Pompette in Oxford

Delicious meal and a very warm and friendly welcome! The smoked trout and celery remoulade were perfectly seasoned and the dish was truly authentic! And the chicken supreme was tender and succulent. Pompette is an excellent restaurant!!!

I'm not sure which restaurant the negative reviewer below went too but I have been twice in recent weeks for lunch and dinner and I have to say that the food and service were impeccable. We were on a much needed night out following a busy period at work and this was the perfect place to indulge and experience quality French cooking. The highlight for me were the croquettes on the nibbles menu which were delicious. The wine knowledge from our waitress was also first class and added to the experience. Highly recommended local restaurant.

I adored the moules frites and glass of Piqepoul; could have been in France sitting at their window table watching the world, or at least Summertown, go by. Friendly waiter who was taking pride in, and enjoying, his work. That’s quite rare these days. Altogether it was an enjoyable evening out in a relaxed ambiance.

Enjoyable meal on a cold Saturday lunchtime. We had fish and it was all good, plus a bottle of Picpoul, 2 deserts and coffees. Bill was £200 for 4, quite pricey but food was nicely cooked and service efficient and quite friendly. Comfortable seating and welcoming room, only unfortunately a very noisy baby on the next door table made conversation difficult for a while. There's also a set lunch menu during the week. We would return.

Amazing French restaurant. The food was great and the portions were generous. All the dishes we tried were excellent! Friendly and welcoming staff. The Prixe Fixe menu is really worth it.

Over priced and noisy Recent visit with friends and sadly will not be returning Good points location in Summertown means easier to park than in Oxford Booking was efficient and seated quickly on arrival then it goes down hill The table was next to the reception area which means you are interrupted constantly by staff walking to and from reception to greet people, accessing the card machine and menus The service is hit and miss only one person takes the orders which means you end up waiting a long time and the variety on the menu is limited no option for a chicken dish unless you are there on a Wednesday! The prices are steep and the portions were small the main size portion of mussels was at best a starter size serving The food quality was mixed and to be charging the prices that they are I expect better I rarely write poor reviews as I know that it can impact the restaurant but you need to know the problems that you dinners are experiencing and should address them

Having relocated to Oxford a few years ago I can honestly say that one of the best things about living in Summertown is Pompette and the incredible food, drink and service on our doorstep. We have eaten here to celebrate special occasions as well as sneaking in weekday lunches plus we bring the children (aged 10 & 12) on the weekend and every time we are blown away! Food is fresh and the menu has signature dishes like fish soup (incredible) but alway has new and interesting dishes to try. According to my husband they also do the best steak in Oxford! Always a wonderful atmosphere and the best staff in town, we think this is one of the best places to dine in Oxford. The fact that it is also owned and managed by a wonderful couple who really care about the menu and the food really adds to this unique local experience. Try it for yourself

Shocking. My food was awful. I could not even eat the boiled potato. The dinner left a dreadful taste in my mouth. Asked for a mint to take the taste away, they suggested mint tea....they charged me for it! They did deduct the cost of the meal from the bill. Disorganised staffing structure. Poor menu, poor food, poor organisation, poor table positioning. The one star is for tasty bread (btw £4.50 not complimentary) and one of the waiters was sweet. Seriously avoid, not sure how anyone could give it a higher score. ( I've never sent food back anywhere before) . I wish I'd taken a photo for you all to see. One positive is I thought it might make me ill and I've survived the night!

Had a great evening just drinks and nibbles at the bar, so well looked after by our bar attendant, Clinton - excellent in every way.

Not worth the price,barmen don't even know etiquette how to serve champagne..

Loved it. The food is very special, staff great and the atmosphere is spot on. A la carte isn't cheap but it shouldn't be, quality costs. But on a Wednesday, they'll sell you a superb poulet frites and a carafe of wine for twenty quid each. Their prix fixe is also great value. Can't wait to go again.

Delightful French restaurant with great wines and brilliant food. Well worth a visit even though it's on the pricier side. Reservations strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings.

