Reviews in Banbury

We have been to this restaurant a couple of times before and it was brilliant however we went this Thursday (3rd Feb 2011) for my birthday and it was AWFUL. I was so disappointed. We arrived and were seated and then 10 minutes later a table of 32 people came in. Despite the fact that we were there first and there was only two of us the staff served the massive table first leaving us with a very long wait for both our starters and our main courses. My husband had ordered pizza which was cooked fresh and was delicious, I had crespoline which tasted as though it had been sat under the hot lamp for the entire time it had taken to serve the large table. When we came to pay I said to the waitress that I had been disappointed with the service - she couldn't have cared less what I was saying and said it was our fault we had to wait as we had been too slow eating our starters! She was so rude and it was such a disappointing experience we will never go back.

I found the staff very pleasant and helpful, food 6/10 the only criticism is the fact they charge you for each tiny pot of preserves, so if you like chutney its 50p a spoonful not good.

We recently spent a couple of days in Banbury and looked on the site to see where to eat. We came across the website and saw the previous recommendations and thought we would give it a try. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent and the staff attentive. It's just a pity we live so far away. Thank you for such an enjoyable evening.

This by far the best value for money Italian Restaurant in Banbury. The owner greets you when you enter and nothing is to much trouble. The quality of food is equal to any top class restaurant and highly recommended. We have the pleasure in eating at Cori's whenever we can. Prices are very reasonable for this top class eating establishment. Don't be afraid to ask if there is anything you don't understand. Be surprised and eat at Cori's

great food good trad beers courage & Theakstons Black Bull, Child & Dog Friendly 3 gardens lots of inglenooks & separate rooms not just the usual mass produced pub

this has got to be the best place in the area if it's a steak that your looking for not only do you get the steak cooked just how you like it , it tastes fantastic .! a real meat eaters paradise.added bonus is the real homemade chips and the good service. oh almost forgot great real ales as well.if you are ever in banbury don't miss out .it.s a bit out of the way but worth looking for.

The Sheesh Mahal enjoys a prominent position in Banbury town centre, close to the town’s famous landmark - Banbury Cross - and set back from the busy main road to Oxford. Occupying a handsome stone period building, the restaurant is bright and well decorated in modern Indian style. We were met with a smile by the proprietor, Mr Khalid and shown to our table and offered drinks and popadums. Table settings featured smart white plates and linen serviettes and each table had its own fresh flower display. There is a smart and stylish feel to the restaurant and Mr Khalid mixed easily with what appeared to be many of the regular clients who were dining at the time of our visit (a Thursday evening) The menu is extensive and reflecting of the owner’s north Indian origins. Our party of four ordered popadums and pickles followed by entrees of prawn and mango puri, fish lahori, spiced potatoes and garlic mushrooms and chicken tikka. Main courses came from the Sheesh Mahal Specialities menu selection; chicken saag, makhani chicken, lamb pasanda and king prawn jhalfrezi, accompanied by fragrant pilau rice and nan breads. The food was truly delicious, beautifully cooked and expertly flavoured with many herbs and spices used generously by chefs, including cumin, ajwain, coriander, garam masalah, kalwanji, ginger, garlic and many others. Portion sizes were generous and satisfying, without being wastefully large. We had no room left for sweets but there are a number of popular choices, including fresh mango in season. The restaurant has a substantial wine list and we enjoyed a bottle of the house white, very drinkable, and good value at £11.95. More expensive fine wines are available and good, cold Cobra is served on draught. Toilets were spotlessly clean and obviously well maintained, in keeping with the rest of the premises. . We have never found another Indian to match the quality and dining experience of the Sheesh Mahal and have absolutely no reservation in highly recommending it to friends, family and anyone reading this review!

Have eaten here a few times - food is average pub grub, but a little overpriced for the standard you get (food seems to be microwave/frozen, not much fresh). Vegetarian options for each course are few and far between, and all seem to have blue cheese in.

