An oasis of stylish tranquility, the newly revamped Parsonage Grill Terrace provides the perfect respite from the heat, noise and bother of the city centre.
Now complete with terracotta pots, a fountain trickling away melodically, bright cushions, huge tropical plants, vast umbrellas; it’s now less English garden and more Moroccan riad.
And while the courtyard terrace is enticingly cheerful, the service is still impeccable, thanks largely to our hugely professional but friendly waitress Aga Grabowska and restaurant manager Jack Stacey, helping to maintain that rarefied air of understated, old school luxury,
You can never go wrong at The Parsonage Grill. it’s an eccentric, bucolic, rarefied, gourmand, secret little corner of Oxford
Menu-wise, The Parsonage Grill Terrace is equally as laid back yet refined – think Swallows and Amazons style nostalgia with Cornish crab, Orkney scallops, Wye smoked salmon and rabbit and tarragon pie all available.
We were celebrating, so a glass of champagne, which tasted so much better in the twinkling, dappled sun in the courtyard garden, and a piquant Cosmo from the sophisticated cocktail menu.
Some wonderfully crusty bread, butter and olive oil and then a bowl of bright green watercress and potato soup (£10.50), so vibrant it almost hurt the eyes, the depth of taste belying the delicate ingredients within. Refined, whimsical and delicious.
The twice baked goats cheese and thyme soufflé (£12.95) was more subtle, if a little dense.
‘while the sun’s out make full use of this perfect city centre bolt-hole’
Mains included the rump of lamb, peas, broad beans, potato rosti and gremolata (£27), a quintessential English summer dish – the meat tender and really well cooked – not too pink but pink enough – served with skinned broad beans, the rosti cubed, crunchy on the outside and soft inside, if less grated than expected.
The Isle of White tomatoes, burrata & lovage with sourdough croutons (£21.50) speak for themselves, a fresh, colourful Mediterranean dish, well suited to the unusually sunny climes. The burrata was huge and wobbly like panna cotta, the salad bursting with croutons and juicy tomatoes, some tiny capers and a warming dressing.
As for dessert, the summer pudding was an absolute must, so rare on menus these days but such a classic – bursting with summer fruits, although here quite tart and in need of a drip of cream.
The home made ice creams, which change daily also included my favourite, Turkish Delight, which came complete with tiny flakes of chocolate and that wonderful rose flavour, and we threw in a creme brullee which was top-tappingly good.
The congratulatory plate of petit four, compete with tiny chocolate and blackberry tarts, cheesecake squares and deconstructed biscuits brought a tear to the eye.
You can never go wrong at The Parsonage Grill, it’s an eccentric, bucolic, rarefied, gourmand, secret little corner of Oxford, and as always it did us proud. So while the sun’s out make full use of this perfect city centre bolt-hole.
The Parsonage Grill is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Go to https://www.oldparsonagehotel.co.uk/dining/