A lovely French restaurant with an excellent choice. Every dish was well presented and very tasty. Coffee was sheer quality. A little hidden away gem, well worth visiting.

Fantastic meal in a lovely setting. We enjoyed the unusual and fragrant 'Pompette' cocktail, delicious Lyonnaise cheese dip and comforting croquettes to start, then my partner had an interesting and thoughtful vegetarian squash dish while I savoured a seriously cheesy tartiflette (from a decent value Prix Fixe menu) that came with a lovely sharp, mustardy side salad. Dessert was particularly good, crepe with salted caramel sauce and a lovely Tarte Aux Pommes. Lovely to have a choice of various interesting dessert wines too. Service nice and unobtrusive but a little slow. All in all a brilliant meal and we'll definitely be back!

Excellent service, wonderful atmosphere and good food. Highly recommend, especially the caramel crepe. We loved the decor. They have a lovely large room upstairs that you can book for a large group.

Incredible food, service and wine list. Pompette is one of Oxford's leading restaurants, combining delicious local produce, with a superb wine list and exceptional, friendly service. Definitely worth a visit.

Fantastic food and staff very attentive

Exceptional food and service, this was our second visit and it was just as good as the first time. A lovely local restaurant with exceptional food and an excellent wine list.

Excellent little French neighbourhood bistro. Great food, wine and staff.

had a really lovely dining experience at pompette for my friend's birthday! we ordered trout, onglet and sirloins which were cooked to perfection and surprisingly super filling. abhi was our main server and was very kind and attentive. susie also gave some great wine recommendations tailored to our tastes. they went the extra mile and made my friend's night feel very special. all around wonderful evening! would definitely return 😊

A beautiful restaurant and excellent service and excellent staff

Had a good dinner here, we split our order between the Festive Fixed Menu and the A La Carte. Food and service were both great, you could definitely tell that the Festive Menu is designed with all their dishes in mind as they complement each other really nicely. It was fairly quiet throughout our whole time there so there wasn't much atmosphere but it was enjoyable nonetheless

Excellent neighbourhood French restaurant. My partner booked here whilst we were visiting Oxford. Great little French bistro. Great menu and excellent service.

A posh-looking place that's great for more formal events and special nights out. I had the spatchcocked quail for my appetizer (highly recommend!), sirloin for my main (somehow, I wasn't a fan of the juice covering the steak, but otherwise great), and burnt basque cheesecake (a bit dense and not sweet enough for me, but that's just personal preference). The staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly, although I should warn that the kitchen is closed from 14:30 until later in the evening, which I was not aware of when I walked in at 14:20. I loved the decor and atmosphere. I'd love to go back and try some of their other dishes.

Lovely ambience Starter and main course were delish Waiter excellent Sweet was forgettable Problem was the drinks...'aux du vie' tasted like bad raki or schnapps and the 20yr old calvados tasted harsh and burnt the throat...I've had enough 20year old brandies over the years to realise I'd been palmed off with something cheap and nasty. Mentioned to the waiter who flagged with the manager but got no response. Perhaps it could have been a mistake but deal with that, I didn't drink it and you could tell even from the smell that it wasn't 20yr old. Paid the £156 bill for the two of us but I suggest you enjoy the place just don't risk any drinks that don't come in an unopened bottle (bottle of wine was fine). Such a shame and so unnecessary.

Service was French, the cook was British.

Excellent moules frites and Basque cheesecake. Service above and beyond. Highly recommended.

Just a lovely night. The service was great. Quite informal but very attentive. The fish soup was to die for. And bone marrow was an eye opener. As were our mains. We enjoyed immensely and will come back.

Wonderful steak frites and cocktails

Super French-style food, expert service and an elegant but casual atmosphere. Everything you could want in a local restaurant - not cheap but for dining at this level, very reasonably priced. Our first visit, but undoubtedly we'll be back!

Enjoyed a wonderful evening with friends. First visit and most definitely will not be the last. Staff were knowledgeable and service pitched just right. We enjoyed Fish soup, Mussels, Lamb, Halibut and the Pumpkin with Polenta. Certainly the best meal we've all had in a long time and worth the money.

