Welcome to the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2025 and here is our exciting third category Best Restaurant 2025, which is always hugely competitive. VOTE HERE: https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
The awards will be held on Monday May 12 at The Ashmolean, with a fabulous after party at Dishoom’s Permit Room in Oxford.
Sponsored by headliners Goldstar Recruitment and The Feathers, with Brandpay and Jolly Foods, as well as Oxford Fine Dining and Grape Minds on board, and Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir fame lined up to host, the voting has begun.
In alphabetical order, the Best Restaurant 2025 nominees are:
Alberto’s, Chipping Norton – Such a great addition to Chipping Norton’s culinary line-up, the tiny restaurant run by Claire Lenkowiec and her fiance Valerio Grimaldi-Plant, the latter producing some beautiful, authentic Italian food in the open plan kitchen where the ingredients speak for themselves and the pasta dishes sing. Almost impossible to get a table. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Arbequina, East Oxford – Always exceptional despite its longevity on Cowley Road, the quality and reverence given to its Spanish tapas menus continue to delight, flavour bering paramount. Spanish tapas at its best. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Branca, Jericho – Always full, whether it’s at weekends when people throng for some of its sophisticated Italian food, shoppers packing out its deli or its new deli counter days, more of a self service style arrangement that’s gone down extremely well. Continually evolving it’s staying ahead of the game. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Brasserie Blanc, Jericho – Another hugely popular entry that never veers from its intent to serve traditional French food in an intimate setting, suiting everyone from families and couples to work mates and pensioners. A safe bet whatever the occasion. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Chloe’s, Charlbury – last year’s BEST NEWCOMER winner, this is Chloe Horner’s passion project where sustainability and seasonality frame everything she does. Her whimsical menus tick so many boxes, changing on a weekly basis, depending on her local suppliers, and her vivid imagination. Her women’s team, networking forums and pop up suppers aim to support the local community. Her reputation precedes her. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Cherwell Boathouse, North Oxford – Always idyllic, its location alone ensuring a constant flow of hungry punters and gourmets heading down to its riverside setting. But it doesn’t let up on the food front, its skilled, refreshing main menu and tasting menu offering numerous options, which is why it’s so popular for special occasions. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Cygnet Restaurant, The Swan, Islip – Head chef Paul Welburn has just left, his position taken up by Peter Wilton who now gets his chance to shine. Still high brow, belying its village pub mentality, the originality of the dishes and new sharing plate mentality should bolster its reputation. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Dishoom’s Permit Room, Oxford – bohemian, fun and inclusive, offering something for everyone via breakfast, lunch and street food snacks through to dinner, cocktails and DJs, all seen through its vibrant Bombay focused lens. A great daytime meeting place, it transforms at night into something more decadent. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Five Little Pigs, Wallingford – Headed up by head chef Aimee Collins whose nostalgic menus continue to pull in the crowds, its ever evolving menus are reflective of the seasons, suppliers and the environment. Beautiful, gentle and surprising food, every ingredient is allowed its moment in the sun, whether it’s foraged or cocktail related. And with the surrounding community firmly centre stage you’ll find the team serving drinks on the clumps, at festivals or gathering wild garlic in the woods. Something really different, it keeps everyone else on their toes. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Fleur De Lys, Bampton – When your craving for French food gets too much, The Fleur will always come through, whether it’s the perfect French onion soup oozing with cheese and croutons or a stunning cassoulet, this should be your go to. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Folly, Oxford – Make sure this is on your radar, because not only does it have a beautiful setting and pontoon dining pods, but they go an extra level with the food here which you can enjoy as life floats by. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Gees, Oxford – Such a treat, whether you pop in for a sophisticated brunch, lunch or dinner, it never loses that upmarket, refined luxurious vibe despite being such an Oxford institution. Continually updated, the glasshouse interior pops, that clever mix of contemporary cool and swanky relaxation means we keep going back. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Kibou, Oxford – already thriving and fitting neatly into Oxford’s line-up with its Japanese offering. Yes, it’s a chain but it’s still run by the original owners and is hugely popular – largely down to its combination of a stunning interior, lots of different dining sections and some really diverse food. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Mamma Mia – Summertown – When in doubt go to Mamma Mia. The place for a more relaxed and less formal occasion, when you want to kick back and enjoy some great pizzas and pastas, it never disappoints. Full of families, children, couples and everyone in between it’s a true neighbourhood restaurant and as popular as ever! Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Nest, The Feathers, Woodstock – a refined and exceptionally executed entry, the food produced by Luke Rawicki (head chef) and Shannon Mulholland is next level, delivered with excellent service and a sophisticated dining room. An impressive package where quality is everything. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
No1 Ship Street – Oxford – Never changes and still everyone’s favourite, despite new restaurants opening all around it, it just breezes through, confident in its offering of luxurious dining – steaks, lobster, oysters, its refined crowd relishing its underplayed but decadent ethos. A former winner for a reason! Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Old Crown Ballroom, Faringdon – Unashamedly high end, it goes from strength to strength, head chef Samuel Squires’ menus continuing to delight while a packed and imaginative events programme introduces a whole new clientele to his food and the impressive dining room. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Orwells, Shiplake – Chef patrons Liam and Ryan Simpson-Trotman pour love, passion and enormous skill and imagination into each and every dish, their flair for presentation and surprise a delight. Just so good we can’t wait to return. A firm favourite. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
OXTWO, Summertown – while the wine bar/restaurant hybrid brought to you by Brewmish (Back Lane, Duke) and Grape Minds aims to cover all the bases, Johnny Parke’s BBQ centric and small plate menu is excellently delivered, bringing something really novel to the table whether you enjoy a few dishes over a glass of wine or something more committed of an evening. Off to a great start, OXTWO is intent on making its mark. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Pompette – Summertown – Husband and wife team Laura and Pascal Wiedemann continue to reign supreme in this contemporary restaurant where dishes hailing from Alsace-Lorraine are served in a vibrant bustling atmosphere. Whether you perch at the bar for a cocktail and some irresistible cervelle de canut or a sit down meal, you won’t be disappointed. We’ve done both on numerous occasions! Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Quod – Oxford – Never loses that wow factor, from the moment you step into that huge contemporary space, it means business. Rammed to the hilt whether it’s a weekday lunch or a romantic dinner, the clientele speak for themselves with their feet. An Oxford staple and culinary ambassador. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Six By Nico, Oxford – has made a big impression since opening on Oxford’s Westgate roof, its picturesque open plan dining space and kitchens luring in diners after its themed, affordable taster menus, introducing a whole new crowd to fine dining. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
Yurt at Nicholsons, North Aston. The notorious restaurant, sat bang in the middle of the upmarket garden centre, may be an unusual location for such a well noted eatery, but Andrew Carr’s skills in the kitchen have been noticed by all the guides. Sustainability is the name of the game here – nothing goes to waste and their menus are as seasonal as you get. Perfect for a quick lunch with girlfriends, an incredible breakfast/brunch and numerous pop-up dinners where Andrew pulls out all the stops. Vote now https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
There are 10 categories and we will be announcing one every day for the next 10 days. These include BEST NEWCOMER, BEST PUB/BAR, BEST CAFE, BEST RESTAURANT, BEST VEGGIE/VEGAN OFFERING, BEST CHEF, BEST GASTROPUB, BEST INTERNATIONAL, BEST FOOD HERO and HOSPITALITY WOMAN OF THE YEAR
The top four nominations from each category will be invited to the glittering ceremony where the winners will be announced, so get voting and pick your favourite.
You can only vote once in each category, so keep voting every day for all 10 categories! Voting ends at the beginning of May. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/iaayc9tg
