Reviewed
06/04

I'm never one to turn down a free meal, so when the Parents announced they were coming to visit and asked me to 'book somewhere nice for lunch', I was, understandably quite pleased. We've done all of the usual 'Parental Lunch' haunts before, so we chose to go a bit further afield this time, to the Woodstock Arms in Market Street, Woodstock, because it had been recommended by a friend as being the place for good Sunday Roast. Boyfriend, especially, was excited by the idea of this.

I'd booked the table on Friday, when the weather was questionable, and opted for the cosy and olde-worlde indoor dining area. Sunday, however, dawned gloriously sunny and hot, and after a walk through Blenheim Park we were yearning to sit outside in the Woodstock Arms' sunny - yet sheltered - courtyard. Fortunately, a family seated outside were not enjoying the heat, and the friendly staff were only too happy to let us swap tables, and before long, we were enjoying the best Pimm's in Oxfordshire (it's the ginger ale that does it), while deciding what to eat.

The Sunday menu at the Woodstock Arms is a pared down version of the weekday one, and includes a choice of roasts (£8.75 - other mains range between £6 and £10) alongside deliciously tempting salads and fish dishes. There is also a good choice of starters (all £3-5) and desserts (more on that later!). All of the food is prepared and cooked on the premises, but even so the service is fast and exceptionally friendly - our order was taken at the table and arrived within 20 minutes. Boyfriend, naturally, opted for the roast beef, which arrived with a huge, fluffy Yorkshire pudding, a generous helping of crispy roast potatoes and a selection of freshly cooked vegetables. Father went for the Haddock and Spinach fishcakes in mustard cream, which came with a delightfully crisp salad, and Mother for Lemon Sole, which was enormous and, as a consequence, slightly undercooked, but was swiftly returned to the kitchen for a blast in the microwave and turned out to be very tasty. I chose the intriguing chicken, Brie and strawberry salad, which was the perfect taste for a summer afternoon. We washed this down with more Pimm's, of course! (Pimms cocktails are £3 and worth every penny, and there is also a good selection of wines and Greene King ales.)

Service was attentive, and, our plates cleared, Father decided that dessert was necessary. The choice was excellent. A vast slice of Chocolate Truffle cake was demolished by Boyfriend (although I did help myself rather lavishly to the topping!), Mother enjoyed a home-made rhubarb crumble and Father's Crème Brulée was excellent. The piece de resistance, however, was my choice of a selection of home made ice creams. I'd tried honey ice cream before, but the other scoops were especially exciting - a refreshing apple and mint sorbet, and a superb vanilla and basil, the latter of which was deliciously fresh. Apparently there is a different selection every week, so I think I might be calling in again quite soon…All desserts are reasonably priced at £3-£4, and are really too large for one!

Satisfyingly full, we needed a good brisk post-lunch walk around the lake in Blenheim Park, and we all agreed that the Woodstock Arms was an excellent destination. It boasts superior, fresh, home made food in a gorgeous location, the staff are great and it's good value too - and it's only 25 minutes from Gloucester Green on the bus. Highly recommended.

Becky Simms, June 2004