Upon stepping into Pompette, the allure of their menu set high expectations. An aficionado of tender steaks, I was eager to partake in a delightful experience. The ambiance exuded a blend of casual sophistication, yet this turned out to be the zenith of our visit. One might argue that opting for steak in a Michelin-guided French restaurant might not be the wisest of choices. As described on the menu, the steak was paired with watercress, frites pommes, and 'viande de Jus'. Sadly, the presentation was uninspired with lackluster greens and fries that seemed more suited to a basic eatery. The steak itself was underwhelming. Absent were the rich, savory notes that should accompany a prime cut. The seasoning was uneven, oscillating between overly salty to utterly bland. The sides were similarly disappointing. The fries were oddly textured and the vegetables felt more like a last-minute addition than a thoughtful component. Their quality was reminiscent of reheated, frozen goods. Another guest ventured away from the steak, curious about Pompette's Michelin recommendation. They were drawn to the Delica pumpkin enhanced with an £8 truffle addition. While the initial presentation was promising, with generous truffle shavings, the dish's core was disappointingly cold. The waiter's attempt to rectify this resulted in a dish that seemed hastily microwaved, with the previously abundant truffle now sparse. An awkward exchange ensued about the missing truffle, culminating in a curt chef reinforcing that the truffle had melted into the cheese. While occasional missteps can be forgiven, the response and attitude of an establishment are crucial. Pompette's staff dismissed our concerns, attributing their approach to a "house style." If this style champions mediocre presentation, it's not one I'd endorse. The most ironic element? The bill's juxtaposition with our experience. For an experience that felt more pretense than genuine quality, the exorbitant prices were hard to justify. Those seeking a truly exceptional steak should continue their search elsewhere.

I'd like to strongly recommend to order mussels and bread! List of wines is very good.

Fantastic restaurant. Yearly meet up with friends so we took the private upstairs room and had an amazing evening. Food was delicious, service was very friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back when next in Oxford.

Vegetarian so trepidation about French restaurant as usual but lovely meal with more than one option and really well presented and tasty options. Thoroughly recommended.

Fish soup. Delicious. came with a side plate of cheese and croutons. Selection of cheeses with fresh bread. Very nice and tangy. A glass of Chablis. Wonderful. The perfect sunny Saturday lunch.

Dinner for 2. We enjoyed mussels and the fish soup followed by lamb and Halibut. With great wines. Service was excellent, attentive and friendly. Imo this is Oxfords best restaurant. Thank you

Good lunch with ex work colleagues from all over the country. Nice set menu, parking available next to the restaurant, don't go fast down the one way street or you will miss the parking at the rear

Relaxed feel to the place, no music to distract conversation, good feel. There were six of us retirees from over UK, time flew by. Lunch, so no alcohol, we went for the set lunch which hit the spot for us all. Service was excellent as well. One suggestion would be to make it clear that there is on site parking for new clients who may be driving, No hesitation in recommending it and if in the area again would definitely go back

Appalling chaotic service. 90 minutes to bring one main course per person . Apparently the lamb (2 50p sized medallions), needed to rest . The included wine with one course omitted until the food was nearly eaten. Won't be coming back. Restaurant humming with life at 6.30,dead by 9. 30. Perfect for aging relatives with all the time in the world, who need an early night..

We visited Pompette for lunch on a Saturday to celebrate a birthday. First impressions of the venue were beautiful decor, nicely spaced out tables and a relaxed ambience. The staff were lovely: welcoming and very helpful. We began with cocktails, olives, nuts and a delicious dip to share while we decided on our starters and main courses. It was lovely to see a menu with a limited number of appealing choices and not an overwhelming list! We all chose different options from the menu and covered most of the choices available. Everything was absolutely delicious and packed with flavour! We couldn't stop talking about it after and highly recommend this restaurant!

