Reviews in Oxfordshire

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.

Fantastic food. Im a big Curry Fan and this is the best yet in bicester. Good luck in the British Curry Awards you deserve to win.

we absolutely love this restaurant and it's friendly staff. birthdays are a special treat and we are always made to feel so welcome. new years eve was wonderful!

The carvery was a really good meal and excellent value for money. The waitress, chef and reception staff were all friendly and helpful. Would recommend a visit, don't think you will be disappointed if you like British food.

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.

If you like Indian food this is a must try...The food is different from your average Indian restaurant,cooked how it should be with lovely flavours. The staff very helpful and made you feel warm I had to thank him for a lovely meal All I can say is the chef is highly experienced in this field. Highly Recommended It's very good value

It is wonderful place to eat !! Nice setting and wonderful food and good service. The price is just right.

A quaint family run restaurant that, offers a nice variety of Italian food. Specials of the day given to you in person, by the waiter. fresh produce used. Nice pasta and fish dishes. Staff happy to give more information when asked.

Brothertons offers delicious, authentic Italian cuisine and incredibly friendly service in charming period surroundings. I have dined there twice now and both times was very impressed by the standard of both the food and service -Bernardo, the owner, is welcoming and jovial. Granted, Brothertons is possibly fractionally more expensive than run-of-the-mill Italian restaurants, but you get a superior dining experience for your money. Excellent value all round, I particularly recommend the linguine carbonara.

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)

Always a very warm welcome from yasmin the owner who spends her time making you feel welcome. Nothing is to much trouble for her or her staff. the food is wonderful and good value. We have had a take away or sit down meal every weekend for 10 years!!!

This was comfortably the worst meal and service I have ever experienced. The meals did not arrive together. The waiter didn't concentrate on getting the order correct - he just didn't care at all. 3 separate steak sauces were only very slightly lukewarm. No apology or apparent interest - after warming up they were barely any warmer but the steak was by now cold. The manager took nearly ten minutes to arrive and although he offered free deserts he seemed to be someone who was fed up with dealing with constant complaints. I will not be going there again.

The manager and other members of staff in this pub are abusive and not customer friendly, it is not worth visiting this pub under its current management. AVOID THIS PUB.

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