Organic Deli Cafe

Great location, tempting menu, and friendly staff, but this place disappoints. Service is painfully slow, whether they are busy or not, and the food preparation lets them down. We've had soup with cold spots in it. "Poached egg on muffin" in which the egg was overcooked and not on a muffin, but on toast (nice herbs on top, but that didn't help much). This place could be great if they were better organised and had some quality control.

Paul O (Unverified), 22/09/12

Had been recommended by colleagues and read the reviews so came for Saturday breakfast. Was there around 10, the place was empty and cold. The service was slow given we were the only people there and the food was so so, the vege sausage looked like a piece of textured cardboard but the coffee was excellent. Based on the coffee I'd go again, the cakes looked great but not the best value for money.

GSA (Unverified), 19/09/12

Lovely place with friendly staff, off the beaten track. Had a delicious lunch sitting outside in the sunshine today. Recommended for real fresh food and attentive service.

Mrs G (Unverified), 23/07/12

This cafe is very impressive. My partner is coeliac and they do a really good range of gluten-free food (whether it's lunch, an all-day breakfast, or cakes). Trevor and co prepare the food themselves and really care about what they do: from the quality of the food to being able to tell customers what's in things - and they really do know -  to getting to know their regular customers. After discovering this place we quickly became regular customers ourselves, and friends we've taken there have always been happy to come back.

Philomen (Unverified), 05/07/12

The Organic Deli Cafe is great! My friends and I have eaten there on a weekly basis for breakfast and the food and service were consistently to a high standard. I highly recommend it if you want a relaxed, friendly place to eat with a good variety of food.

Emily (Unverified), 04/07/12

I love this café. The gluten free options are impressive and it's great to find somewhere where the bread is both homemade and baked during the day. It's fun to go in and hear all the banter with the regulars - and although Trevor's jokes can be hit or miss (!), the food never is.

Blackfriar (Unverified), 22/06/12

Delicious food, lovely service and the best matcha latte this side of Kyoto. Definitely worth wandering down Oxford's more lonely side streets to find.

Fran (Unverified), 05/06/12

Absolutely love this place! A coeliac's heaven full of delicious paninis, wonderful cooked breakfasts and interesting hot lunch options. The owners are really friendly and are very helpful about dietary requirements. You also get good value for your money as well. Their cooked breakfasts are undoubtably my favourite and are so far the best I've tasted in Oxford.

a_foodie_in_oxford (Unverified), 29/05/12

A gluten-free haven! Incredibly friendly staff, who make an effort to know regular customers and are very helpful in choosing gluten-free options, of which there are a wide array including soups, sandwiches, paninis and delectible cakes. Awesome gluten-free brunch too! The food is great, consistently high quality and reasonably priced for coeliacs and non-coeliacs. Would thoroughly recommend the Organic Cafe to everyone, we have become regulars!

Dominic Farrell (DI User), 29/04/12

The food tasted delicious, the staff member prepared a full English breakfast complete with a wide choice of teas for under £5. The staff members were very open and friendly. Look forward to my next visit.

Nick =) (Unverified), 19/04/12

Visited today for the first time. Very friendly and accomodating owner, delicious bread and soup (though a little pricey - £4.95). Was unsure if the soup was homemade or not, it tasted great and would have thought that it was homemade but saw the tins of 'Amy's' soups on the shelf. Not that it matters if it tastes good, I suppose! The only thing I would change would be to offer real butter with the bread/soup (when I asked for butter i was given margarine which i don't think was in fitting with the rest of the place). Overall it was nice experience though and I will definately recommend to friends with wheat/gluten intolerences.

Anon17/04/12

Visited today with my 2 coeliac daugters. A real treat to see so much gluten free choice freshly prepared on site. A very warm welcome too. We enjoyed the gluten-free pie, which we took home too. We don't live in Oxford but will definitely come again simply to try the pancakes! Thankyou!