It was a lovely warm evening and we sat outside, which was nice. The service was spot on, the wine list great and the food delicious. The menu is shorter than when we last went, which is good I think, with a good choice for each course. Everything we had was delicious. It is pricey but worth it for a special night.

Absolutely brilliant - one of only a very small handful of restaurants in Oxford that I’d recommend to friends.

Nice place , the mussels is perfect; the choice of wine a little small . Price is correct and you have a terrace

Was hoping for an amazing experience . Loved the bone marrow and chips were great. Steak was pile of grease, so I sent it back (it tasted awful) and the staff argued with me three times! I finally had to ask them to just charge me for it and stop arguing. Service was so sub par- apps served before cocktails - nothing came out at the same time. French service does not exist here.

The best chef in Oxford, by a country mile. Always so consistent, and the service is really, really good.

Fantastic! You HAVE to go, it’s an amazing, beautiful little place.

Exceptional food that blends classical and modern flavours. Everything from the baguette to the choux buns were delicious.The rabbit leg with beans was especially tasty, and my partner commented on how great the panisses were. Service was generally excellent, with our first waiter being especially attentive and pleasant. There was a slight hiccup with another waiter, who confused our lactose-free/oat hot chocolate order for a dairy hot chocolate, but this was promptly remedied when we brought it to their attention. Overall, an absolutely delicious dining experience in very pleasant surroundings.

Such a lovely restaurant, we will definitely visit again. We went to celebrate our anniversary and it didn't disappoint. Amazing service, wine and food. Thank you!

A rare gem for its food, real classic French bistro cooking taken to the next level. It’s hard to get the much-loved staples of this cuisine so perfect, yet they do it, every time. Fish soup, fries, steak, sauces, salads, all so good you want to close your eyes and the meal never to end. Joey was the perfect manager - a host, a total pro and a big smile. What a find.

Duck confit was over seasoned and too salty to eat. Left over half of it. Not an enjoyable eating experience. Dessert was fine, strawberries with mint a nice touch. I made it clear to two wait staff that I didn't enjoy the main and all I got was a verbal apology. No money off bill, no drink on the house. No formal apology from the manager. Really poor customer service. Do yourself a favour and go to Pierre Victoire down the road near Jericho for proper French food at a much more reasonable price. I've been there 3 times and won't be paying Pompette another visit. Such a shame as I was actually looking into private dining options for my wedding and Pompette blew their chance tonight.

Overall: Dissatisfied with customer service/management. Mains were poorly seasoned. Not what I expected from a Michelin guide restaurant. Started with Cocktails and bread and french butter which was lovely, and enjoyed the atmosphere. We were a bit disappointed by the main "duck confit" which was cooked very well but ruined by the very salty duck. My fiancee ordered the same and immediately clocked the salt level, however I'm a bit more clueless and ate everything but afterwards was glugging down water. We received no attention after feeding-back this back, besides the waitress apologizing (when it shouldn't be her apologizing in the first place!). For dessert we ordered a "Canele de Bordeaux" and a "Pana Cotta" which were actually really nice. Too bad the damage was done though...

The atmosphere was lovely, the restaurant felt very exclusive due to the reserved tables and also meant that as we booked early in the evening that it was relatively quiet when we were there. The food was incredible, from the tomato orzo & burrata main to the stunningly creamy and decadent vanilla bean panna cotta. The frites were a table favourite & we ended up ordering an extra portion to share. The staff were all very nice, attentive & helpful. Additionally, they had a number of non-alcoholic drink options including a non alcoholic gin cocktail and two g&t options, which were amazing! We will definitely be coming back!!

A delightful venue withe excellent food and service. Visiting Oxford for the day and not wishing to eat in a ‘chain’ cafe, a friend told us about Pompette and we were not disappointed.

