The Good Food Guide has rated a renowned restaurant in Oxford among the very best vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the UK.

The Punter near Osney Island reopened as a vegetarian and vegan restaurant after lockdown back in 2020 and has received only praise ever since.

“We were ready to move with the times. There wasn’t anywhere local solely dedicated to high-end veggie cooking, so we went for it," owner Tom Rainey said at the time.

“So far people have been loving it.

“While lots of places offer veggie dishes, there really isn’t anywhere exclusively dedicated to offering high-end plant-based cooking, with interesting global flavours.”

THE PUNTER - OXFORD, OXFORDSHIRE

7 South Street, Osney Island, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 0BE

OVERALL RATING: GOOD

Uniqueness: Very Good

Deliciousness: Good

Warmth: Good

Strength of recommendation: Good

Their review reads: "Omnivores and vegetarians head to this backstreet riverside pub set amid the Victorian terraces of west Oxford’s attractive Osney district. They’ve good reason, as The Punter’s meat-free menu shows a rare ability to skip across cuisines with delicacy and panache.

"Attention is paid to complementary textures and colours, as well as flavours, in such dishes as grilled paneer with spinach and chickpeas, satay sauce, chilli and coriander.

"Many dishes, such as a well-balanced hot-and-sour curry involving peppers, cherry tomatoes and red onion with coconut rice, lime yoghurt and toasted almonds are vegan. Finish, perhaps, with chilled coconut rice pudding with mango, lime, and passion fruit salsa.

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Review: Vegetarian and vegan food at The Punter pub, Oxford

The Punter pub in Oxford goes vegetarian and vegan

"Though it has no riverside views, the covered terrace is barely 20m from a picturesque little stretch of the Isis across the street.

"Alternatively, the pub’s bare-boarded, spruced-up interior is popular with the Punter’s constituency of affluent young locals – as is the decent selection of draught beers (including local ale) and a brief, well-chosen wine list, nearly all of which is available by the glass.

"Service throughout an inspection meal was amenable and prompt. In all, definitely worth a punt."