Temptations in Oxford

Excellent meal, we enjoyed all courses and drinks and the service was very friendly and efficient. I particularly enjoyed the lamb shoulder.

Used to be the best fish and chips a year ago, now its over priced and the chips are literally oven chips like they are bought from deltys, total waste of £30 it all ended up in the bin from all four of us.

We had an absolutely fabulous time. Our waiter John was incredible and catered to our every need with enthusiasm, we felt very welcomed and well looked after. The food was amazing and the overall evening was lovely. We will definitely be retuning.

We are very lucky to have The Holly Bush as our local pub, I can confidently say that the Pub offers a wonderful combination of great food, drinks, and service in a delightful setting. The selection of drinks is impressive as well, with a great range of local ales, wines and cocktails to choose from. And the pizzas!! The pizza here are just absolutely amazing, they are always so fresh and have various types of toppings on offer. The staff are very kind and knowledgeable making us always feel welcome. We highly recommend to anyone in the area!

I’m in Oxford for work and, by pure accident (or fate?), I discovered this restaurant. Since I don’t like judging a place based on just one visit, I decided to go twice. Spoiler alert: it was a wild ride. Night 1 - The Case of the Missing Tap Water I walk in. The restaurant is half-empty. The host stand? Abandoned. No one in sight. I stand there awkwardly, slowly creeping closer to the counter, wondering if I’m invisible. Finally, a friendly gentleman (who I assume is the manager) spots me and takes me to my table. He asks, “Still or sparkling?” I confidently reply, “Tap water, please.” He nods, says “OK”… and then vanishes into thin air. Water? Never arrived. Did he forget? Did he go on a quest to find the purest tap water in all of England? We may never know. Luckily, a hardworking and super sweet waitress saved the day by taking my order and -miracle of miracles- bringing me the water I had requested years ago (okay, maybe just minutes, but it felt long). Food-wise? Pizza was fantastic! A little too much chunky pepperoni for my taste, but that’s a personal preference. No complaints otherwise. The bill arrives with the usual service charge included. I paid it- but only for the waitress, because our dear manager? Not exactly a service MVP. Night 2 - Speed Service & Vanishing Objects Friday night. Full house. I brace myself for a long wait, but lo and behold. same manager, different energy. This time, he seats me instantly (growth!) at a not-so-great table near the door. No problem, I’ll take what I can get. Does he ask if I want water? Absolutely not. At this point, I assume I’ve been blacklisted from the tap water club. A new waitress, equally delightful, takes my order. Food arrives in record time. I order salmon rigatoni. The salmon? Great. The rigatoni? Blah. No seasoning, no flavor, just… pasta. I consider asking for parmesan, but putting cheese on fish feels like a sin. Then, something incredible happens. I take my last bite. I wipe my mouth. Before I even lower my napkin..BOOM! My plate disappears. Like magic. Before I even blink, my napkin follows. I half expect my phone and wallet to vanish next. Final Thoughts - Lightning-Fast but a Bit Chaotic This restaurant has a solid foundation: good food (mostly), insanely fast service, and hardworking waitstaff. BUT, the customer care is… inconsistent. It’s like they’re on a speedrun of restaurant service, prioritizing efficiency over making guests feel truly welcome. Oh, and maybe, just maybe, someone could bring the tap water next time? Would I return? Maybe.