We visited again yesterday evening for our anniversary and as always the experience was exceptional. The cookery is sublime, the attention to detail and atmosphere always perfect. We have just returned from a visit to stay with family in Auvergne so we were feeling a little sad to be back in rainy Wiltshire, so thank you for giving us our local taste of home from home. We also wanted to mention Joe who was a complete delight - so natural, charming, witty and clearly loves what he does. Good hospitality is a real art and rare to find. Such a lovely evening so thank you and we look forward to returning again soon

Overwhelmed with disappointment 🙁 Lemon sole was bland and poorly seasoned, lamb ribs - very fat and disgusting. Fish soup tasted like a canned soup from a store. Despite poor quality and taste, food is very expensive. The only good thing about this place - service and design. Don't recommend to anyone!

fabulous food, amazing service and cozy atmosphere

Fantastic dinner Cocktails delicious and a pleasure to be recommended by Clinton Ham croquettes to die for along with the Cervelle de canut (Pascal's the chef'patron recomandition) Wines list very impressive, delicious and good prices(created by Laura with very much passion and love) Lamb ribs as starter ? Yes unbelievable ! Fish soup the best in UK as a French receipe with Pascal's chef touch! Joey mate brilliant eye for details and such a lovely customer service, keep doing what you are doing! Emmanuella such a love and warm smile so welcoming and friendly Very nice atmosphere and quiet rarely to find these days people who still loves hospitality, cooking and serving to such a high standard! Thank you so much Pompette for such a lovely evening and delicious food and drinks! Keep it up! ✌️💪👍🍾🥂👏👏👏👏👏

Fabulous lunch on a wet Saturday lunchtime. Great staff, beautiful decor, stunning food. Reassuringly short menu, but definitely something for everyone. Fish soup was top notch, but the cod was truly outstanding. Fish cooking to perfection. My partner had the confit duck which was equally as good. Being local to Oxford this was another case of "why haven't we been here before?"

We got here because I saw the place has a mention in the Michelin guide. Turned out to be a great option for a special dinner, on a special occasion, celebrating something... Food is good, and staff is kind and polite.

Very friendly staff Food was great Highly recommend

We went to Pompette for an anniversary meal and it was fantastic - the steak was delicious and perfectly cooked, the cocktails were very tasty, everything was beautifully clean and well presented and the staff were very friendly. Many thanks!

For the fact this is a Michelin star restaurant, it didn't quite feel like it. Decor is old-fashioned. Service is friendly but a bit overbearing. Hardly any vegetarian options.

Absolutely lovely experience - everyone was nice, the food was great (which is not common in Oxford), and the service was stellar! Many thanks, we will be back!

Marvelous food. The fish was perfectly done, crusty on the outside and delicate on the inside. I'd never tried French beer, but they had an import that was fruity and tasty. I'll certainly come again the next time I'm in town.

Food was great but it’s a bit too much for us. Sundays they serve only from set menu so you can order 3 or 2-course as well as some snacks/small bites. I’m amazed of how much selection they have for drinks. For food, I loved the St. Austell mussels starter, the mains were portioned good as well and cooked tender, I had the Chicken with pomme puree peas and bacon. For desserts I had the lemon polenta cake which I loved but was so full too bad I can’t finish it. Cozy ambiance and welcoming staff. For me, food is on 8/10 but overall experience was 10/10.

Excellent dishes for French tastes (black pudding and vegetables, exceptional Cornish mussels). Warm and personalized welcome from the hostess. Thank you, highly recommended!

Went to this restaurant twice. First time was not impressed by service and food, especially when you end up paying a fortune. Second time, I was happy with both so I think I would again.

Everything tastes to perfection.

Wonderful French styled food. My wife had Asparagus starter and Steak Haché Frites. Father in law had fish soup followed by turbot. I had mussels in creamy sauce followed by boudin noir. Great tastes and textures.

Just not worth your time. Feels over priced for what it is.

Had a quick set lunch with wine on Sunday. The service was attentive and impeccable throughout. We were unsure about which wine to pair with our food and we were allowed to have a taste. The lamb sweetbread and boudin noir were excellent and my dining partner enjoyed her sirloin with duck fat potato. And the interior decor is just classy.