Mo (Unverified), 03/04/12

I just had a life-changing toasted sandwich from the Organic Deli Cafe. Served, as always, with a smile and lots of detailed information regarding the provenance of the ingredients - it literally put a smile on my face. Thanks Trevor! BTW, it was a chicken mayo, sun-dried tom, pesto on home baked bread :)

ikonhipspill (Unverified), 02/04/12

Message from Organic Deli Cafe, March 2012

We decided from January of 2012 we would do more to offer quality produce. We now make ALL of our own bread, including baguettes & paninis to a unique signature layered roll. We make our own houmous, winter warm cous cous, traditional home cooked food, fresh soups, exciting salads and a Zwiebelcuhen. Plus poached eggs, pancakes, french toast and bespoke breakfasts. We are now using local farms for our produce reducing carbon emissions and have literally just taken on a new range of 6 organic drinks. We now sell organic milk to our customers too. Our outside catering functions are becoming very successful - ask us for details.

Our new website will be launching in April 2012 with an online ordering system.

Thanks for your continued support.

Trevor & Cristina, Organic Deli Cafe (Unverified), 30/03/12

As a customer with an intolerance to wheat the discovery of the Organic Deli Cafe was something of a God-send. It has given me the chance to sample the joys of pasties and sausage rolls for the first time. The range offered for those with various allergies and intolerances is better than any cafe I've ever encountered.

The staff are always welcoming and friendly, as well as accommodating of even the most innovative of sandwich ideas. The sheer variety of fare offered is most impressive, enabling the staff to rise to almost any inventive challenge offered by a customer.

In short I cannot recommend the cafe highly enough.

Hugo (Unverified), 10/12/11

Coffee and hot chocolate were good. Organic pasty tasty. Chubby Hubby and flapjack footstampingly lovely (gluten-free is good for me, right?). Nice atmosphere. Great service. Going back v.soon.

Mark (Unverified), 05/11/11

Organic Deli is tucked away down that funny little passage which links Magdalen St with Gloucester Green. It's one of those calm spots right in the centre of town, which may be part of its success: a measure of tranquility with your tea-pig tea.

Good reviews were coming in almost every day for the food and service, so we thought we'd jump on the bandwagon and test for ourselves. We (by which I mean I) also had a great interest in the gluten-free selection, and it was a good excuse to try one of everything between us, with the gluten- eaters able to report how realistic the cakes were.

The Dailyinfite who went to get food reported friendly service. It's a small waiting area which can get busy, but the staff make the effort to say hello so you don't feel you're getting in the way. (I can also report this is the only establishment where I've ever been greeted with "Any food allergies?" as if they were amongst the wares.)

The food was good, by and large. Toasted sandwiches are better eaten in the shop than transported across town, but at least the brie inside had cooled to eating temperature. The Greek salad ingredients listed on the website were not all available exactly as stated (which we were warned about when ordering). In fact none of the salads seemed to contain exactly what we were expecting, but substitutions were made to keep the portions fullsize. NB if you're veggie it's worth making this clear so swapped ingredients suit you.

But I think the triumph of the food definitely lies in the gluten-free selections. We tried a bean burrito, which was filling and savoury, and a triumph of a pizza pasty. This had light, flaky pastry and it's really unusual to find anything like that on offer in cafes. I'll be ravaging their stocks of these again very soon. Gluten-free cakes went down well, including Chubby Hubby cakebars which tasted a bit like cake mix, making me feel young and sinful again.

We were also impressed by the takeaway packaging which is not polystyrene, but cornstarch. Even the cutlery is compostable. If you choose to eat in, the seating space up above the shop is bright, warm and cheerful, with artworks by Ali Clements and is a good place to while away time in town and recover from heavy shopping. I'm finding excuses to meet people I haven't seen in ages just to drag them to Organic Deli for tea and cake.

Daily Info Staff (DI Staff), 03/11/11

Trevor and the rest of the staff here really care about what they do and it shows. The commitment to organic & gluten free food isn't merely lip service.

The cafe looks small from the outside but has a lovely room upstairs, and a small outside seating area. The food is great, and the coffee is excellent.

I've also had a couple of events catered by the team and as the other review says, was really pleased by the variety of food.

Very highly reccomended.

LucyT (Unverified), 28/10/11

I got to experiment the delights of the 'organic deli' at a function they catered for.

I was expecting an array of baguettes, was pleasantly surprised at a huge range of different breads and exciting fillings, large help yourself salads and these wonderful canapés.