This restaurant is in a beautiful off building on south bar street. The interior is somewhat disappointing in comparison to the outside and we didn't feel that the overall ambiance was quite right. However, the staff were very helpful and friendly. The food was OK if a little bland. We think it could have be tastier and the accompaniments to the poppadoms could be improved. Overall a decent but not superb curry experience

nice ambience and interior. good quality food at reasonable price. a pretty consistent 'chain' dining experience and cant go that far wrong. Pizza was particularly nice.

I have eaten at the Jaypur for many years now and have always been impressed by the food, the service and the price. The staff are happy to answer questions and to tailor dishes to the customer's requirements. I can particularly recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala and Biryani dishes. Their butter chicken is also as delicious (and as naughty) as it sounds! The restaurant itself is intimate and pleasant, (although a little dark), the portions generous and the takeaway service is quick, efficient and friendly, and free within three miles of Banbury. Great value for money.

A lovely village pub set in beautiful countryside. A listed 12th century building set into the village church's grounds. Very well-kept ales and great food at a reasonable price. Regularly changing menu which is completely homemade and locally sourced. Welcoming staff and a friendly atmosphere!

The san carlo was a real family friendly place and i really enjoyed it as did the rest of my family. i highly recommend going there for a meal out. The food is amazing! you must try the brussette and the pizzas are great too (although quite large)

I have just spent a most uncomfortable evening, not to mention a considerable amount of money for an evening at this 'pub' and would ask readers to seriously reconsider before visiting it themselves. A few points... The restaurant was extremely cold. One of our party kept her coat - and boots - on all evening. When we mentioned this to the waitress we were told that other diners would be arriving shortly and that the place would 'warm up soon'. We were charged over £7 for a 250ml glass of average house wine and over £4 for a glass of orange and soda. The food was fairly dire, over-salted and almost all directly from the freezer. From my seat I had a clear view of the kitchens which were, at all times, nothing more than serving areas with absolutely no evidence of food being freshly cooked. One saving grace - as the deserts were all very heavy I asked for some fresh fruit. This arrived and was well presented. On a Monday evening - albeit before Christmas - and with over half the resaurant empty, the only 'choice' was the 'Christmas meal' at over £25. Being part of a small group of colleagues and, being at the Moon and Sixpence as a result of the arrangements of a fellow colleague, it felt very uncomfortable complaining on the spot. This will not prevent me from voicing my concerns to the management at the earliest opportunity

Over the last couple of years the Cori restaurant has become our little ray of sunshine. As the English Summers go from bad to worse and the winters get wetter and more miserable, our family has found that a meal at the Cori with Angelo and his family is an ideal tonic. Within minutes of entering the restaurant, a wave of bonhomie washes over you and you feel as if you could be seating in a coast-side Bistro out of the sun with the Mediterranean gently lapping up the beach outside. Nowhere other than the Mediterranean are you given such a welcome. The restaurant's food, which is superb, is matched by Angelo's hospitality and attention to your every whim and fancy. By the end of the meal, with the a glass or two of limoncello consumed, the only downside is that when you walk out of the restaurant it is not the azure blue sea that awaits you but another dismal day in Banbury. We had promised to keep this little paradise to our family, but feel guilty keeping the secret. The Gregory Family

Use to go into the Granary quite often but stopped due to the place being abit dirty and untidy. There is always a stuffy smell in there and wonky tables. The service is slow and the floor could do with a good clean. However, the food isn't that bad and the scones are homemade. Pity, they can't get their act together.

Despite the fairly drab interior San Carlo produces good quality food with all the usual suspects you'd expect from an Italian. Visiting on a Monday, I felt a bit self-conscious being the only diner in the restaurant. Staff were efficient and friendly.

Despite the rave reviews, the delightful interior, the traditional dress of the staff the food doesn't live up to the expectation. Having visited twice I found the coconut prawns bland, the chicken satay lacking and the pad thai oily. Great environment and friendly staff but shame the food isn't quite up to the hype.