The Boot Inn
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Having come down from Yorkshire for the weekend, we stayed at a lovely B&B just outside of Witney. We liked the look of The Boot Inn from its write-up in the Michelin pub guide so we decided to pop in for a quick lunch on the Saturday, and what a pleasure it was from the excellent service and staff (all from the southern hemisphere). We decided on starters and main course off the specials board - a Crayfish salad and Mushroom and snail casserole. Both were lovely and the flavour in the Mushroom and snail was delightful. Main course was a marinated pork loin with tomato and chilli and Grilled lamb's liver. Both tasted and were cooked to perfection. All in all a excellent lunch that was worth giving up an extra hour or so in Oxford. We'll be back to try the Dinner menu just after Christmas.
Paul Stockwell, 21/10/07 I have to write and say that I had possibly the worst lunch I've had all year at the Boot recently. After hearing good things and cycling from Oxford (which is a fairly long trek!) I was hugely disappointed in the quality, quantity and pricing of their food. My partner had a chicken burger which, instead of being a butterflied breast or even just a good quality burger, was a revolting reformed offering comparable to Birds Eye frozen stuff and four times the price. My meal was of satisfactory quality (though it's hard to get smoked haddock wrong as the flavour is too hard to ruin) though I thought the quantity of food was measly and again, it was pricey. The staff were nice and attentive but there's only so far that can take an establishment. 09/10/07 The Boot sits just off the A40 between Oxford and Cheltenham and from the outside appears to be a quaint Cotswold pub with ample al fresco seating and views of the fields to the rear. Inside the pub’s name becomes apparent with a fascinating collection of footwear donated by everyone from the BeeGee’s to Alan Titchmarsh. These captivating displays are only improved by the Boot’s friendly and helpful staff and wonderful food. The average price of a 2 course meal with soft drinks for two would probably be pushing towards the £40 region but the standard of the food is such that it’s definitely worth it. The open fire in the main bar area makes for a lovely place to sit with friends in the evenings and the water feature out the front means summer time dining is equally pleasant. There are only two unfortunate downsides to the Boot: the first is that they don’t accept debit cards for orders under £15 so if you’re short of change and fancy a pint you’re out of luck, secondly they don’t open until 6pm so nice Saturday afternoon drinks are also out. Other than that this is a stunning example of a Cotswold restaurant and pub and comes highly recommended. Yvonne Couch, 23/09/07 I used to love this place as I've eaten some of the best oysters there. They do however always seem to be understaffed which can't be a coincidence seeing as I've been there loads of times so it gets a bit annoying trying to catch the waitress's eye when you need another drink etc. I also had an absolutley revolting fish stew which was grey in colour and taste. I subsequently was ill for quite a few days. I can't be 100% certain that the fish stew is to blame but I'm pretty sure... That's the only time that the food hasn't been top notch though and everyone else was more than happy with their Roast Dinners. Joanne Le Bon, 06/02/07 A fascinating collection of footwear provided for added interest. A welcoming atmosphere, friendly, communicative staff and fabulous well-cooked food made for an enjoyable evening on Sat 5 August. The lemon sole was cooked to perfection, and presentation was excellent, just lacked fish knives ( a small omission). Pam, 05/08/06 We travelled up from London on the recommendation of friends that live in North Oxford. We found the food to far exceed our expectations and the wine list contained an excellent range of Australian wine (I beleive this is a reflection of the landlord's origin). The Fish Bouillabaisse was as good as I've ever had, and we found the staff to be very attentive and helpful (perhaps even a little too attentive at times!). We will certainly be putting The Boot on our list of regular visits. Barnes London, 07/06/06 The first time we ate there we were very impressed both with the wine selection and the levels of service afforded. Several trips later the emphasis has gone from trying to impress the diners with attentive service and attitude and now the key objective seems to be to get 'em in and out as soon as they can! Average to poor. It will save us money in taxi fares !! bluebeach, 20/03/06 Sadly, when we went to the boot on December 8th 2005, the food and service were both appalling, unlike the previous visit. We emailed the owner the following day and to date (3rd January 2006) have not had the courtesy of a reply, despite a phone call just before Christmas. We shall not be returning! Disillusioned from Cheltenham, 03/01/06 English Restaurants still exist - about 5 miles out on the A40 towards Witney there's a signpost to the right - Barnard's Gate. Half a mile down that road brings you to the Boot Inn (Tel: 881231), traditional and friendly. No music, pleasant manners, efficient, cosy - in a word, civilised. I'm assuming you like your food fairly rich; crisp on the outside and juicy in the middle. For the hungry, both the half roast shoulder of lamb with honey and rosemary ( £8.95), or the steak and mushroom pie ( £7.95) will sink you deliciously. For those who are getting on a bit, king prawns with garlic bread and mayonnaise ( £3.95) followed by salad and stir-fried mushrooms with smoked bacon, garlic and rosemary ( £6.95) is inexpensive and filling enough to preclude your wanting anything more. Old-fashioned schoolboy sweets include toffee pudding and death by chocolate at £2.75. Vegetarians are catered for - how about a brace of large mushrooms, shot that morning, filled with spinach, pine nuts and grilled goat's cheese? 'Oxford Landing' wine is a good, rich red at a reasonable price. I must go again! NB. Under new managment as of 2004. John Rose, 05/06/97
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