Reviewed
8/03

There aren't many of my friends who haven't experienced at least one drunken night in Maxwells since arriving at Oxford, and I have to admit that I have yet to find a cocktail bar in the city where I can enjoy a fun and lively atmosphere, pretty darn good cocktails and a fairly good price (especially for students) to add to the equation too.

Recently, my fiancé and I also decided that it was about time that we took the plunge and tried out thier food, so having booked a table for 7pm, we arrived to unusually quiet and more civilised (if Maxwells can be described as civilised) surroundings than the normal pumping music and crowded bar.

Our waitress, in the obligatory belt-sized skirt, brought our drinks across - due to a special offer that evening, they came in at £1.50 each for a beer and vodka and orange juice, and took our orders. I went for the vegetable Fajitas while Paul opted for one of the four different steak and chips. Service was slower than might have seemed necessary, but not so much so that it became a problem, and the food was delicious. The steak was cooked to perfection, with a mouthwatering sauce, and my Fajitas were unusually presented with the vegetables arriving sizzling dangerously on a hot plate, with the wraps and sauces served separately. Dessert was typically American - we chose from the chocolate fudge cake, Brownies, icecream and cheesecake and found that they too were presented well, again with that slight hint of delay; or is it just the more relaxed approach that Americans give to a meal out?

The food was, as already mentioned, delicious - but not cheap. An average main course sets you back by about £15 and desserts only just under a fiver; and although reasonably sized, the portions weren't the most generous to be found in Oxford. But that said, for a fun night out where you can fully indulge in this light-hearted American style diner and be fed with good and refreshingly different food, then I fully recommend that you treat yourself, maybe just once in a while.

Alison Hook