Jam Factory
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Modern, open-plan arts centre, restaurant & bar at rear of factory building (next to the Music Room shop). Local, organic food alongside selling exhibitions by local artists. Acoustic gigs, talks, films, workshops, etc. |
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Excellent. These guys have something that is so very rare in Oxford - really good service.
harryhobs, 19/09/08 My favourite restaurant in Oxford - the food is always delicious, there is a good choice of wine and I love the light airy dining area. This has got to be the best kept secret in Oxford! I popped in for lunch the other day to find there is a fantastic new £5 two course lunch menu. I wish I worked in Oxford, then I could come here for my lunch everyday. Lastly, the chocolate brownies are well worth a try...a chocolate lover's heaven! Claire, 23/04/08 This was my very first visit to the Jam Factory. The restaurant presents itself as a place with plenty of character, which filled me with correspondingly high expectations. I started with a glass of their best Rioja. At £4.75, it was definitely not worth it. Reminding myself that one can't expect much wine-wise in most places anyway I moved on to dinner with an open mind. In fact, the food was really good and well presented. Our party had a nice mix of starters (pate, roast beef, salmon, chorizo), quite a diverse choice of mains (I had a nice lamb burger, others were positively impressed by their steaks), and a mixed set of desserts (the crème brulée was absolutely fabulous). All for £20 per person excluding drinks, which was fine, though they could benefit from addressing the rather lengthy pauses between the courses (the restaurant wasn't exactly packed either). Marc, 06/04/08 I'm very very sorry to say that I agree with comments that the service in the Jam Factory has deteriorated. This has always been one of my favourite places to eat in Oxford, the food was always reliable and delicious and the service always very friendly and laid back, but attentive. So I'm really disappointed that on the restaurant side of things the guys seem to have taken their eye off the ball. Gone was the friendly welcome - cold, aloof and unfriendly are the words that spring to mind. I have been ignored several times while waiting to order at the bar, annoying at the best of times, but more so when attentions are focussed on another member of the waiting staff - highly unprofessional. When my order was finally taken it seemed a real big effort and no smile to thank me for my custom... or perhaps I'm asking a little too much? I'm sorry to say that after experiencing the cold, unwelcoming service on a few occasions it really put me off. If I fancy a coffee these days I don't just pop in like I used to and I don't arrange to meet friends there anymore. I went in for lunch a little while ago and discovered that the formerly fantastic lunch menu has now been replaced with a £5 set menu offering a reduced choice of baguettes plus soup. I really don't want soup with my baguette thanks! Why can't I just have a baguette? I really think they've shot themselves in the foot with this. I also have to say that the soup, for the first time ever, was very disappointing - leek and potato was gritty. Yuk! I know the original chef left, and maybe that has made a difference, but I will think twice before going in again for food now and that's a real shame because I quite often used to go in for a drink and end up having a 3 course meal. Sorry guys, I really hate giving you a bad review, but sometimes complacency creeps in and maybe if you read this it'll give you a kick up the backside. And actually, while I'm getting it all off my chest, 'best coffee in Oxford' I really don't think so! Go and have a baguette and coffee at elsewhere one lunchtime and check out your competition. Disappointed of West Oxford, 09/03/08 We went to the Jam Factory for our Christmas party and had exactly the opposite experience. The room was cold, the service was colder, and (some of) the food was colder still. Despite having ordered our meals over a month in advance, our dishes arrived at staggered intervals, and only 5 slices of bread were provided for more than 20 people. We were told that our problems stemmed from our late-afternoon reservation, meaning the kitchen was closed. The website offers all-day dining. And why take an advance booking for a time when the kitchen is shut? The food that arrived at the right temperature was nice enough, but nothing special. Portions could only be described as stingy for the amount we paid. Overall it was a bad experience, with nothing to recommend it. Kate, 04/02/08 We went to the Jam Factory for our work Christmas party and I can't recommend it highly enough! The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the waiting staff were really helpful and friendly. They provided excellent service with everyone receiving their food without delay, despite the size of the group. The atmosphere in the Jam Factory is great; it is relaxed and a little bit different without being pretentious, and the prices are lower than many other Oxford venues where the food and service aren't nearly as good. Tom and Andrew were incredibly helpful during the process of organising our function. We were 47 staff and partners with all the various dietary requirements that come with a group of that size - all of which were either easily catered for by the extensive menu, or accommodated without any fuss by special request - Thank you! A great venue - highly recommended! Pam, 06/01/08 Disappointing.. Visited just lately for lunch and yes, the service was a little shocking, the food ok and the art great.. Maybe they should focus on the gallery side of things more than the food they serve! Will return to try again.. Joseph Pellegrini, 02/10/07 At last! A non-pretentious, laid back, independent restaurant in Oxford. My partner and I went out to The Jam Factory last Saturday night and loved every second of it - a real experience. Although from the outside we weren't expecting much, the stylish, yet non-polished interior was a breath of fresh air. How did we not find it sooner! The staff, albeit laid back, were attentive and friendly. We ate entirely from the specials board and were bowled over. The Parma ham is the best I've ever eaten and the presentation was, well original (it was served on an artist's palette - very clever). This brought our attention to the other side of the restaurant, which is an art gallery. The quick meal out with a bottle of plonk, turned into a whole night of fun, entertainment and amazing food. I mean amazing. I have NEVER eaten food like that in Oxford, and we eat out every weekend. The bill was a mere £45 – for starters, main courses, desserts and a bottle of wine. I re-read the bill. And indeed, it was only £45. I think the restaurant only opened this year and I know little about who runs or owns it, I just hope the atmosphere and qualities we found stay as it gets even busier (and it will, I can bet). I highly recommend The Jam Factory to anyone. I still can’t quite understand why it was so special - the staff were so laid back they were practically horizontal, and the rough-around-the-edges interior would normally turn me off. But it just works. jenny, 03/05/07 I don't know what that bad review was about - the place is great, and the lifedrawing class just adds to the experience there. Try it out! I have just recently moved to Oxford, and I couldn't have found the staff friendlier or the atmosphere better. m.j., 21/04/07 Was on this website looking for a place to take some friends visiting from far and happening to go down there and found it closed for a private function. Not a good first impression, very annoying that it wasn't advertised on their website. I then went back again on my own had a coffee which was 'alright' followed by what tasted like a microwaveable pizza. They tried to charm me over with their service, but wasn't impressed. 22/03/07 Definitely an excellent choice of restaurant, The welcome was big, the atmosphere was charming, relaxing and fun. I highly recommend The Jam Factory. The girls and I (eight of us) had a wonderful few hours there. Our meals were generous and totally delicious. Excellent value for money. First class presentation and choice of food. The staff were very friendly, and provided a truly great service! 10 out of 10 Jam Factory. Thank you! Jo Stephenson, 14/03/07 The Jam Factory is without a doubt one of Oxford’s true gems. The food is fantastic (especially the puddings) - decent side portions whilst not compromising on quality. The Sunday roasts and fish dishes are as good, if not better than what you would find at the Anchor and Loch Fyne. The service is friendly and yet professional, helping to create a relaxing and unpretentious atmosphere. What more can I say other than there are not many places in Oxford where you can draw a naked man/woman, see a top rate exhibition, enjoy a delicious meal and then conclude the evening with a game of Risk! 12/03/07 Lovely laid back cafe. I wish i'd discovered it before. A comfy Sofa, great coffee and food. and the current exhibition of illustration is definitely worth a look, fairytales will never be the same again! Bean, 29/08/06
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