Tempering Indian Restaurant & Bar
20-22 W Wy. Square, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TJ
Rating: 4.8 ★ (296 ratings)
Details
Tempering Indian Restaurant & Bar, located in West Way Square, Botley, offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere within its modern and spacious setting. This establishment stands out by delivering an elevated dining experience, where the name 'Tempering' itself alludes to the aromatic sizzle of spices hitting hot oil, marking the beginning of something truly special in Indian cooking. Guests can enjoy the appealing option of outdoor seating on pleasant evenings, contributing to its charming character. The restaurant's dedication to quality and hospitality has been recognised with the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award 2026, placing it among the top 10% of global dining establishments.
The cuisine at Tempering celebrates the rich and diverse flavours of India, presenting a menu that encompasses North Indian classics, vibrant coastal curries, traditional tandoori grills, and delightful chaat-style street food. Each plate is freshly prepared using authentic spices and the finest ingredients, ensuring a memorable dining experience. Notable dishes include the crunchy and flavourful Gol Gappa Chaat and the impressive Tempering Grand Grill, which features a generous selection of lamb chops, king prawns, and various tikka preparations. Patrons can also indulge in expertly crafted cocktails to complement their meal.
This Oxford restaurant is ideally suited for a variety of occasions, from intimate date nights and lively gatherings with friends to significant family celebrations and even private dining events. It offers a cosy setting perfect for friends and family alike, and its location makes it a particularly appealing choice for those in West Oxford seeking quality dining close to home. With special offers such as "Kids Eat Free" during school holidays and promotions for Mother's Day, Tempering caters wonderfully to families, ensuring everyone can enjoy its authentic Indian hospitality.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM | Tuesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM | Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM | Thursday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM | Friday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:30 PM | Saturday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:30 PM | Sunday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Contact
+44 1865 599062 | http://www.temperingrestaurant.com/
Comments
They also gave our daughter crayons and an activity book, which kept her happily busy and made waiting for the food a fun, stress-free experience for the whole family.
The food itself was outstanding:
For our daughter: She absolutely loved the rich, creamy butter chicken paired with a refreshing mango lassi.
For us: We had the chicken and potato dosa, which was perfectly thin and crispy, served with delicious dipping chutneys and sambar. We paired it with a wonderfully flavorful spinach and cheese dish (Saag Paneer) and some perfectly fluffy basmati rice.
Everything was beautifully presented, fresh, and packed with authentic flavor. We will definitely be back—highly recommend!
The starters were amazing 👏. The Popadoms were fresh and crispy, the Lamb Chops were tender and full of flavour 🔥, and the Samosa Chaat was bursting with delicious spices. The Mahi Fish Tikka was perfectly cooked, while the Chicken Lollipops and Kalmi Kebab were juicy, flavourful, and absolutely irresistible. Even the Chips were fresh, crispy, and seasoned just right 🍟✨.
The mains were equally impressive. The Goan Fish Curry was delicious 🐟🌴, the Tempering Sea Bass was cooked beautifully, and the Butter Chicken was creamy, comforting, and full of flavour 👌🏼. The Chicken Jalfrezi and Chicken Tikka Masala were both delicious, with the perfect balance of spice and richness. The Tadka Dal was hearty and comforting, and all the breads; Garlic Naan, Plain Naan, Cheese Naan, Lacha Paratha, and Tandoori Roti were fresh, soft, and perfect for sharing 🫓😋. The Egg Fried Rice complemented everything wonderfully 🙌🏻.
The drinks were refreshing and well made 🍹🥤, especially the Virgin Mojito and Tempering Punch 🥭, which were the perfect accompaniment to such a fantastic meal.
To finish, the Gajar Halwa and Vanilla Ice Cream were the perfect sweet treats to end the meal 🍨🥕
A huge thank you to everyone at @temperingrestaurantoxford for such a wonderful afternoon and for the exceptional hospitality throughout. The service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, making the experience even more enjoyable. 🫶🏼✨
Every dish was enjoyed, and we left happy, satisfied, and already looking forward to coming back! 😋😋😋
The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.
Highly recommend if you’re in Oxford – definitely one of the best Indian restaurants around. Will be coming back again!
Our food order consisted of the samosa chaat and paneer tikka shashlik to start, the chicken taka tak, tarka dhaal, okra curry, pulao rice, 2 tandoori rotis and a mixed veg raita. All the food was delicious and the flavours were well balanced and spiced. Especially the chicken taka tak, crucially to note, it wasn't all sauce it was full of vegetables, the sauce was thick and rich without being an oil bath. The tarka dhaal was tempered to perfection and the okra were cooked just right. My only critisism and it;s a minor one was that the roti's were a bit chewy and dry but that was remedied by the saucy dishes to mop up. Cost £70 for the three of us which included 10% service charge. So a bit on the pricy side but for the quality and great taste of the food, we weren't complaining. Definitely a place i'd like to revisit so I can try some other dishes.
We’re from Hong Kong and had such a lovely meal here today. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! The flavours were rich and full of spices without being overpowering, and even the dishes marked with two chillies were just right for us.
We especially enjoyed the lamb dish – so flavourful and tender. The dosa, naan and grilled dishes were all excellent too. We ordered quite a variety to share and honestly enjoyed every single dish.
Great food, lovely presentation and a really enjoyable family meal. We’ll definitely be back! Highly recommended from a Hong Kong family 🇭🇰❤️