Such a delight and so very different from the usual 'buffet' lunch. Highly recommended.

I then went to visit them with my sister who is gluten free, and she was literally gobsmacked at the amount of gluten free options there were.

Our meal was fantastic and we finishd up with a gluten free sweet delight called 'chubby hubby' - delicious!

Gluten free (Unverified), 04/10/11

Love this café! Best coffee in Oxford! Great quality food - looks great and tastes amazing! It’s the only true organic place in Oxford. The staff are also always so friendly and helpful, which creates a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. The first time I went into the Organic Café was the day it opened and now I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Brittany (Unverified), 03/10/11

Organic Cafe provides the perfect combination of excellent quality and great deals (generous loyalty cards, meal deals, student and Oxford Key discounts). I first visited the cafe because of the organic products and the free wifi, but the friendly service has kept me coming back. I highly recommend it!

JNR (Unverified), 28/09/11

I have been enjoying coffee, lunch and tea at the Organic Deli Cafe for over 7 months now. Throughout this time they have added various exciting new menu items, which are both high quality and reasonably priced (freshly baked bread, Amy's organic soups, grilled halloumi cheese, muffins etc.) They are currently updating their menu to include even more breakfast items, such as French toast with berries (delicious) and pancakes etc. They offer you something different from your average Oxford cafe and Trevor and Cristina (the owners) are always more than happy to go the extra mile. Still, 8 months on, very highly recommended (this serves as an update to my February review).

Simon (Unverified), 28/09/11

This is a wonderful cafe and caters perfectly to the needs of coeliacs with a huge range of gluten-free food. Great coffee too. Trevor is always very friendly and helpful.

cec (Unverified), 25/09/11

Thank you for your feedback regarding breakfast.

We treat all complaints seriously. We would like you 'cbitterman' to come back in for breakfast on the house.

Its unusual that we receive complaints and believe we create the ambience where we can be approached to resolve all consumer issues.

I have since your review, had a staff meeting and sat down to explain how breakfasts should be made and presented.

We treat this seriously and appreciate your review.

Our Breakfasts are of exceptional quality and good value for money and it was unfortuanante that you had this experience.

We apologise.

Trevor and Cristina (Owners)

Anon26/08/11

Went for breakfast the other day, without having done any research, but expecting something decent, possibly even healthy, on the basis of the signage.

Had what was, without a doubt, the worst breakfast I've ever had in England - and let's face it, there are a lot of bad breakfasts in Oxford.

Watery, scrambled eggs; watery mushrooms, and a watery "grilled" tomato. The only thing that wasn't bad was the beans, because they were from a can.

The food was somewhere between bland and bad. So was the coffee, which was literally undrinkable.

Maybe they do sandwiches well, maybe they're nice people - there are a lot of positive reviews on here that suggest that both of those things are true - but breakfast is not their forte. Avoid it at all costs.

cbitterman (Unverified), 20/08/11

Awesome quality of wholesome fresh food, service & comfort, including cleanliness (which is next to godliness), in an attractive & arty place - and affordable prices!

Igor N Dyson (DI User), 24/06/11

Finally a place that really cares about gluten free needs. The bread is very nice, the cakes fantastic and is so nice to be able to finally have a sandwich for lunch! I go there as often as I can, it is exactly what Oxford was missing and I am happy I have discovered it.

laurita82 (DI User), 23/06/11

They have a very light and airy room upstairs which is perfect for a quick meet-up for lunch with friends. And they do any of their sandwich fillings on gluten-free bread. This alone will differentiate them and see them last where others have inevitably failed.

Patrick Vale (DI Reviewer), 23/06/11

I love this place. It is my neighbourhood coffee house of choice and has been for some time. I usually pick up lunch from here a few times a week. The chicken salad wrap is my current favourite. The owners and staff are all really friendly and happy to make my weird coffee requests. The fresh homemade bread is a welcome new addition to a great range of foods already for sale. The two kinds I have tried so far have been excellent (sourdough and Greek yogurt soda bread). They also have a discount for students and seem to have the biggest range of Teapigs teas for sale that I have seen in any shop in town. The wireless access is dependable and the upstairs seating above the shop is good for people needing a place to do some work. The owners really care about the customers and have always made me feel very welcome. Basically can’t recommend this place enough.