Good quality, straightforward French food in a modern fairly bland room, Reasonably good value set lunch but things like water and bread increase the total. Popular withe the comfortably off residents of North Oxford of a certain age perhaps,

So disappointed. The steak frites were ok, but so overpriced. With a first course and a bottle of wine more than £160.00! For two . Best to eat in for this kind of meal. Rip off!

Amazing evening. Lovely relaxed atmosphere with friendly knowledgable staff and obviously the most important thing - delicious dishes. We were not disappointed

Very, very decent French cuisine. Highly recommend the spatzle (sorry no photos).

It's nothing like it's original sister restaurant, Terroir, which oozed sophistication, grittiness, great wine, and brilliant staff. This is a shadow of that - food was poor, didn't finish, and not even sure how they could serve it to people. Red wine served cold. Atmosphere...

New year's eve meal. Lovely food, fairly priced. Chap on drinks seemed very unhappy to be there though

Pretty good! Had the set menu for lunch. Smoked trout and spud salad could only have been improved by having the spuds out of the fridge a bit sooner. Tough to do though I guess. All reasonable and very welcoming. Parking is available which is a boon.

Third time of visiting, still just as good. Everything was really fresh and flavoursome.

Great food and service. Little travel to France in this restaurant.

Met a friend at 12.30, we ordered the set menu. Wonderful choice and a most enjoyable well balanced meal. The starter fish cakes were packed with salmon and very well cooked.The rice pudding was superb. Warm and friendly the staff were attentive but left us...

Delicate and tasty food, pleasant surprise - a bistro in Oxford!

We visited the place for lunch today with friends. We live in Summertown but had been here only once long ago- it has always looked a bit empty for a good restaurant. This afternoon I had a stake with potato chips and salad. The steak...

Unfortunately, Laura was not there but enjoyed the meal very much with my son and his family

The service, atmosphere and food was all first rate.

Excellent french menu, meal served by friendly and knowledgeable staff, food tasty and very french. 4 for atmosphere only because lacked customers(it was a Saturday lunchtime so maybe I've been a bit harsh).

The good: tasty well cooked food The bad: why have an extensive and, at times, expensive list but no vintages given? Why not write orders down instead of forgetting them? Why bring me my soup whilst I’m still eating my croquettes? A pity because despite...

I'm pretty sure this is now my favourite place in Oxford. There is always a big enough choice to cater for all tastes / restrictions people put themselves through. Everything is always done superbly, not rushed and more than helpful to advise if required.

Having worked in hospitality for nearly two decades, it’s safe to say I was not impressed with the service from one individual at this restaurant. On arrival (7:25 for a booking at 7:30), we asked to have an aperitif at the bar before being seated,...

Hard to put into words the overall experience at pompette this evening. We had 7 plates of food in total and they were all absolutely perfect. Hats off to the chef as the food was outstanding. I am a coeliac (gluten allergy) and I was...

Superb food, lovely staff nice atmosphere & good value. Will defo go back … plus is parking spots at rear of location. 10/10

The food was excellent, the service was super nice and all in all it was a great choice to celebrate a birthday

Great food, good value and excellent service. Will definitely go back.

Was alright. Bit pushy with the alcohol menu, and I definitely don't recommend coming in without a reservation, your orders will be coming later. Food was nice, I recommend the fish soup! It may not look much on the photos but the taste is seriously good. The menu is seasonal too, so there's changes from photos you find here. That said, the place is too pricey for me so I doubt I'll be visiting again.

I’ve explored and analysed deeply into their services are despicable and unacceptable. The procedures of their work is completely scandalous and salary rate is promising which is a fair income payment. The food quality had a few promising results, but the price is overwhelming. It was not inspiring as I witness their apathetic hospitality experience.

Absolutely fantastic service and the most delicious steak I have ever eaten.

Oxford has plenty of restaurants, most rather mediocre. Pompette is a class apart, food is stunning, service is great and prices are comparable to those of far inferior establishments.

Wonderful food, lovely staff and beautifully decorated. Would strongly recommend for anyone wanting a fancy meal out with the other half!

Delicious food, friendly service