Reviewed
12/03

Reputed to be the oldest coffee house in Oxford dating from 1654, Queen's Lane Coffee House's recent refit has enhanced the feel of this traditional Café , and made it much more spacious. It serves hot chocolate and coffee for £1.45, a selection of cakes and pastries, but also some fantastic sandwiches at a good price. Cold sandwiches come at around £2 - £2.45, while hot sandwiches, either as paninis or ciabattas start at £3 and are served with salad and nachos. You can get a good cream tea with clotted cream for £2.45 a person, but, thankfully, it's not all olde English: the house platter of humus, falafel and dolmas at £4.50 is excellent for sharing (well, you might want to get two if you're hungry) perhaps with a bottle of wine (limited but sound choices here start at £10.45 for a bottle of Muscadet). It's at breakfasts - all day long - that Queen's Lane really excels.There's a range of well-priced choices, from a great value full English for £5.50, including coffee and orange juice. Beans on toast is a reasonable £2.75 for a good portion. The breakfast bap with sausage, bacon, fried egg and tomato is £2.95, as is a vegetarian choice with mushrooms, scrambled egg and tomato.

There are some nice contrasts in Queen's Lane - the watercolours of Oxford Colleges on the wall alongside a wide selection of auto magazines in a rack (for the non-Jeremy Clarksons among you, they also keep daily newspapers), traditional English food juxtaposed with the more cosmopolitan influences of North African and Mediterranean cooking. It can be smoky, but service is friendly and efficient. No credit cards.

Abby Chicken