Carrie W. (Unverified), 19/06/11

Having to spend long hours outside home lately, I had to find a place where I could both relax and work. That's how I've discovered this place, and I've literally lived there for the past few days, now. The place has a very nice and quiet atmosphere, the food is absolutely excellent, healthy and tasty (go for the soups in bread-made bowls! and their breads in general! and the wraps!), coffee is good, tea is good, you get free WiFi (that is not cut during certain hours like in some other places) and can even plug your crappy old laptop, should you still have one, to work. On top of all that, the service is absolutely perfect. Quick, efficient, smiling, making you feel welcome, at home almost, and always ready to give you advice for the food! I'm almost reluctant to post this, as I'd much rather keep the place to myself..

JP (Unverified), 16/06/11

This is a great place for fresh food and prompt friendly service. My children love the fruit drinks and the cakes. The unusual Brazillian snacks and the paninis are very good for a quick lunch and value for money compared to other local chain fare. It's nice to see a local independent cafe making an effort to do something different. Well worth a visit - or a detour - if you're in town and want to avoid the blandness of the Costa conveyor belt.

Karen (Unverified), 08/06/11

Why spend your money on some monstrous bland corporation when you could spend it with Trevor and his family at this excellent local cafe? The coffee is great, but they also have a large range of teas and other soft drinks. I come here a lot but even so I am often not quick enough to get my hands on the amazing Brazillian lunch foods they offer. Clearly I am not the only punter in on the secret! Ask about their loyalty-card amnesty scheme...

KTrout (DI User), 28/05/11

We now make our own bread on site using organic flour variaties from Shipton Mill. Offerings inlude the classic 'English Muffin' which is on offer with a Fairtrade Organic Coffee or hot drink for £1.95. We also make our own focaccia, fougasse, breadshots, and other bread varieities. We would be keen to know what type of bread you like so we can make it for you! Talk to us, we want to hear from you! Meet the team Mark, Mateus & Bruno.

Kind Regards,

Trevor & Cristina

Trevor & Cristina of The Organic Deli Café (Unverified), 18/03/11

I have now visited the Organic Deli Cafe in Friar's Entry several times and can vouch for its quality and consistency.
 
They are nicely distanced from the standard fare which is becoming so boring in the big chains  - the Brazilian snacks are not to be missed.  (NB: do not confuse with the larger all-Brazilian outfit down the lane).
 
This is an over-the-counter cafe with two upstairs floors for eating-in.  The friendly and obliging staff will often carry trays up for you.
 
As it is rather off the beaten track, I think they need some publicity in these early days! Well worth a visit.

David K. Barrington (Unverified), 17/03/11

I have been going to the Organic Deli Café fairly regularly for the past month and highly recommend it. It offers something slightly different from your run of the mill Oxford café: not only does it have a wide choice of pannini/baguettes (I tried the falafel on a brown multigrain baguette and added some Brazilian hot sauce, which was delicious), but it also offers soup (the Tuscan bean is very nice) and has a selection of organic pasties/pies/cakes. I washed down my lunch with a refreshing Brazilian soda. Finally, the coffee is also very tasty – something which should never be overlooked! There is plenty of space inside, despite the fact it is located on quite a narrow side-street ,and the staff are all very friendly and welcoming. Needless to say that I will be back...

Simon (Unverified), 15/02/11

A message from the owners:

We have taken on the exciting gluten-free range by the family-run business in Dorset called 'Honeybuns'.

Wendy from 'Cream of Galloways' has introduced us to organic ice cream ranging from Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, Cappucino, Sticky Toffee, Raspberry and more... Try before you buy!

Organic woodworker 'Thorn' has been in to install the hand crafted mirrors, which add life to our customer seating areas. Thorn creates masterpieces from raw wood materials. We recommend Thorn for any dosmetic or commercial projects.

We welcome your feedback.

Regards
Trevor Bennett & Cristina Campos

Trevor Bennett 'Owner' (Unverified), 01/02/11