Wilding Oxford - Wine Dine Shop in Oxford

The food was absolutely incredible - a spiritual experience. The staff were all absolutely lovely - so friendly but respectful, and incredibly knowledgeable. I am so sad to hear you are closing just as we had discovered you - you've done a great job and I hope to stumble upon your work again in future!! Thank you!!

Overpriced restaurant with ironically a poor wine selection. Food lacked lustre, service illusive. Needs some management intervention I'd imagine to turn this around

We had the most amazing evening and for someone who had food allergies I found the attention to detail and agility of the chefs to accommodate my needs fantastic. Would highly recommend and will definitely be returning.

We had a private meal for 14 in the conservatory at Wilding for our wedding lunch and it was fantastic! I would highly recommend this venue for private functions, the staff (especially Alex!) were extremely helpful and attentive on the day and exceptionally pleasant and efficient to deal with before hand over email. The food was delicious and plentiful (a sharing menu) and they made the experience really special.

Lovely food, friendly service and fantastic wines. The monkfish tail was a stand-out highlights.

Had a great meal here yesterday. The pork chop is probably the most delicious thing I have eaten for ages. Don’t take it off the menu!

Last night, my companion and I embarked on a culinary adventure at Wilding Oxford-Wine Dine Shop, a restaurant we discovered through The Fork app. Despite initial concerns about the lack of a booking confirmation, our worries were promptly dispelled upon our arrival, as the staff seamlessly accommodated our reservation. Nestled within a welcoming ambiance, the restaurant exuded an understated charm with its tasteful lighting and inviting interior. We commenced our feast with the delectable scallops, a starter that left our taste buds tantalized and eager for more. Opting to share our main courses, we selected the monkfish tail and pork chop, a decision that allowed us to experience the diverse flavors each dish had to offer. The attentive waiter informed us that the food would be served as soon as it was ready, ensuring that our dining experience flowed seamlessly. The monkfish, adorned with a perfectly balanced sauce, captivated our palates with its impeccable flavor profile. Notably, the chef's restraint in seasoning prevented any overwhelming saltiness, a pitfall we've encountered in other establishments. For dessert, we indulged in the chocolate delice, a heavenly treat that delighted without overwhelming our senses. Its restrained sweetness complemented our discerning tastes impeccably. Accompanying our meal was a delightful 500ml bottle of wine, which added to the overall enjoyment of our dining experience. With a total bill of £112, we found the price to be both reasonable and reflective of the quality of the cuisine. In conclusion, our evening at Wilding Oxford-Wine Dine Shop was a resounding success. From the delectable dishes to the impeccable service, every aspect of our dining experience surpassed our expectations. We eagerly anticipate our next visit to this culinary gem.

Food and wine were great. Really appreciate the warm service as well. Great afternoon for our family while visiting Oxford.

I am gluten and dairy free which can be a nightmare to dine out. Often I struggle to get a single option I can eat. Yet here everything was so easy! I could eat almost every dish on the menu with just a few minor alterations which they were more than happy to accommodate. The food was incredible and the staff were super helpful!

Added to our Go-To list after calling in for lunch on Sunday, relatively quintet and hence got in with a last minute booking bit not sure why it wasn't busier. Food was great, we shared a few small plates between the 3 of us for starter (the asparagus was amazing) then had a main each (actually 2 of us shared the pork which was plenty for 2). A small menu done well which seems to change so check the website - the way it should be and a fine wine selection (as you'd expect) at v reasonable prices. We'll definitely be back.

We went here for a Monday afternoon lunch, so it was quiet which we liked personally. I can imagine this being a lively/ buzzing atmosphere at the weekend though. The decorations and style is lovely. The service and food however was the best part. We loved every dish we had and had zero complaints. We will be going back in the future for sure. My my wife's favourite dish was the sirloin of beef and mine was the Asparagus and chicken wings. We both had amazing fish dishes, that were excellently cooked also.

Friendly service, relaxed ambiance, decent wines, but now with a menu which can't decide if it's doing small plates or main courses. And the food feels a bit pricey for what it is - eg £13 for 5 small (and undercooked) tortellini seems steep however tasty the sauce. But the chocolate delice for pudding was great

10/10 experience from start to finish. Incredible food, incredible service, every dish was better than the last. Simply incredible.

Phenomenal food! Really impressed by the breadth of the menu, and every single thing had heart and soul to it. Kent, owner, is also the nicest fellow. Cannot recommend the pork chop enough - possibly the best I've ever had.

Great night, round a large table with great food, great fun. We shared several plates of delicious tasters, then I had cod cooked to perfection, meaty, moist and tasty. I will return.

