Portabello

Although in a pleasant setting, Portobello was disappointing due to unfriendly staff. When we arrived and chose a table outside, we politely requested the sunshade to be pulled across slightly more as there was very bright sunlight on some of us. The grumpy waiter retorted that the point of sitting outside was to be in the sun and that other customers might want the sun. We were the only people under this particular shade so when they reluctantly pulled it, no one else was affected.

They also ignored 2 of us when we ordered drinks, and weren't particularly friendly bringing the food and didn't bring the bill over when asked - we each had to go inside to pay. The food was well presented but not overwhelmingly flavoursome; my chicken caesar salad had some tough chicken pieces in it, so I didn't feel it was great value for money. It makes such a difference to be greeted with a smile when you arrive at a restaurant and not treated as if you are a nuisance! I won't be eating there again.

Pip (Unverified), 04/06/11

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I wouldn't say the food is exquisite. It is average brasserie fare in my opinion. We visited last Tuesday night and by 10pm we were the only ones in there. I had a pork dish with leeks which I could have knocked up at home in ten minutes. I wouldn't go again... or particularly recommend it, there are so many better options in Oxford which offer better value, taste and experience. Sorry!

Chanel (Unverified), 22/10/09

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The food is always good, though the current dessert menu could do with reviewing. Sometimes the staff are friendly, sometimes they're not. It is one of Oxford's better restaurants, and you generally think you're getting value for money. Not bad.

14/01/09

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My wife and I are regulars at Portabello's and have always found the staff to be friendly and the food exquiste. This is in our top 5 restaurants in Oxford with ease!!

Andy (Unverified), 05/05/08

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Location, staff, interior, service, atmosphere, etc. are all lovely. Food is hit'n'miss, to put it lightly.

Slow roast duck was greasy, tasteless and overwhelmed by masses of very sharp compote/jam. Beetroot mash was quite nice though. A posh veggie salad containing the usual (avocado, mozzarella, etc.) was £12.95 - the same price as the duck!! Friend's salmon was also bland, and undercooked - one small salmon fillet, a load of greenery and dressing for over a tenner. Other friend's fish and chips were nice (although 8 chips seems a bit stingey).

The place seems to do a few things very well (Sunday roast, a few brunch dishes, fish'n'chips), but has let the quality of the other things slip such that appearance seems more important that content. I don't mind paying high prices for good food, but I do resent somewhere with questionable quality control charging so agressively. You can eat at Michelin-starred places for less than here.

MC (Unverified), 14/03/08

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I've always enjoyed eating at Portabello in the past so was really looking forward to a meal out here. However, my most recent visit was marred by bad service. Most annoyingly, the waitress dropped a couple of plates, the contents of which landed on myself and a diner on the next table. Accidents happen; but I wasn't offered any apology nor anything to make up for the inconvenience or embarrassment, and when I spoke to the manager at the end of the meal he was not at all prepared to make any kind of apology. Added to this, the staff brought us the wrong meal and attempted to charge us for drinks we did not consume. The food we ate was good - but the service leaves a lot to be desired and I don't think we'll be returning here any time soon.

PN (Unverified), 07/03/08

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I went to Portabello on Wednesday 19th September for the first time with some girl friends and had a fantastic meal. The service was great and the staff very patient with one of my girlfriends who took ages to decide on what to have.
Two of us went for the chicken which was full of flavour while my other friend had the fish and chips which she found light and filling. The desserts were equally excellent.
As the whole experience was so good, I am planning to book again for the weekend.
Well worth a visit.

Hammy (Unverified), 21/09/07

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My wife and I went for dinner on Monday 26th Feb 2007.
The meal was terrible (but my wife wouldnt let me complain)
Nothing was hot, the soup of the day was very tasty but only tepid, my wife's Duck was tasteless and my Rib Eye Steak was not much better.
The Apple and Blackberry Crumble would be 15 minutes (we were told), when it arrived 15 minutes later it was still not hot and contained apple chunks (complete with skin) and 2 blackberries.
Most disappointing, especially at almost £30 per head.
We won't be visiting again.
I suppose we should have been warned by the fact that the chefs were all outside smoking when we parked (at 7.00pm)

dissatisfied (Unverified), 01/03/07

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I love Portabello, the staff are always welcoming and always seem to have time for you even if the restaurant is heaving. The food is wonderful and fabulous value for money. My personal favourites are the fish and chips and the Sunday roast which is just to die for. My wife and I were regulars before we had our first baby and we still go as often as we can, although our social life has become a little curtailed now. This also raises that the point that Portabello has been very baby friendly for us and we have never had any problem bringing our newborn there. Oh and the Mojito's kick ass.

