What did you think?

Great location and deceptively large. It looks like quite a small little place when you walk in but when you get up the stairs it’s massive and heaving with people. It’s much livelier upstairs than you think so don’t be put off by looking inside from the street.

Who did you go with?

My friend Dom.

What did you have?

For starter I had dough balls with garlic butter which was really nice – the dough balls were nice and hard on the outside and not too gooey on the inside but there wasn’t enough garlic for me.

Dom had the Christmas starter which was the pork & pancetta croquettes which are pulled pork belly, pancetta, cheddar and basil croquettes, breaded and baked and served with a spiced arrabbiata sauce.

He really liked it and said the sauce was perfect, the tomatoes were sweet, and the pulled pork was scrumptious.

For main I had the Christmas special which was Anatra Romana pizza with pulled duck, shredded courgette, red onion and mozzarella on a light plum hoisin sauce finished with rocket and fresh spring onion.

It was really nice and reminded me of Chinese crispy duck pancakes. The base of the pizza had a nice chewiness to it. The duck was tender and the spring onions not too over-powering.

Dom had the same and he thought it was just as amazing.

For dessert I had a New York vanilla cheesecake which was a real treat. My friend had the brownie but was too full to enjoy it.

Marks out of ten?

8/10 The food was exceptional but the service was a bit pushy and they didn’t leave you alone for 10 minutes.

Would you take a girl on a date there?

Yes, because it is a very lively place, the food is good and it is a great place to sit and have a laugh.

8 Cornmarket Street, Oxford 01865 790442
Christmas menu – two courses for £14.95; three courses for £19.95