

Excellent food and service! Katie was amazing!!

Had the loveliest, friendliest waitress tonight her name was Katie! Made us feel so welcome, and made the meal very enjoyable! The complimentary bread was a lovely touch and super delicious, the pizza was also very tasty! The restaurant was a great atmosphere throughout! Will defiantly be returning!

Great venue, great atmosphere, excellent service... the food offerings are getting very similar to a countryside fancy pub, not the affordable gastronomy that it use to be. average menu, haphazard cooking but if you want attentive and smily service, that's the place to go!

Incredibly nice service, our waitress went above and beyond to ensure a great experience, including brilliant gluten-free knowledge (for a genuine coeliac). All the food was lovely, great choice even for gluten-free and vegan options. It’s a tiny bit noisy but overall fantastic, thank you 🙏

Food is generally very good, I would describe it as high end pub food. We ate here a few times and it was always ok. However, not something that I would consider overly memorable and almost all dishes are overpriced for the quality you get. Staff are super attentive and very friendly if it's not too busy. The service quality is lower on for example, busy Sunday afternoon.

Came here for a private dining experience with a friend and his family for 20 people. Food was gorgeous but the staff were super rude which is not acceptable in an establishment like Branca - very disappointed!!

Our waiter Francesco was absolutely wonderful, so attentive and polite, made going out with two young children so much easier to have a really helpful waiter! We didn’t wait long for food and it was all delicious. Thank you for making eating out on Mother’s Day enjoyable!

We had a fabulous evening meal at Branca. We were seated at the far end of the restaurant, close to the olive tree. Great table with plenty of space, the food was excellent and the service was amazing.

A large group of us dined at Branca. The food was lovely,service efficient and the atmosphere just perfect for a large booking. The staff are so friendly and not request was too much trouble. Look forward to my next visit.

We celebrated my sister's birthday and Branca's staff couldn't have been more helpful and accomodating. Outstanding service, communication, very nice food and great atmosphere! We really had a great time and will come back soon 😊 Thank you so much for a wonderful evening! 😊

An excellent vegan choice of puy lentils with aubergine, delicious. Jolly service. The lads enjoyed their meaty mains and both had dessert after, both excellent.

As always a lovely evening at Branca. We were I’m afraid a little disappointed with the size of the puddings. Bread and butter pudding and the sundae We expected a little more for £8.75 Thank you Amanda

The food was delicious with generous sized portions. We were celebrating a birthday and my 14 year old was delighted with his candle in a chocolate brownie and pistachio ice cream !

Branca is such a gorgeous place, the servers are always lovely and helpful and the food is amazing! One of my favourite spots to take friends visiting Oxford.

A group of tiddly, slightly raucous middle aged women let loose for a night out. Branca after cocktails and champagne. The service was great, food very good quality, well presented and reasonable price. The waiter was very engaging and put up with us very well!

Really lovely setting with delicious food and friendly staff

Amazing service, food and wine aren’t cheap but very high quality , comfortable surroundings, noisy on Friday and Saturday evenings but if you’re in a city centre at that time then you have to embrace it! We always enjoy eating here and so do the kids.

Amazing service from Sarah, and huge thanks to Katie for our table, lovely atmosphere and great food served by the lovely staff, back again soon ! Xoxoox

Service was some of the best we ha e experinaced recently, great atmosphere and really nice food. Would 110% recommend.

I think the kids enjoyed their meal, but my kebab was overcooked, dry and too chewy. A big disappointment because in the past it has been really good. Our waitress was outstanding.

Very pleasant. Helpful and friendly staff, good food, nice atmosphere

Very good food with veggie options. Staff friendly and efficient. Space between tables is good.

Fantastic food , consistently great . Staff helpful, friendly but not intrusive

Went Friday night (16th) - ambiance and service was amazing. Food was absolutely fantastic, the lamb kebabs and chicken supreme were highlights. Our waitress was really friendly and made our birthday celebration extra special.

Food cooked to perfection, great service will be back 😋

Lovely waiter and good ambience but some of the portions were a bit skimpy, the prawn linguine, for example.

We had a lovely evening at Branca celebrating our friends engagement. Food was lovely, atmosphere perfect and the service was excellent. Looking forward to returning.

We all enjoyed the meal especially our 3 year old, who was well looked after.

Great atmosphere, excellent service and very good food and drink on a busy Friday evening

Our waitress was amazing. We were very slow arriving and ordering but then had to eat and leave quickly. She smiled through the whole thing.

I love Branca - never fails - thank you! Horrible evening outside but Branca a wonderful refuge.

The spaghetti and sea food was excellent. The Sicilian white wine reasonably priced. Very good service. Overall a great Valentines!

Once again we had a great Sunday lunch in Branca. The staff are so friendly, the food delicious and the atmosphere great!

Excellent meal with my children. Eldest was home of uni and Branca is a favourite. Service was fab and they were able to accommodate my daughter’s allergies quite easily. The vegan ice cream is amazing

Branca is a favourite go-to for us. The staff are always friendly and helpful, the food is always good and the atmosphere always good. And our dog is always welcome, with treats readily available.

Really lovely evening at Branca. The waiting staff were really efficient and friendly. As friends who hadn't seen each other for a while we were busy chatting and probably a bit slow to order but they were really accommodating and service was attentive, food came quickly. I had the arancini to start and spiced lentils and aubergine with humous which was all really delicious followed by a yummy chocolate pudding. Everything was 'on point' and would definitely recommend. It was a Friday evening and there were a few birthdays but the tables were nicely spaced so it didn't feel overly busy or noisy, just a nice buzz. We'll definitely be back when we're back in Oxford.

We had a relatively large group, but our charismatic waitress had everything under control. The food was similarly flawless. My Manhattan cocktail was 'perfect', and the Pork Belly was sublime. Branca is an ideal venue for a special occasion, with relaxed yet stylish decor, but our experience was elevated by Katie's consummate service.

10/10 for a meal in this place- and that's not just because I wasn't paying! The food was terrific, the wine too, and the service top-notch.

Went for lunch for 6 and we had a great time! Lovely restaurant, nice vibe and the serving staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Great food. Would love to go again

Excellent food with friendly and competent service

Very nice staff we were made to feel welcome, good service and good choice of specials on menu. Enjoyable evening.

Francesco was incredible and James made sure we had a great table. Salmon starter followed by fish stew was amazing. We really enjoyed this place. Highly recommend on all levels. Thank you Branca.

My choice of main was the sea bass. It was excellent. Presentation wise it would have looked even better on a larger plate - it was consumed art as well, well done to the chef. The pudding was also delightful. I also enjoyed the non-alcoholic Erdinger (I'm a fan of the original but I was driving.) The staff were attentive and super diligent. Thanks

Great food and great atmosphere. Staff were friendly and polite, and were quick to do things like being over bread and ask about allergy information (one of our group had a dairy allergy). We also had a little dog with us who was treated well

Stayed here for a wedding reception. Nice food, looked good on the plate and tasted good too. Had a great time here with all our family and guests and the staff were very nice. So much so that when we forgot some of our belongings, Branca staff found it for me and looked after them for me to pick up later. Will be back here again.

Great venue for night out with friends. Service was excellent and food as reliably good as always

So overhyped. It is bang average at best but at prices beyond what you should pay for what you get.

It is always a pleasure dining at this restaurant. Good menu - varied, not too long, not too short. Great food. Great service. Great setting. And fairly priced given its location and what the establishment delivers.