Bear & Ragged Staff, The

Food Lover (2 March 2010)

We went to the Bear and Ragged Staff last week, while they were having the game promotion. We had not been back here for many years, and were in based on a friend's recommendation. We were not to be disappointed. The wild mushroom soup was extraordinary, the charcuterie board was heaving with hams, salamis, pates, giant capers, pickles - you name it. The venison was to die for and my friend reported that the cod and chips were among the best she had ever tasted. The cheese board and the fig tart tatin were superb, as was the Chilean carmenere that we drank. Lots of people are under the misguided impression that this place serves micro waved and boil in the bag food in the not too distant past. Nothing could be farther from the truth, go and eat there now while you can still get in quite easily without a booking. The Bear and Ragged Staff are destined for fame, if it keeps up this kind of quality of food and service.

Food Freak (18 November 2009)

I went to the Bear and Ragged Staff with a couple of friends in mid-November and had a very good meal. I heard that the new owner of the place had found an excellent new chef who was continuing the work of rehabilitating this old Oxford landmark. The rumours of good food being cooked here turned out to be spot on. We started with the charcuterie platter, pumpkin and paprika soup, and Asian fish cakes. The pumpkin soup was apparently sourced from a garden in Cumnor as was the paprika, you can't get much more local than that, just around the corner! The Asian fish cakes were made solely from fish, no potato, just as they should be. Our mains were heavenly, the rib eye just melted in the mouth, the venison steak was the best I had ever tried, and the noises emanating from the person eating the pork belly roast can only be described as rapturous. We had no room for dessert, although we did check out the wine list, a very interesting selection indeed. We had the Les Terres Rousses Syrah Merlot, which at just over £16 per bottle was really good value. Including coffees, we came out with a bill for three around £70. I will be back, though this time I will bring more friends, these guys are trying hard and they deserve the support.

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