Pepper's Burgers

Just had Pepper's for the first time and it was definitely worth the fiver. The chips are too much for one person and not the best, but the burgers are great. Try the corn relish sauce! x

Anna (Unverified), 25/11/12

Peppers Burgers burgers rock and their pizzas are pretty damn good also! And love their new website - it has a full menu and you can order in advance before you pick up.

pizzalover (Unverified), 02/10/10

This was a regular haunt during my undergraduate years ('94-'97) and I was delighted to see just how little had changed upon my return in January 2009. Perhaps the place isn't quite as funky as once it was; the board is not chalked quite as artistically and I miss the "The Addams Family" pinball table. On the plus side, the addition of tables and chairs is dangerously practical and they'll add pickles on top of your burger for free if you want them to. The pluses outweigh the minuses.

The quality of the food is just as fine as it always was, with the beautifully cooked burgers, fries and sauces tasting exactly the way I remember; while the fries are at the thinner end of the spectrum, that suits me, and I approve of the wider variety of both types of burger and some new sauces on the menu as well. The main appeal of the store is the wonderful variety of sauces on offer; these days, you are charged for applying two sauces to your burger whether you want two different ones or not, so enjoy playing with the extensive range. (Aioli and tandoori are just as delightful as ever, and just as reliable a passion-killer.)

They say "If you love something, let it go" - and that has proved sadly true for me far too often - but Pepper's is at least as good as it ever was and my first choice for reasonably priced nosh in Oxford.

Jiggery-Pokery (Unverified), 01/03/09

Peppers is back in town and most of us devotees will now be breathing a sigh of relief and rushing to satisfy our long-disappointed cravings for a good, decent, simple and tasty burger.

What took so long?! The take-out with more followers than a premier league football team has put us faithful slaves to its beefy yummishness through the mills for the last year! I am glad to report that the newly refurbished Peppers is pretty much unchanged, with the same offerings of tasty beef and veggie burgers cooked to your liking (call mine still mooing and be done with it). With the same sauces and the same chips, and even the same board! It has been spruced up and looks smarter, though I'm still not convinced there was anything wrong with my beloved, slightly frayed-around-the-edges take-out in the first place. As a customer of almost 20 years I found its disappearance from the Oxford eating scene to be a disaster that all burger addicts felt deeply. I will forgive the owners for the delay as long as they promise that this time, they're back for good and will not make us suffer the hunger pangs of its absence again!! :)

Pamplemousse (Unverified), 20/04/08

PEPPERS IS NOW OPEN - COME AND CHECK IT OUT, IT'S STILL AS GOOD AS EVER! :)

ALLTHERE (DI User), 18/04/08

Ahh, Peppers! Yes, my memory of starvation at Oxford (I was unable to use my belt and had to make not one but, a second hole in my belt from the horrendous pea soup that the Oxford college that I was studying at was accustomed to serve, at least to the Americans). But, in the throes of famine, I was lucky enough to meet an industrious French girl, who knew exactly what my American stomach needed to survive. Seeing my despair and weakness, she jumped on her bike and dashed madly to Peppers bringing back the most sumptuous, steamy, gooey-good hamburger that this American possibly ever ate. She saved my life and, subsequently became my wife!!! Peppers means a lot to us, we hope that it may still be up and running when we visit Oxford again.

CBC (Unverified), 19/01/08

It's just been bought and is re-opening as Peppers Burgers and Pizza!

Calidore (Unverified), 08/01/08

I am so very sad on hearing of the closure of Pepper's.

21 years after leaving Oxford, I still wake, sweating, thinking of the half pounder with white shark dressing. This sauce was so hot that only english mustard could cool it down. I have never since tasted a burger so fine, and fear now that I never will. I have regaled my children with tales of this delicacy from the heart of England.

How did they do it? From where did they source their ingredients? Why can't anyone else reproduce their art?

Pepper's has closed. The end of the world is now here! Of that there is no debate (not even in the Oxford Union). Woe, woe, woe....

Despair ye.

The Sage of Aberystwyth (Unverified), 03/10/07

I worked at peppers for a while I lived in Oxford. Yes I'm American, but also yes, Peppers ruled. Had I not gained gainful emploment there I might not have had the best, most authentic, times in my depressing 4 months in that town, and I also would have not have eaten. Thank you Luther for all you did.

Natron (Unverified), 22/09/07

been going too peppers since I was teenager, can`t believe they`ve shut down, hope someone will take it over & do it justice...................

Guschtscha (Unverified), 04/08/07

Why? Oh WHY????? Pepper's had been closed every time I tried to visit recently but I had hoped there was a rational explanation ( owners on holidays etc..) but the other night, I went past it and there was a for sale sign ! What has happened and why weren't we, Pepper's faithful devotees told, so we could form some kind of action to reprieve it?

