Restaurant at Macdonald Randolph Hotel

Standing proudly opposite the Ashmolean, very much aware of its place in the order of things at Oxford, the Randolph Hotel has endured a somewhat chequered past when it comes to matters of cuisine. The napery has been crisp, the glass and cutlery gleaming, the service dignified, the surroundings a suitable waiting room for those on life's way to clubland in London W1. Sadly there have been times when one felt the menu was under siege. However, a new Chef est arrive and a sense of change is in the air as well as amongst the stoves themselves. A typical menu might be clam chowder to open the channels, followed by spiced duck with red cabbage, concluding the engagement with a walnut tart accompanied by a delightful maple syrup ice cream. The Randolph is a splendid institution and a revolution in its dining room would be a welcome event.