Hi there!
Remember me?
I still exist! Just barely after last week, which was a bit much, but I do still exist. I was half dying from a cold, had several midterm papers to write, and the penultimate episode of The Mindy Project to put on loop (only! one! more! this! season!). Needless to stay, 'stressed out' was somewhat an understatement.
But I'm back and I'm ready to rumble.
Today, I have for you a food guide to Oxford!
- SWEET TREATS -
MooMoo's Milkshakes
Hands down, the best milkshakes I've ever had.
Try a 'Coffee Oreo' (recommended by Aspiring Kennedy),
and prepare to get your mind blown.
There are also a million candies, chocolates, sauces, and flavors
that you can mix to your heart's desire. Seriously, the best.
The Cake Shop
Situated right in the middle of The Covered Market
(where MooMoo's and Ben's Cookies are also located -
it's the very cutest of indoor marketplaces),
The Cake Shop makes beautiful celebration cakes.
Feel free to take a peek in the window!
If you find yourself wanting a bite of it too,
go on inside and head straight for the little basket next to the cash register.
There are generous baggies of (AMAZING MOIST AND FLAVORFUL) leftover cake scraps.
And get this - it's only 1 British pound for a whole bag.
Ben's Cookies
These are palm-sized, delectable little wonders.
Thick and 'cake-like,' these cookies are unlike any other.
Whatever you do, ask for the cookies straight out of the oven.
They are hot and gooey and melty and the best.
George & Danver (G&D's)
The British do not have a wealth of to-die-for ice creams like the Americans do.
But Oxford does have two locations of G&D's. And that's enough.
Full of fun flavors such as my favorite - butterbeer,
G&D's also offers many an option in how it's served to you -
on top of a hunk of brownie, sandwiched between two hot cookies, plunked on top of a waffle.
Or by itself, if you're normal.
Take your pick.
- FOR A CUPPA -
Turl Street Kitchen
This is probably the closest thing to California you could find in Oxford.
With an emphasis on sustainability and fresh, quality foods -
Turl Street Kitchen is a good go-to for a quick cup of coffee
and a study session upstairs in a sunlight-drenched lair of couches and pillows,
or for a big, hearty meal. Breakfast with toast and dippy eggs was my personal favorite.
The Missing Bean
One of our favorite coffee shops,
The Missing Bean is quaint and tiny and full of character.
The chai and the mocha are bomb diggity.
Rumor has it that the pastries and sandwiches are all really delicious as well.
Taylor's
Taylor's Coffee is a chain, but a chain of wonderful quality.
The croissants (especially the chocolate ones) are the best I've ever had.
And their coffee was a main staple in my British diet.
(Also, they have really good and decently prized lunch options!)
Quarter Horse Coffee
Quarter Horse is a little more hipster, if you will.
Big, open tables and chalkboards.
It's a wonderful place to get some work done,
if you can find a seat!
Also, the brownies.
The Rose
A great place for cream tea!
At seven pounds per person,
you get a wide selection of teas (I love royal blends),
two fluffy scones,
and most importantly - a heaping of clotted cream and jam.
Queen's Lane Coffee Shop
A reliable option for coffee (Nutella hot chocolate, yum!),
and brunch - apparently there are waffles!
It's open late, too, which is a huge plus in this town where everything shuts down at senior hour.
*For cocktails, House is a overpriced but they serve up great drinks and have an outside lounge.
The Grand Cafe has stellar cocktails apparently and has a really long Happy Hour.
- ONE BITE, TWO BITES, THREE BITES, FOUR -
Edamame
On Thursdays, Edamame serves up the best sushi in Oxford.
Super fresh and simple.
The restaurant is the size of a shoebox, but it's nice and kind of like
the owner had you over for dinner at his house!
The High Table
We were the super obnoxious group that accidentally brought more people than we reserved for,
and that had to leave in forty minutes for an orchestra performance,
and The High Table was extremely accommodating and still managed to serve up yummy food.
I had pork belly, and it was really, really delicious!
Great ambiance, too. Really quiet until later on at night, apparently.
Turf Tavern
Turf Tavern is one of the more famous pubs in Oxford -
rumor has it that Bill Clinton used to hang out here.
I can see why.
There's a really decent selection of beers on tap (and ciders!),
and really, really good pub food.
The truffle mac and cheese was incredible,
and the fish and chips here was probably my favorite.
Cherwell Boathouse
If you're looking for a nicer dinner,
Cherwell Boathouse is a great place!
It's a lovely location with great views of the river,
and the food is really good.
Olive's
Um. Go here. GO. HERE.
Seriously the Holy Grail of baguette sandwiches, in my opinion.
The bread is so wonderful, and the combinations are lovely.
I usually just go with the Baguette of the Week,
or an Olive's Favorite, but you can be creative and make your own.
ALSO, after a morning run if you're feeling particularly indulgent,
stop by and grab a Nutella panini. So sinful, but so, so good.
Chiang Mai Kitchen
Our go-to for Thai food.
Decently priced, and all the classics are well done!
Nando's
Nando's is a Portuguese/North African (?) chain,
and is quite popular in England apparently.
A Chipotle for the Brits, if you will.
Piri-Piri chicken.
YUM.
(And the mashed potatoes are no joke!)
Majliss Indian Restaurant
This was the only Indian restaurant I managed to go to in Oxford,
but I loved, loved, loved it.
The decor was interesting - not very Indian restaurant-ish, if you will.
But the food is top notch - the naaaaaan, man.
Ahmed's Food Truck
Oh, Ahmed's.
So much of my time in Oxford was spent in line for this grub.
As one of the only places open after midnight (probably the only place),
Ahmed's was wonderful for late night cravings.
I go for chips and cheese with ketchup, or chicken kebab on pita with hummus.
Cheap and satisfying (and Ahmed is the nicest)!
Atomic Burger
Probably one of my favorites,
and most likely because it also satisfied a burger craving.
I love England, but they don't do burgers very well.
Atomic Burger, however, is the exception.
First of all, it has a sci-fi theme going on, which is so fun.
Secondly, the burgers. You can pick from any combo,
and add, subtract, mix things to your liking.
I love the Audrey Hepburn, which comes with a fried egg, bacon, and an onion ring
(like Audrey Hepburn would ever eat this).
The sci fries are also delicious, and has a nice kick.
Oh, and thirdly - alcoholic milkshakes.
West Cornwall Pasty Company
If you're in a jiffy (or not),
grab one of these!
Basically a chicken pot pie on the go,
and shaped like an empanada.
- THINGS TO DO -
There's a lot to do in Oxford.
You can go on top of St. Mary's Church for a lovely view,
you can visit Cornmarket Street to get some shopping done,
or pop into The Covered Market for some treats,
or check out Radcliffe Square and especially Radcliffe Camera,
get cultured in the Ashmolean Museum,
take a walk and have a picnic in Christchurch Meadows,
or you can explore Oxford Castle and the Botanical Gardens,
and much, much more.
But I'm not an expert on that. I mostly ate.
I do, however, recommend you visit the libraries if you can.
And of course, the colleges.
Christchurch College is the go-to.
It's the biggest, is pretty famous, and has ties to Harry Potter.
New College also apparently is in certain Harry Potter scenes.
Exeter College is free to visit.
Trinity College is supposedly the inspiration for The Secret Garden and Alice in Wonderland,
Magdalen is gorgeous with its own deer park.
Take your pick! There are over thirty to choose from!
- aaaaand, if all else fails -
stop by a Sainsbury's or a Tesco, grab some ingredients, and voila!
