Special Occasions in Oxford: $$$ Edition

Sharon Chau

Though Valentine’s Day has just passed, whether you have another important occasion to celebrate with that special someone, or you’re celebrating your single, thriving status, here are some of the best food Oxford has to offer. On top of the date night restaurants introduced in my previous column, these fancy restaurants will almost certainly break the bank, hencewhy they have been sadly relegated to the ‘once-a-year’ list.

Parsonage Grill, Oxford

Offering “modern British dishes with a light touch” using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, Parsonage Grill serves some of the most delectable (and expesive) food in Oxford, ranging from “twicebaked goat’s cheese & thyme souffé” to “conft duck leg, roasted celeriac & juniper berry sauce”. The restaurant is lavishly decorated with plush velvet chairs and sleek navy walls, and its gorgeous terrace is simply delightful in the daytime — though chattering in the freezing cold at night is probably less romantic.

The Alice A British brasserie at the “heart of historic Oxford”, The Alice is a jaw-droppingly stunning restaurant—pink sofas, velvet cushions, crystal chandeliers, patterned wallpaper, and high ceilings make this restaurant a feast for the eyes. Its wideranging a la carte selection includes warm smoked eel with pork crackling, citrus cured salmon, 35-day dry aged fat iron steak, and duck with grilled clementine and onion pommes anna, with a similarly creative and succulent dessert menu. Come for an exquisite meal, then grab an Alice in Wonderland-themed cocktail in their gorgeous bar.

No. 1 Ship Street

Located in central Oxford and boasting a “sophisticated ambiance”, No. 1 Ship Street was voted as Oxfordshire’s Best Restaurant in 2022 and 2020 for good reason. Serving rock oysters, devilled lambs kidneys, and a surf & turf for two with whole lobsters, the food is eye-wateringly expensive, but mouth-wateringly good. The decor is cosy and perhaps less extravagant than you would expect, but its incredibly central location puts it above many others on this list, especially if you have other Valentine’s Day plans at the movies, the rink or a cheeky Blackwell’s trip.

Cherwell Boathouse

Following the previous theme of dining on the river, Cherwell Boathouse provides an “understated but upscale” European feasting experience with an innovative menu including pressed wild mushroom lasagna with walnut purée; truffe and dashi; caramelised plaice with celeriac and capers, and smoked duck toastie with conft egg yolk; onion relish and mushroom ketchup. Despite its dreaded OX2 postcode, the food is slightly less expensive than the others on this list, and its relatively remote location is perfect if you’re worried about an awkward encounter with your ex.

Knoopologist: make it a mocha

Another week has passed and no doubt far too many hot chocolates have been consumed. My advice? – treat it as a form of self-care! I always tell regulars, a chocolate (or two) a day keeps the doctor away.

Knoops is obviously famed for its hot chocolates and that’s certainly the thing that makes people keep on coming back but there is one item on the menu that sometimes goes under the radar: the mocha.

I think this is for a few reasons. For a start, most people don’t realise that it’s on offer, drawn in simply by the standard chocolates. After that though, even more are unaware that you can personalise it to your heart’s content, just like a chocolate. And this is where you enter a world of possibilities…