My Sichuan is one of the many restaurants in Oxford that I've been walking past for years, meaning to go in and try it one day. Last night, I finally crossed it off the list.

My companion and I arrived early in the evening, at 6.30pm, and were immediately seated in the restaurant's main room. My Sichuan is based in The Old Schoolhouse, which is exactly what the name implies, and behind the tables, red lanterns and a well-stocked bar, you could still see echoes of an old-fashioned school room, including some stained-glass windows featuring the Three Little Pigs.

The menu at My Sichuan is extensive, and it took a very long time for us to decide. Luckily, it was a Monday night, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was informal and unhurried, the staff attentive without being overbearing. While I like to try new food, I wasn't brave enough to go for the frogs' legs or sea snails that feature on the menu; instead, my companion and I opted for the Yang Chao fried rice, dry fried green beans, sizzling chicken, and fried aubergine with soy sauce. We also ordered a portion of Kung Bao chicken and a soup, but some miscommunication meant that this wasn't written down - however, this wasn't too much of a problem, as the portions at My Sichuan are so hearty that the food we'd successfully ordered was more than enough.

The sizzling chicken was somewhat disappointing, as it was blander than I'd expected. The vegetable dishes, however, were delicious - the green beans were crunchy and salty, with just the right balance of chilli and garlic, while the aubergine in soy sauce was full of flavour without being overpowering. The fried rice, with its mixture of egg, pork and prawns, made a good, solid base to the meal.

After finishing our mains, we decided that, although we didn't have room for dessert, we were going to try it anyway. We ordered the tofu in rice wine soup, and the sesame dumplings, both of which made an excellent end to the meal. The tofu soup was mild and sweet, with goji berries adding a hint of sharpness. The sesame filling in the dumplings reminded me of halva, but hotter and squidgier, providing a nice contrast of flavours and textures.

There were a couple of issues with ordering that would have been frustrating if our schedule had been tighter, but as we had no other commitments that evening, it wasn't a problem. The staff were helpful and soon sorted the problems out when they arose, and at one point brought me a glass of wine before I'd even finished ordering it! Overall, I would recommend My Sichuan for anyone who wants a hearty and authentic Chinese meal.

A large meal for two, with drinks, dessert and a 10% service charge, cost £53.90.