Reviewed
March 2003

Moya opened last summer. Clean, crisp, summery and seemingly on the Bar Baby model, it looked like yet another new bar upgrading the Cowley scene. On taking a closer look, I was surprised to learn that it was a Slovakian restaurant bar. Inside, the owners claimed that it is probably the only Slovakian restaurant in the UK. Better than this novelty, the food is great, the staff are friendly and the surroundings just right.
You don’t have to eat (although I would recommend it), as there is a large selection of cocktails, complete with happy hour. The whiskey sours were excellent (raw egg white optional).
The food is traditional, which means lots of pork, beef and knedla (bread dumplings), but by no means stodgy. There is also a wide and yummy selection of veggie food. I had a lentil soup, with sour cream, served with a range of black and rye breads unavailable anywhere else in culturally-stunted Oxford! The rum-battered aubergine with goats cheese was a great main event, served with new potatoes and a home-made horseradish sauce. My friend had the beef goulash with knedla and was charmed. Wicked!

Laura Janes, 21.03.03

It’s clean, bright, cheerful and the staff pay attention to you. As we entered, about 20 bright young things were enjoying cocktails and chat about the bar. We sat beyond and ate well for £34.75 for two all-in, which is pretty good for a sophisticated meal. My partner had a dry manhattan martini followed by thick slices of rum-battered aubergine, a side salad and chocolate nut pancakes. I had a mai tai, and then pork ghoulash followed by apricot dumpling - all very tasty, but my weight has gone up to 15st. 11 3/4 from 15st. 10½!

John Rose, 26.03.03