Lola N.
Yelp
This is a special little place with a delightful, hardworking staff that serves up immensely satisfying food and drink. Our only complaint is the same one we have had with every small dinner venue we've been to in Oxford: they seem to want you to leave almost as soon as you've sat down and ordered. Now, I don't need to linger for hours, but I would have enjoyed being able to have a cocktail and appetizer prior to ordering my second cocktail and main course. As it was, they asked us to order everything all together (something to do with the kitchen needing to keep sides and mains sorted). They did let us wait until our rum drinks (gorgeous) and starter were served to order our main courses. Still, the fantastic goat curry was on the table before our first drink was halfway consumed. Some places will tell you ahead of time that you can't have the table longer than 60 or 90 minutes, and that's fine because I know ahead of time what to expect. Here at Spiced Roots we were in and out in 45 minutes or less (it cost about 1.25 pounds per minute for the two of us). It was such a disappointment because it was the place I was most looking forward to dining at during the whole of our three weeks in the UK. I booked early on a Friday, but perhaps another night would have been better. BTW- although the place started to fill up around 5:45-6, there were at least two free tables and four counter seats empty when we left at 6:15 or so. I highly recommend the place for its tasty dishes and fun drinks, but come prepared to be in and out fairly quickly.