With Valentine’s Day approaching, don’t get caught short. Here’s our picks of the best offerings to ensure that love is in the air on February 14!
No1 Ship Street, Oxford – having just been voted one of the country’s most romantic restaurants by Open Table, you can’t go wrong at this stylish city centre eaterie whose decadent menu suits any occasion with everything to French onion soup, lobster and oysters to burgers and steak. Their set lunchtime menu (two courses £16.50, three for £21.50) will suit most budgets. https://www.no1shipstreet.com
Dosa Park, Oxford – the budget friendly South Indian restaurant is offering a three course £14.95 Valentine’s menu which includes a complementary make-your-own dosa in their Botley and Park End Street branches. Haven’t got a date? We’d go anyway! Book at https://dosapark.com
The Duke, Woodstock – Choose from Head Chef Alan Dann‘s Valentine’s Day sharing platter menu of fish (prawn and crayfish cocktail, opted shrimp, oak smoked salmon, haddock goujon, tartare sauce and mixed salad £18pp), duck (breast, confit leg, surfing, dauphinoise potatoes, roast carrots and cherry sauce) or the steak (£21pp) with béarnaise sauce, beef dripping chips, Savoy cabbage and mixed salad), with chocolate d=fondant or baked choc chip cookie dough to finish. https://www.dukeofmarlborough.co.uk
Salkaara, Banbury has pulled out all the stops with an extravagant five course Indian taster menu (£42.95 a head) starring everything from monk fish tails and seabass peera to backwater duck and a selection of desserts, as well as a sorbet palate cleanser, with lot for vegetarians and vegans as well. BOOK HERE
Royal Oak, Ramsden is taking the pressure off by running their Valentine’s menu from Friday-Sunday with a wonderful offering featuring lobster tails, beef wellington, confit duck bon bons, scallops, courgette fritters and a banana split for two. Comfort food that should ensure love is in the air! CHECK IT OUT HERE
The Old Crown Ballroom, Faringdon. Go to town with head chef Samuel Squires’ tasting menu for a reasonable £65 a head. The perfect time to try out some of Oxfordshire’s finest food. From the chef’s bread course and scallop amuse bouche, to tarts, duck and a Ferrero Rocker dessert you won’t be disappointed by these six courses. There is also a Valentine’s a la carte menu to enjoy. https://www.theoldcrowncoachinginn.com
Plough, West Hanney has a set menu for lovers at £60 per person. It includes delights such as celeriac soup with truffle and fromage blanc, a warm prawn cocktail sharer, Pavé of Lamb for mains and to complete your romantic journey a biscoff brownie with marinated strawberries. CHECK IT OUT HERE
Yurt, Nicholsons, North Aston – it doesn’t get much more romantic than this wonderful tented setting where you will be met with canapés and Prosecco on arrival, followed by a seasonal three course meal crafted from local produce. Which at £45 a head is stunning value. BOOK HERE
Pompette, Summertown – is going to town French style with a menu including everything from oysters to cote de boeuf, chocolate fondant and petit fours. £85 a head BOOK HERE
Back Lane, Woodstock – aim to overindulge you with a special menu of oysters, asparagus, surf & turf and a dark chocolate fondant with kirsch soaked cherries, praline ice cream and a cherry gel to share, alongside some tasty specials. If that doesn’t work nothing will! https://backlanetavern.co.uk
Punter, Osney, Oxford – there are only a few tables left at the veggie/vegan pub so get in quick to book the three courses for two people for £60 including two glasses of fizz on arrival. Ring to book. https://www.thepunteroxford.co.uk
Fleur De Lys, Bampton Enjoy traditional French classics to share like their Côte de Boeuf platter and the delectable sounding Tarte Tatin for two, crowned with a drizzle of Calvados crème anglaise and a scoop of velvety vanilla ice cream. BOOK HERE
Orwells, Shiplake is not only doing a fine dining menu but a Valentine’s @ Home Menu for those of you who want to get romantic from the sanctity of your own home. And you won’t be missing out menu wise! For £70 per person you will enjoy sourdough, bake cheddar soufflé, Mylor prawn ravioli, Cotswold beef fillet, a chocolate pebble and even and rhubarb and custard macaroons from this award-winning restaurant. Closing date for ordering is Sunday 11th February at 6pm. wine flights and champagne also available https://www.theorwellsshop.co.uk/valentine-menu
Table 13, Wheatley has designed their weekly supper clubs around love, self or otherwise, with a stunning plant-based menu celebrating the seaosns with ingredients from porcini and jerusalem artichokes to blood oranges, to get the senses pumping. Just book in https://table13oxford.uk/menu-2
Cinnamon Stick, Middle Barton – Middle Eastern food fans should kill two birds with one stone and pop in for their special Valentine’s menu – two courses for £25 and three for £35 – think mixed mezze with houmous, moutabel, warak inab, and fatayer sebanikh with flatbread and then maybe the Ouzi; filo pastry parcel filled with rice, lamb, peas & nuts, served with yoghurt and cucumber? SEE MENU HERE
The Yafo Kitchen Valentines pop up, The Edge Eatery, Witney, Feb 14. A packed menu of European and Middle Eastern treats awaits you with seven sharing plates to try from homemade Lanane cheese with figs, honey and walnuts to beef koftas and Turkish rice pudding with complimentary snacks and an open bar! Book here https://the-yafo-kitchen.sumupstore.com
The Greyhound, Letcombe Regis – Never let’s you down and head chef Martin Sherriff has rustled up a fun but complex £60 a head menu for three courses. Think cured bass, XO sauce ketchup, chicken skin crumb, langoustine foam, nori, scallop wonton, then ox cheek ravioli, smoked cured egg yolk, caramelised onion purée, bordelaise jus and maple popcorn panna cotta, gingerbread foam, peanut & stout caramel, spelt crisps to finish. I would! https://www.thegreyhoundletcombe.co.uk/menu-valentine/
White Hart, Fyfield. It’s £65 a head for this sumptuous feast – including an amuse bouche, scallops, monkfish wellington or chargrilled outlet steak and a Savarin sponge with Champagne, rosewater, vanilla mascarpone. MORE DETAILS HERE
Whistlers, Chipping Norton – How about booking a Valentine’s Candle Lit Supper and let Chef Nathan and his team serve four delicious courses for £45pp to impress your loved one? From tomato and smoked paprika soup, with pesto and a cheese fritter, to a hand dived Orkney scallop or the Cotswold lamb belly beignet . For mains the Creedy Carver duck breast & confit bon bon with potato, carrot, red cabbage, snow peas, red currant jus and a chocolate delice for pud. https://whistlersrestaurant.co.uk/menu/our-food/valentines
Porterhouse Grill, Osney, Oxford – head for this steak-centric eatery for their Valentine’s Dinner – two starters, a chateaubriand for two to share with a sauce, desert to share and glass of fizz on arrival. £97 all in! Available 13-15 of February. https://www.theporterhouse-oxford.com
Prince Of Wales, Iffley. If fancy food isn’t your thing then maybe some BBQ short ribs, chicken with mash and gravy and a chocolate fondant with glazed banana might hit the spot? £40 per person. https://www.princeofwalesiffley.co.uk
