The Perch

Perch is one of those rare gems, that once you find it, you just can't let go and will keep returning. If you're looking for a lovely setting near the start of the River Thames with amazing food and ambience, this is the place to come. In fact we loved it so much we came twice during our trip in Oxford. Everything on the menu was just amazing, from the Lamb pie, the Fish and Chips, the Salmon and my oh my, I highly recommend the Ginger Pudding! Never knew ginger tasted so good in a dessert. I would like to also thank the lovely Geraldine for hosting us so well during both our visits. Thank you and hope to come back again the next time we visit UK :)

What a stunning place for a day out! We arrived slightly earlier than our lunch reservation and walked through the pub, into the most magical backyard and into an opening alongside the River Thames. Beautiful scenery with the water, horses, ducks, swans, rabbits and lush greenery. We then returned for our lunch. The staff were so attentive, friendly, polite, interactive and answered our questions about the surroundings and said we could park the car and go for a longer walk after food. The food itself was delicious! We had the fish and chips, fish cakes, the vegan burger and ginger bread pudding for dessert (highly recommended this dessert). All arrived timely with no delays. We were seated in the garden house. There is seating in the original pub area and the outside garden as well. All in all, a wonderful experience and one we will return to for sure! Tip: book ahead for busier times as this venue can get very busy.

I had a great experience at the Perch restaurant with friends. The fish and chips were excellent, the fish was fresh, crispy, and perfectly cooked, and the chips were hot and tasty. The risotto was creamy and flavourful, and the ale paired well with the meal. The service was genuinely welcoming. A lovely spot for a relaxed, satisfying meal.

Fantastic pub on the River Bank in the hamlet of Binsey. We sat in the garden at lunchtime which was beautiful especially as it was a gorgeous sunny day. We ate again in the evening in the conservatory. Amazing food and atmosphere. Staff were attentive and polite

This place was a wonderful get away from Oxford city center. Sunday roast was amazing and the staff were fantastic! 100% recommend! Also, if they have the Black Ram Wine from Trevibban Mill Winery available, do yourself a favor and order a glass!

Nice place to have lunch after a walk in the port meadow. The burger wasn't bad! Dog friendly, so why not come and park your pooch at the Perch!

Learned about The Perch while reading The Secret Book of Flora Lea and had to visit. What an amazing pub with a huge back garden, perfect for a warm day. Had the Perch Vegan Cheeseburger and my wife had the Spring Vegetable & Wild Garlic Pearl Barley Risotto. Both were very good. Dark Chocolate Tart was exceptional. Guest Ale was a local brew from Oxford that was delicious. Very friendly staff. The Perch exceeded our expectations.

Reserved a table for the Sunday roast on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Ordered steamed clams, Sunday roasts (beef + lamb) and finished the meal with a peach crumble. Liked all our orders just find that there's too much potato on the roasts and wish there's more of the roasts itself. Otherwise, the service is good and the restaurant is very lively.

We sought out this historic pub with guarded expectations. I thought perhaps it would just be a tourist trap, resting on its laurels instead of its cooking. I was wrong. This restaurant has an interesting menu with traditional favorites and unique creations. We had a reservation for 7pm but arrived at 6pm and were seated immediately. The space is cozy and eclectic; some areas are more rustic and others light and airy. There is also outdoor seating and an event space. Our waiter who seemed to barely tolerate our questions and jovial attitude. (We asked him to repeat the specials because it was a loud environment and we couldn't tell where one dish ended and another began.) He could have been warmer. But, the food was delicious and presented beautifully. I appreciated the vegetarian options. The fish of the day was declared the best meal of the year. The veggie burger was delicious and almost tasted too good to be plant-based. The starter of the day was full of fresh ricotta cheese and roasted tomatoes. The toasted bread wasn't as good with it as was the fresh, warm bread we ordered. For dessert we tried the lime / mint sorbet (refreshing but tart), the gingerbread pudding (rich and full-flavored) and a fudge sundae (nice little bottle of chocolate sauce, but could be elevated by warming the sauce and serving chopped and toasted almonds rather than sliced). Overall, a lovely meal in a pub full of history. I'm sure the menu has changed much over the centuries, but the charm has remained.

Pretty pub to grab some lunch or a drink in Oxford. Very cozy rooms and a beautiful back garden. The service was ok. The menu was good, with some interesting offerings. We just had a light lunch of small dishes. Primarily toast type items. The pate was excellent, definitely my favorite item. Nice roast carrots. I'd probably skip the crab and avocado toast, combo didn't really work for me. Friend enjoyed the sardines. Not an inexpensive lunch, but enjoyable enough.

A Boxing Day treat. This exquisite pub and restaurant really excels. In bright weather the porch gives dog owners an unsurpassed setting for an amazing dinner and drinks after a walk to the pub. In the winter, the welcoming fire leads to a lovely menu of fish, vegetarian and game options. Really well done and with super friendly staff. Just a lovely night out. And we loved meeting Pumpkin, the house cat. So cute!