I was excited to try this restaurant after reviews from a friend. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The service throughout was great! The dining area was lovely,bright, and modern. I did find the table size a little small for the concept that the restaurant was promoting. We had 6 people dining! The menu is designed as a sharing experience, consisting of small and larger dishes. Disappointingly, there were only 4 large dishes to choose from! Out of the 11 small dishes to choose from, 8 of them were meat-free. We opted to have a small dish each as a starter. The food was well executed and tasted great. The main dishes I found hard to see how they were sharing meals, they were unsuitable to divide onto other plates. With each large dish you are served, you are forced to buy small dishes to complete the meal. The dishes came out at different times, so we'd eaten half the meal before the other dishes arrived. I was disappointed with the size of some of the dishes, as we did share. The broccoli was only just enough for one in my opinion. We did order deserts. 3 sweet opinions and 1 cheese opinion on the menu. I love Tiramisu, but unfortunately this dish was underwhelming. It was tasteless ice cream on a small amount of sponge. The Pecan pie and cheese dishes were really enjoyed by my other dining party. Overall I have mixed feelings about the food! Some dishes were fantastic and others were disappointing. The menus are obviously seasonal, I would definitely need to check the menu ahead before returning. I feel the menu concept needs tweaking to make this a great dining experience.

The service was friendly and attentive but the food was horrible. The tenderstem broccoli was dry fibrous, the hispi cabbage was OK but drenched in an unidentifiable green slime. The pecan pie was burnt and the rhubarb seemed as though it had been defrosted (though still cold) and uncooked. Insipid ice cream and millefeuille that seemed more like rough puff pastry. Although some things were just poorly cooked, some of the combinations of flavours just didn’t work.

Excellent food and wine with a twist.

We had a great evening there on Friday - tasty and original sharing plates, friendly and efficient service, and a great atmosphere; generous table spacing being a big part of this for me! Recommended.

Recommend for nice wine and nibbles but not dinner. For the prices I expected a lot more and better. For dining you are put in the back, we were next to a large group who were loud and made it hard to have a conversation. I had looked at the menu online before booking and was annoyed to see the prices were higher in person than online. They also don't mention that the dishes that are designed to be shared aren't easily split, nor do they come with any form of sides. So that pork chop main that's £29 is actually £41.50 with some broccoli. The food wasn't particularly well cooked either. Overcooked duck, excessive amounts of salt throughout and little imagination. Other small things detracted also. Sparkling water in a plastic bottle. Receipt describes this as something else so presumably they ran out and substituted it from the local shop, but still happy to charge full price for it. Not swapping cutlery between courses, flaking paint in the toilets etc. Overall had an ok meal but at a premium price. Not worth it.

Unusual, Michelin quality food in a big stylish place. The prices are half what you'd pay on London. It's the most exciting restaurant in Oxford.

The food is beyond delicious! It’s a different from anything else we have experienced. The service was friendly and warm which helped create a great atmosphere. Totally recommend

Lovely set of shared plates both meat and vegetarian based.

Very nicely presented starters and main, tiramisu was a miss. We were early so empty, can't score far atmosphere.

We had a phenomenal evening at Wilding - the food was exceptional and the service was lovely. 1000% would recommend for your next special occasion, and don’t miss out on that celeriac dish 😍 pure magic!

Visited Wilding for a celebratory lunch after passing my DPhil transfer. Staff were lovely, very attentive and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed trying lots of small plates. Definitely keen to go back and try more of the menu!

I am a private chef and I have worked in fine dining establishments for more than 10 years now. I travel the world with my girlfriend and during our travels we taste food in many restaurants, wine bars and trattorie, including Michelin and gourmand restaurants. We were at Wilding for NY celebration and we LOVED the experience. The staff was friendly, warm and professional, the rose Champagne we had was excellent and fairly priced, the food was very, very good and most importantly we were not feeling heavy the next day even if we had a lot of courses. On top of that, the DJ who played that night was a member of JAMIROQUAI, one of my favourite bands. They also served a complementary glass of Cava for the midnight toast! We loved the experience and we will definitely visit Wilding again.

great food - we had lots of small plates - so may in fact we couldnt eat a main course ! really good choice for a social experince, all chosing different plates to try - we will be back

The new menu is incredible! Looking forward to my next visit

We were a large party but everything was wonderful. The food was amazing, the service was excellent and the atmosphere couldn’t have been better. Can’t wait to return.

What is being done at the Wilding, elevates the Oxford food scene. Everything is honestly curated, unpretentious and warming. The food, incredibly yummy, elegant, vibrant and also humble, seasonal and inspiring. Well done!

Your FOH staff were friendly and knowledgeable and your chefs produced beautifully presented delicious food. A wonderful place for a long delicious catch up lunch with my oldest friend. Thank you. Lovely to see Mary Galer again. I've eaten at her previous two venues and knew she would have moved to a Good Place. So a sort of recommendation as I trust her judgement. I'll definitely return for another lovely meal.