Matt (Unverified), 14/12/06

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As a current student at the university, a trip to Portabello is a rare treat, but it is one which I look forward to greatly. The food is consistently excellent: well presented, well thought-out and well executed dishes litter the menu, and after 20-30 visits I really can't remember ever being disappointed with a dish. The Sunday Brunch is worth exploring, and it's a great place to go for a special occasion or date. The service is always prompt and excellent and the waiters are generally knowledgable about the menu. They will treat you well and will neither rush you through nor leave you waiting indefinitely.

When I had my 21st birthday meal there, the management were very accommodating and put together a very fair deal. The evening was hugely enjoyed by all. Portabello serves excellent food at very reasonable prices; and there are many restaurants in Oxford at which one can pay more and eat less well.

Victor (Unverified), 21/11/06

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I love Portabello. It never seems crowded even when busy and the service is first class. It feels like a first class restaurant and the menu reflects this. This is not the place for huge platefulls of carbohydrate-laden dishes. Everything is beautifully presented so you really want to eat it. It's the only place in the world where I can eat 3 courses! The wines are good too.
Can't be beaten.

AC (Unverified), 15/09/06

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We visited this restaurant for my birthday last year. 7 of us visited and we were well looked after. Main courses were very pleasant, but I'm afraid the restaurant completely let itself down with the puddings. Two of us ordered the sticky toffee pudding, but it was neither warm nor sticky, much to my disappointment. I told the waiter about this and he quite rightly took this away and returned with another (probably the same re-heated in the microwave actually), but it again it was cold and lacking toffee. I gave up and the pudding was not eaten. This was however charged for on the bill. Left feeling disappointed with the meal and will not return.

26/01/06

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Portobello is the best "newcomer" (yes I know not that new) to the Oxford eating out scene. The service is always faultless, friendly and efficient and the food actually tastes of the ingredients it is made from! The menu is interesting and varied and should offer something for everyone.

The daily board offers delicious alternatives to the à la carte menu. Everything is cooked with a bit more imagination and flair than many other similarly priced restaurants in Oxford. Amongst my favourite (past and present menu) the crab salad incredibly fresh and flavoursome, the king prawns with garlic mayonnaise and the deliciously juicy beefburger (served "blue" of course) with nice chunky chips.

Nice casual atmosphere, lovely in summer when you can sit on the terrace and watch the (summertown) world go by. Maybe not the most romantic place of all due to its very modern, not so intimate decor but perfect for a nice lunch or dinner out. If you haven't tried it yet you are mssing out...

Pamplemousse (Unverified), 16/12/05

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A fellow Aussie friend and I decided to try Portabello on her last night in Oxford. This establishment had only been open a week, but it was already attracting large numbers and it was busy when we arrived (without a reservation) on a Thursday night. The atmosphere is great - relaxed but classy. The casual yet stylish uniforms of the staff looked great and the little touches in terms of decoration contribute to the overall feel. The menu is varied and affordable and there is a good range of beverages to choose from. However, what impressed me most about this restaurant was the service! It was flawless. The staff were friendly, the service prompt and you always felt well attended to, which was a first in my four months in the UK.

The food was excellent and served quickly and my friend and I were left to enjoy our meal and our drinks and soak up the great atmosphere of this new restaurant. Dessert and more drinks were offered, and when it came time to pay the bill, it was easy to pay quickly without trying to flag a waiter down and wait forever for the bill. I was so impressed I commented on the service, and when I returned the following night with another friend (it was so good I couldn't stay away), the staff actually remembered me and I received a warm welcome. If you're looking for an affordable meal in a great restaurant, you can't go past Portabello. It's worth it for the service alone! Other UK restaurants could learn a thing or two about how to treat their customers from the staff at Portabello.

Jenni Johns (Unverified), 11/09/04

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