The place has been here for a long long time. Generations of Oxford students have eaten here. And probably before there were proper roads to let you drive here.

Had a fantastic meal here. Nice hike through the meadow and by the water to build up one's appetite. Truly a lovely setting and the food was quite good. Only knock was none of the specials seemed to be available.

We went for dinner tonight, May 20th. Despite a relatively attentive start at 6:15PM by the wait staff, after our food was served (some 40+(!) minutes after we ordered it), we were completely neglected as no wait staff ever again came by our table. We finished eating a good 20-25 minutes before our reservation was to end but no one came to get our dessert order. At 8PM the manager came over and kicked us off our table. Despite my protests that no one enquired about dessert when we clearly were done with our meal for some time, he was unapologetic and insisted we move on/leave. This extremely poor attitude and poor level of service by the staff, plus what can only be described as an overcooked, dry catch of the day, is why I would strongly encourage individuals to consider eating elsewhere at the many fine (and much better!) Oxford food establishments. I eat out a LOT in many different countries b/c of my job, and this was the worst restaurant experience for me in many years - caveat emptor. The Perch Inn should be ashamed.

This is a gem of a place that does require a little bit of a walk or drive from Oxford town center. You really get the feel of the English countryside - with thatched roofs and all. I came here with some tea and scotch eggs (from the bar) with a rather rugged Oxford local. The scenery was definitely worth the 8,000 steps (there and back) according to my fitbit on a drizzling day. They really do make a delectable scotch eggs with really strong mustard and Oxford sauce. The tea is also a fine touch too, served country style. It is especially great when eating outside, enjoying the outdoor space. The ambiance is definitely recrafted British country - very outdoors with very new and clean furniture. The staff was super friendly... and really helpful in guiding me towards all the British food and customs that I was really confused about Why it didn't get 5 stars: - there were lots of muddy patches that could have used some grass growing - This place can get crazy crazy busy... Great for: - people who have well behaved dogs - people who like long walks - if you desire a great Instagram scene - 2nd dates - nature people Not great for: - break ups - 1st dates

We cycled out along the river/canal to the Perch for lunch on a Thursday. As others have said, the experience is quite French, from the eclectic decor to the menu to many of the staff. It was appropriate then that I had the escargots and the roasted tomato with goat cheese. The food was quite tasty - the snails were well cooked and had enough greens to make me feel like it wasn't pure butter that I was sopping up with the bread. The tomato and goat cheese was simple but tasty, and fit the atmosphere perfectly. They had a lunch special of £15 special of 2 courses and wine or half pint, which I thought was a pretty good deal considering their main dish prices. We sat on the back patio, which is charmingly covered with wisteria and kitsch-ily decorated with mismatched chairs, hanging lights, chalkboards of the specials, and odd pieces of furniture on the sides. Most of the charm could easily be attributed to the perfect weather that we enjoyed while there - sunny and warm with a slight breeze that sometimes helped to keep the wasps away. With prices like that, I'd only go when there was lovely weather to enjoy.

Heaven on a plate - delicious - expert - sophisticated - grown up . . . just some of the words I would use to describe The Perch. If you want to get p*ssed and be a boorish moron, stick to the townies pubs. If you are an adult who likes good food and appreciates civilisation, come to The Perch. We had the Gazpacho to start. Cool and full to the brim our soup bowls emitted aromas of tomato and pepper, with basil top notes and a cucumber base. The taste did not disappoint. Roasted pepper, smoky yet piquant, with an undertow of cool green cucumber and citric tomato, contrasted with the hot greenness of basil oil and fresh garlic. The Gazpacho was strained to ensure a satisfyingly smooth consistency. For the main course we both opted for 'The Moorish', lamb kofte, hummus, roasted pepper, roast aubergine, Merguez sausage on a roast potato bed (as pictured). The whole came in a Jus of white wine reduction, possibly a very dry sherry judging by the flavour - delicious. The portion didn't look big, but we tucked in nonetheless. The kofte was soft and yielding but had structure too - flavours of mint and coriander mingled with cumin, smoky paprika and a hint of chilli. The Merguez was equally delicious. The aubergine was roasted in appearance and smoky in flavour, but soft and liquid on the inside, perfect! The hummus and pepper married perfectly with the lamb, aubergine and potato. Our waiter had recommended a mid-priced Chilean Pinot Noir with this dish - and he was spot-on, it was a perfect marriage of flavours. For dessert we had fluffy pancakes with banana and dark chocolate . . . as good as it sounds! All in we were charged about £80 for a three course meal of high quality with wine. I judge that to be reasonable for the standard of food and service we got. The (negative) comparison with Quod, by a previous reviewer, is way off. Quod serves a reasonable pastiche of good food as supplied by Brake Brothers and food technologists. In no way does it compare with the quality of food available at The Perch. I'm not saying it's bad - just that it is a false comparison, like comparing fresh cooking (The Perch) with that of a ready meal (Quod). Toilets are clean and ordered and checked regularly. There is an extensive beer garden and a barbecue is also on offer at prices ranging from £8 to £12 depending on what you have. They have a good range of real ales and a solid wine list. The restaurant proper has both indoor and outdoors seating (as pictured). Disabled access is available. The Perch is situated on the Thames, overlooking Port Meadow and Oxford. To the North (by about 1 mile) lies Wolvercote, and to the South (by about 2 miles) lies the Botley Road and Oxford Train Station. There are extensive and pleasant walks to / from The Perch. As an aside, The Perch sources much of its food from Medley Manor Farm, a mere 300 yards away. Medley Manor Farm also make and sell a darned fine strawberry ice cream . . . if you are at The Perch of an aftenoon, take the walk to Medley Manor Farm and try the ice cream. We found the Perch better than we remembered it. MUCH better. I disagree with the negative reviews here, the staff were very helpful, knowledgeable and expert from start to finish and the food was great.