Pepper's has been a part of my Oxford life for over 18 years and I cannot believe it is now gone for good. Why did the owners decide to sell? It was always packed ! This is just too awful ,where will I now get my fix for a nice juicy burger, cooked the way I like it with lots of yummy sauces. This truly is a tragedy for Oxford.

I have had quite a few awful burgers in many restaurants but Pepper's was always fantastic.

Maybe we should all get together and buy the place ! :) Thus preserving part of our cultural heritage and the future of delicious burgers for us all...

I actually cried when I found out it was up for sale. :(

Pamplemousse (Unverified), 02/07/07

peppers has already closed - does anyone know why????

stella (Unverified), 21/06/07

No it cant close, I will cry! Anyone want to buy it with me?

KatieRaa (Unverified), 20/06/07

There's a nasty rumour that Peppers is to close or has already! Someone please say it isn't so.

hungry (Unverified), 05/06/07

I lived almost in front of Pepper's for a year back in '89 when I was ten years old. I came back to my country and I still get a watery mouth when I think of and remember those burgers. I definitely have to go back to Oxford soon...I have never eaten better burgers.

Cangrejito (Unverified), 27/04/07

The burgers are always amazing, the chips depend on the level of inebriation of the workers.

Sweet Thai Chilli (Unverified), 11/04/07

Why are you wasting your time reading about Peppers?! Get up and go!

I currently live in the country notorious for burgers and fast food alike... but nothing has come close to Peppers - not that I have found anyway! Although the last time my teeth sunk into Peppers was back in 1990, after 16 years I still think and drool about Peppers. I plan to swing through Oxford just to go to Peppers the next time I am back in the UK. Can't wait!!

RichG (Unverified), 04/10/06

So great was the impact of the Peppers burger {white shark dressing every time} that having just had a brill burger I wondered if Peppers still existed, as I left the city in 1991. Good to see it does. If fate allows I will devour again.

charmanator (Unverified), 05/09/06

The best burgers ever! Even the veggie ones taste great instead of like they normally do, you know, a bit like cardboard!

I think you should try 1/2 pounder with cheese, blue cheese sauce and Mexican salsa, can't be beaten I tell thee!

KatieRaa (Unverified), 12/07/06

The best burger in Europe! The place has a good feel about it.
The chips are OK, not the best. The service could be better sometimes.

Walrus of York (Unverified), 05/05/06

Best burger I ever had. TWICE! I was a college student from the U.S.A (where the burger is a national staple) and having spent a good deal of time all around London and England in general I was missing my American fare. My mates and I had commented many a time about how we missed a good hamburger. Lo and behold, while visiting some lady friends in Oxford we had been out after a night of pub crawling and we found ourselves in Jericho. Long story short we basically made a trip back from London just to get another burger from here. I have been back in the states for a year and we all STILL crave another go at a Pepper’s burger. I am even counting my vegetarian friend! Try the white shark sauce - that was my favourite.

JSelf (Unverified), 17/01/06

The best burgers and chips I've ever had.

theo (Unverified), 12/01/06

Grilled, tasty and cooked to your liking. I love my burgers "blue" ( ie: virtually raw) and they are always happy to oblige. They actually taste of beef and the wide array of accompanying sauces (from mild "lemon and pepper mayo" to eye watering "white shark") is sure to satisfy even the most demanding customer. I find their chips far better than the usual oily, fatty chip shop offerings - despite the fact they are pre-frozen - as they taste crispier and do not have that horrid sogginess I absolutely loathe.
For the vegetarians amongst us, Pepper's also offers Vege-burgers with the same choice of toppings (mushrooms, onions, cheese etc.) and sauces.

Service is always pleasant and friendly and it is also a good place to find out what's on in Oxford as the board displays hundreds of posters and details of local events (including of course the excellent and useful Daily Info!!) The music is also always interesting (!!!) for such a cocooned old fogey as myself.

A favourite amongst many locals and students, I have been going to Pepper's for over 17 years and still love it. Haute cuisine it isn't, but it does what it does extremely well and I only wish Kebab vans, chip shops and other fast food outlets could produce something as tasty and cheap. Fantastic value and quite addictive.
The only criticism I have is the slowness of service - they always seem to have to finish the current burger before starting yours (despite a huge grilling plate), which means that my burger (which should take about 45 seconds to cook) can end up taking almost 20 minutes if someone in front of me likes theirs cremated and tough as old boots! :)

A must for beef lovers.

Pamplemousse (Unverified), 06/12/05