Stealing away from work on a blue cold Friday afternoon, my colleague and I drifted down Little Clarendon Street in pursuit of a light lunch and coffee. Disappointed to find placards outside core restaurants declaiming ‘Bookings Only’ we all but stumbled in to Wilding to be courteously greeted in a warm, calm and friendly atmosphere. A simple but perfect selective menu with a beautiful range of starters, main courses and the ‘In between’ selection so suited for lunch. The food (Salmon plus..) was quite simply exquisite ! Not a food specialist or particular connoisseur I’ll admit, but old enough to know great food from the normal serving from Oxford, this lunch was outstanding. A wonderful glass of Malbec and two desserts to die for. Why aren’t people shouting from the rooftops about this place. A complete catching of happiness! As we left I picked up the bill for two - stunning food, fresh wild bread, the aforementioned Malbec, desserts and coffees - there was generous change from £70…..A small slice of heaven as The Lightening Seeds would say….Thank you 🔥 - Priceless. Ken Palmer BSA Oxford Drama School Course Director

Menu choices were not great. Only four “mains” and two were for two people. Sharing plates too small to share. Small periwinkle shell found in a mouth full of seaweed. Lucky I didn’t break a tooth. Rather off hand apology when I mentioned it to waitress but nothing else. The best part of the meal was the bread which we had to order to accompany the venison tartare as it came with nothing. Music very loud, making conversation difficult. I liked the old menu with pizzas better. Won’t be back. Very very expensive.

Delicious plates, excellent friendly staff, but pretty pricey.

Simply outstanding lunch today and a similar dinner two weeks ago. The new chefs have transformed the food in this place. If the Michelin inspectors are not hovering around soon and awarding a star (and alas upping the currently extremely reasonable pricing) I will return and ask them to prepare my hat. And it will be delicious!

Superb evening as expected. Warm welcome. Superlative food. Outstanding wine. We all loved every glass - especially from the magnum! Loved the enthusiasm when describing the wine and individual dishes. I have been waiting for many years for food and wine of this quality in Oxford We will be regulars. Many thanks"

Outstanding and very original food. Innovative ideas and overall the best culinary experience I have had in any restaurant for several years.

We were very excited to try wilding, and were so disappointed. The wine was underwhelming and the food was actively rubbish. It's a shame, because the menu sounds great, when we sat down we literally wanted everything on the menu. The sharing plates concept is great. Unfortunately the delicious menu massively fell flat when it arrived. Fresh bread with whipped lardo - the lardo was flavourless and pointless. Baba ghanoush and aubergine - the baba ghanoush just tasted of all consuming cumin and not in a good way and the aubergine was tough and chewy. Anglotti - just a bit meh. Charcoal grilled brill - best big dish we tried but although the fish was tender it was so very bland. If the best dish is bland you know something is wrong. Porchetta - pork is my favourite food and this was awful. Tough and rubbery pork. The parmesan polenta was nice though. Cured pig selection - promised a lot but was fairly underwhelming. Yoghurt flatbread - genuinely nice, but it was pleasant stodge. Not what you want your meal highlight to be. We tried 5 wines between us, all underwhelming, nothing particularly good. Nothing awful either. Good on them for doing lots of choices by the glass, but nonetheless for somewhere that started from a wine skew, we were disappointed. The staff were friendly but not very knowledgeable about the food and wine. Decor is nice but music and echo are so loud that I had to really speak in a raised voice for my wife to hear me. Not what you want on a date. I went to the cherwell boathouse the next day and spent about 60% less for much nicer food and wine. I won't be going o back to wilding in a hurry.

The new menu is amazing. I have been to Wilding before and wasn’t impressed with the food… it was ok but not great. The new menu is impressive, lots of great items where the taste, texture, and look have been carefully thought of. We were sitting at the chefs table (recommend if you are a foodie) and I loved getting the lowdown on our choices and also looking at all the other plates being prepared. We’ve booked another visit already next week! Thoroughly recommend

Really yummy good since new chef team arrived and a buzzy friendly atmosphere on a Friday evening. Also surprisingly good value we thought.

A nice evening at the Wilding. Interesting food - we really enjoyed the ambition of what the chefs tried to do. Not all dishes were a hit, but a few did. The charred leeks were excellent, the venison main was cold and a little tough. Wait staff were very friendly and attentive without being overbearing - good service considering the aims of the restaurant. Our main complaint was the very strange music playlist which was distracting and went from Elton and Robbie Williams to very bass heavy, cheesy club music. I don't mind bass in a club, but not in a wine bar / restaurant. Music seemed like a random staff member's playlist. Overall some interesting and tasty dishes with a little room for improvement. A nice evening.

Food superb. and service excellent . Two glasses of wine tasted like they’d come from a bottle that had been open a few days but was replaced without question.

