Il Principe
82 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JB, GB
Rating: 4.4 ★ (132 ratings)
Details
82 Cowley Road is home to Il Principe, an authentic Italian delicatessen and takeaway that has been a Cowley Road fixture for two decades. This family-run establishment brings a carefully selected array of typical Italian foods to Oxford, from fine cheeses, wines, and olive oils to antipasti and gourmet treats. They are particularly renowned for their Neapolitan pizza, a nod to the owner Domenico Iorio's Neapolitan heritage, featuring traditional dough that honours Italian culinary culture. Beyond pizza, you'll discover homemade pasta sauces, fresh charcuterie including guanciale for your carbonara, buffalo mozzarella, and classic desserts like tiramisu and cannoli. The shelves are stocked with Italian wines and popular grocery brands, ensuring you can take a true taste of Italy home with you.
Step inside Il Principe and you're greeted by bowls of fresh olives, sundried tomatoes, and artichokes, often available for customers to try. The deli has expanded from its initial offering to include a popular takeaway service, with the aroma of freshly baked pizza and other specialities like arancini filling the air, especially after 5 pm when the takeaway service kicks into gear. While some locals frequent Il Principe for their regular pizza fix, praising the fresh, high-quality ingredients, others are drawn to the wide selection of Italian grocery items and fresh desserts. It's a place where passion for Italian food and drink is evident, reflecting years of dedication to bringing an authentic slice of Italy to the diverse and energetic Cowley Road community.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Contact
+44 1865 202026
Comments
Am a Vegan/ Veggie so had four items:
Peroni beer - very tasty. 🍺
Spinach and Cheese Aranchini - not Vegan but incredibly tasty and tasted wholesome like it has meat (though doesn't). 🧆
Vegitariana pizza - took 20 mins but really tasty and filling. 🍕
Baci chocolate (see wrapper in photo) - again not vegan but super delicious chocolate. They also have an espresso chocolate. 🍫
They also have wines, cold desserts, some unusual soft drinks, an olive servery, Olive oils, pastas, pasta sauces, Amaretti biscuits, and Beef Aranchini.
My one gripe is they have really bizarre opening hours. May be just lockdown but they seem closed a lot (e.g. not early Sunday afternoon but on Monday 🤨).
However worth the wait and they were a warm place to stay while waiting for our food.
Oh, and they could do with more vegan options for hot food.
Overall: definitely recommended.
They also have a take away menu and they have some of the authentic Italian dishes on it.