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| Old Parsonage Hotel |
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The Old Parsonage Restaurant serves the very best of British food using the finest produce to create superb traditional dishes. The classic seasonal menu will appeal to everyone - expect scallops & chargrilled asparagus or confit rabbit and foie gras terrine, followed by either ribeye steak with roasted shallot butter and salad or grilled sea trout with champ mashed potato. A good selection of seasonal classic dishes is on the menu served in this special setting, unique to Oxford.
Situated at the end of the beautiful boulevard St Giles my friend and I entered the Parsonage via the elegant candlelit terrace of the stone building dating back to 1660.
We went on a Wednesday night when there is always live jazz playing in the main bar with its Russian red walls covered with original cartoons and portraits. The fire was lit, the atmosphere was buzzing, the staff friendly and knowledgeable.
To start, I ordered fish soup with saffron rouille and my friend artichoke ravioli. The waitress informed us that fish and shellfish are flown in twice a week from Jersey in the Channel Islands and beef, lamb and pork come from owner Jeremy Mogford’s Oxfordshire Farm, giving them complete traceability.
Main courses arrived in the form of canon of spring lamb, baby leeks & broad beans and seared skate wing, butter bean pur ée and caper beurre noisette. Both were delicious and cooked perfectly. Our waitress recommended the Berry’s Claret which went perfectly with the lamb and Sauvignon Fume blanc which had good acidity and depth of flavour.
Puddings, an apple tarte fine with cinnamon ice cream with a plateful of English Cheese which ended the meal perfectly.
The jazz was world class, the double bass and piano adding even more atmosphere to the evening. You can just have a drink at the bar if you don’t want to eat.
We both agreed that we would come for afternoon tea within the week by the fireside. I hear the Old Parsonage does a fine champagne tea. The early supper menu is extended on a Wednesday until 8.30pm for those who want to enjoy the jazz playing from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.
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