We had an excellent dinner for my husbands birthday last Saturday we were treated to a Chefs table which made it Extra special. The food was simply sublime. Oysters with smoked jalapeño oil and butterflied Gurnard were one of our favourites! I highly reccomend for a special occasion. Thank you Chef and whole team

The Wilding was for me one of the best eating experience I have ever had. I tried many dishes that were new to me and was delighed. The wine was very good as well. The staff was very helpfull and niece. The place has it's own spirit. I enjoyed the evening with my husband very much.

My wife and me had a blast. Very tasty food and wine. We went for an experimental sampling and it was outstanding. Even such standard proposals as salmon and a roll with mushrooms had a very nice surprising touches. We definitely want to come back.

The only reason why I didn't give 5 stars for the atmosphere, is because people have not discovered this gem, yet, so it wasn't fully occupied. We have been before, but the food is now at an even higher level; outstanding!

I am a difficult customer. Yet, I have not had a better experience either in London, Paris or Oxford, than the Wliding. it has been a real discovery! Let me explain in a few short points: Atmosphere: beautifully designed and new-classic interior where the light fixtures emit a gentle light. Everything is stylish but seems deliberately understated. The music accompanies the beautiful menu items discreetly, so it is not overbearing. Service : The individuals working here are very welcoming, knowledgeable and gentle in that they don't hard-sell. They let you feel your way around the wine and matching plates of delicious cooking. Wine selection: handpicked wines from around the world with competent advice from staff and flexible options by the glass or the bottle. From affordable to "expense-account" expensive, for Oxford academics and other locals. Food: the food for me is as it should be, for a vinoteca; it is designed around the wine. it is refined, thoughtful, thoroughly imagined to work with the entire spirit of the place and its people. Nothing is heavy or lazily prepared, as it were. Thank you to the Wilding team and founders for providing me with a very civilised haven, amidst academic and professional duties, and may you prosper and propagate for the benefit of all!

Outstanding food, beautifully presented, with startlingly good flavour. The restaurant is in new hands and the are incredibly sure. Great value too. One of the best restaurant meals I have had in years.

We first went to Wildings some months ago and had a disastrous meal with our friends. In that occasion, the food was well below standard and the service was an absolute car crash. So it was with heightened expectation that we rebooked after the recent overhaul of the menu and the relaunch. But what an expensive let down that was. We had a warm welcome from the staff. Our order was taken attentively and wine was poured. That was the end of it. On no subsequent occasion was there a waiter or waitress in sight, despite a lot of staff. Our food came in a completely haphazard fashion. Half the party received there’s and then when we addressed this, we were told that the food came like this, when it was ready. It was for sharing, as if we should just have to accept a shoddy service. The food itself was disappointing in parts, some of the dishes were okay. But some dishes were cold because they didn’t come out on time. It was mainly the poor service that let the place down, which is a shame because it didn’t allow the chef to shine.

We had a delicious Iunch of culinary magic. Fresh and creative dishes and a friendly staff. The chefs launched a revised approach only a few weeks ago and the care an attention really shows.

Had a great dinner at the new and improved Wilding, which now has a food service to match the wine and surroundings. Among the many standout plates were the BBQ hen of the woods and the squid (see pic), while based on a sample of 50% of the desserts it seems hard to go wrong. Will be returning before long to see how the menu evolves with the seasons—an exciting addition to Little Clarendon St.

Walked past and popped in as the menu looked great although we had limited time. All the dishes we tried were fantastic, original menu with excellent execution. Service was brilliant, able to have an amazing meal in a quick turn around. Huge wine list

Food was well presented, attentive service but crockery lacking . Tables for wedding venue could have been arranged better. No mirror in disabled toilet . But overall nice venue.

I went to Wilding after a movie on Sat night without reservation. I was a solo eater, got a warm welcome by the front of the house crew and was seated at the Chef’s table. How wonderful! Being a foodie and travelling around the world, I thought it was a fantastic start to a meal. However, great service stopped there. The waiter was definitely not attentive, asked me for a drink after really long time and essentially that was it. Never, asked whether I needed a second drink etc. etc. Service was cold and not attentive at all. Now coming to the food part. Food was interesting but more misses than hits. The crudo was overly seasoned and the fish not appeared as fresh. Overall very average. The oysters were again not the greatest quality, overwhelmed with all the jalapeno and the works which did not bring out the true flavor of the ingredient. The star of the show however was the stuffed courgette flower. With the underwhelming experience so far, I decided not to order the mains (overall expensive). Chefs and their team were warm and enthusiastic and made me feel comfortable. The menu has some really good potential, but the overall experience does not match what Wilding is trying to achieve. I am very supportive of new culinary ventures, with massive social media marketing, however pictures should match up restaurant experience and overall quality.