Gees Restaurant & Bar
61-63 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PE, GB
Rating: 4.3 ★ (1553 ratings)
Details
Gees Restaurant & Bar presents itself as a truly distinctive dining destination in Oxford, housed within a striking Grade II listed Victorian glasshouse on Banbury Road, just a ten-minute walk from the city centre. This historic setting, once a greengrocer's, now offers a light-filled, airy atmosphere, combining rustic charm with effortless sophistication. The thoughtfully designed space features sumptuous seating, lush greenery, and ambient acoustic engineering, creating a comfortable and celebratory environment that offers a pleasant sense of escapism.
The cuisine at Gees offers an evolved Modern British style, skilfully interwoven with Mediterranean influences, drawing inspiration from regional dishes of Italy and Spain. Head chefs focus on simply prepared, expertly cooked dishes using the finest seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Dining highlights include the signature rib of beef for sharing, intriguing sliders such as Lamb & Tzatziki, and well-regarded desserts like the Chocolate Nemesis. The establishment also boasts an extensive wine list, with a strong focus on Southern European selections, alongside a variety of cocktails.
This Oxford institution caters wonderfully to both locals and visitors seeking a memorable meal. It is particularly well-suited for a diverse range of occasions, from leisurely brunches and express lunches to elegant dinners and romantic date nights. Gees also excels as a venue for celebrations, private gatherings, family events, and corporate functions, offering the additional charm of a "Secret Garden" terrace and the dedicated Gees Gallery for events and private dining.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM; Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM; Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Contact
+44 1865 553540
Comments
Everything we ordered was prepared to perfection. I particularly enjoyed the oysters served on a bed of ice with a fresh lemon wedge; they were incredibly fresh and tasted like the sea. We also really liked the presentation of the other dishes, especially the bone marrow paired with toasted bread. It was a memorable experience in every way.
A special thank you to Alain, who provided outstanding service throughout the evening. He was friendly, attentive, professional, and made our whole family feel very comfortable. His service really made the experience even more memorable.
Highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely come back again!
Beautiful decor, great tasting food, sharing platters available. Lovely café style and chic decor.
The staff are attentive and helpful, books up quite quickly as it only has the one space for events, really really lovely, flooded with natural lights and a calm feeling.
Open all day till late evenings, so breakfasts, lunches, brunches, dinner available. Can be cosy and romantic.
Parking is not great around Oxford so I would suggest using the park and ride facility. It's a walking distance from the city centre.
Everything in Oxford can be pricey so loads up your wallet 😁
I would recommend ❤️
Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing particularly wrong with the food, but apart from the zucchini fries, fried ice cream and bread, there wasn’t anything that really stood out either.
The meat was a little dry, and the lentils had more tarragon than I personally liked, but that’s subjective.
The waiters were friendly, especially the manager (supposedly, as he was the only one wearing blue rather than white). However, the service could have been a little more attentive, with dirty water glasses in the beginning and quite a long wait to order the food.
There was also a mishap in the kitchen which delayed our main courses. This was explained to us rather late, but we were given dessert on the house, which made up for it. So I don’t see the delay itself as a major criticism. Things happen, and I thought they handled it well in the end.
Overall, a pleasant experience, but with some room for improvement.