Oxford

It is obvious that a large student population and influx of tourists has shaped the lunchtime cuisine which Oxford delivers. The emphasis is on fast food, however, this doesn’t necessarily mean greasy burgers and soggy chips. St Giles' Café is well known as Oxford’s premier joint for the traditional English fry up. Felson's and the Beat Café cater to crowds hungry for filling and delicious sandwiches and snacks. The evening brings a need for more, for good restaurants to satisfy those in search of more than a filled baguette. Brown’s offers the same unfaltering quality and succulent steaks as always. Hilos Jamaican Eating House embraces all that is Jamaican, from the menu, to the atmosphere, and also imported Jamaican lagers and beers. Fishers guarantees freshness as its fish and seafood arrives daily and specially selected from London’s Billingsgate Fish Market. La Gousse D'Ail is perhaps Oxford’s newest restaurant and is already establishing a name for itself for the wonderful French inspired menu that offers. A mention goes to the Quod Restaurant & Bar which is housed in a vast converted Barclays bank, and is quickly becoming one of Oxford’s most popular haunts.

Britian.tv’s Choice of the Month: Mongolian Wok Bar

I know that the term DIY is synonymous with home improvement but this particular restaurant is seeking to make us rethink this association. On first glance, the Mongolian Wok Bar would appear to be the same as any other Far Eastern influenced restaurant, even down to the daunting prospect of karaoke. But soon it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary restaurant as the waiter clears away the starters and issues you toward the kitchen. The basic concept is that you make up your own dishes for the vast array of ingredients available, from shredded chicken and fresh bamboo shoots and never-ending selection of herbs and spices. The advantage of this is you can see quality of the ingredients and control how long they are cooked for. There are also a number of recommended dishes. Once chosen, the ingredients are passed to specialist chef who toils over a frighteningly hot wok to create your dish. Rice is copious and you can visit as many times as you want in two hours. In short, eating at the Mongolian Wok Bar is a fresh and innovative experience which once enjoyed will probably be again for years to come.