Had fish and chips here yesterday. Absolutely amazing! The chips were delicious and the fish portion was just right. I will be back soon!

Charming family or romantic atmosphere with a cozy inside and a gorgeous outside seating area. Plenty of picnic tables outside and nice spaces to sit on the ground. Outside customers can order from an outdoor bar and eatery and inside too. Our group ordered three pitchers, the Pimms, mojito, and Meadow Pressé and enjoyed them all, and the fries as a side which were gone in 3 minutes. So good!

The location is idillic, the menu looks great (if a little pricey) and they do Vegan/gluten free options! All sounds great. Well it would be if you could actually get to eat anything other than a bar snack or burger from the out side food shed. You have to book a couple of days in advance if you fancy lunch or dinner. Not a place to just drop in. Staff are friendly enough and it's clean, it's just not a place you can go to if you fancy it.

We came as a party of 8, and we tasted almost everything on the menu. It's a beautiful location, but the menu is extremely limited, and for the money, the food simply isn't good enough. Not to mention it took over an hour to get our main entrees. I'd highly recommend coming here for a cup of coffee to enjoy the view and the natural beauty, but I wouldn't ever come here for a meal again.

Hide away in the woodlands of Oxford, a cottage deceiving to those that dont know, a mystery to the outsiders but a warm welcomed hug to the secret insiders that lure you in with glasses of hot succulent mead and fire log fuelled warmth. It feel is unique and unlike any other. It was like going into a c.s.lewis novel but instead of a wardrobe it was a cottage. I wish words could truly express the beauty of this place. But Im leaving this for you to experience yourself. It a great place for when you need to get away, be yourself, relax with friends, exchange stories or just make something special.

Love the service; everyone is super hospitable. We came here on a recommendation from a British who studied in the US. Thus, he quickly dispelled perception of English food. To our delight, we enjoyed everything which were well seasoned and beautifully presented.

What happens when you smash a thatched roof pub in the middle of an Oxford village with Alice and Wonderland? Lots of Pink, apparently. Oh, and ironic art installations of schools of fish made of plastic bottles, presumably to highlight the environmental impact of humans on our precious ocean. It also doubles up as a jewellery shop. This is a pub that seems to try way too hard on appearances and being french (yes, a lot of the people who works there are authentically french) and missing out a few things. To start off with, the manager gave me the creeps. Possibly because it is a country side pub and they are taking it to the level of snobbishness not since the Ladbroke Arms (whose food is good enough to withstand that level of uppertiness). Then, they gave us a table where there was no good place for drool monster to seat- well the waiter had to move him after tripping over his high chair twice. The oysters were very, very good and much enjoyed; but our "bloody" (And this is a FRENCH girl who sold it to us!) Sunday roast was so overcooked to death that the next step would be charbroiled. The Yorkshire was greasy, but unfortunately not in the scrummy beef dripping way, but crappy non-descript vegetable oil way. Veggies and a half roast potato (literally a baking potato cut in 1/2 and shoved in the oven) are bland as was the gravy. Did I mention the tiny table didn't fit 5 plus a vase of flowers, a candle (for lunch?!?!?), not to mention an explosion of glasses, cutlery and crockery? (as well as the largest teapot in the world for my cup of tea). All of this would have been acceptable at a normal pub. But I've have had much better regular pub food in the Cotswold area. To elevate yourself self-importantly to a gastro-style pub and throw in a snobbish dose of frenchery and jumping on the alice-in-wonderland bandwagon? I can't justify giving your 2 1/2 star (mainly because of the delish oysters) a boost to the 3 star rating. Yes, you might be proud to be voted the best garden pub or whatever; but seriously, you need to work on everything else.

Take a wander down by the river from oxford and you will stumble upon port meadows, a lovely stretch of the thames where on a sunny weekend you can see sailboats, row boats and swimmers messing about. The Perch is down a little footpath off the river, and when you emerge from this path through the woods you are greated by the welcoming site of the perches large garden and the characterful pub/restaurant itself. Does bbq food for eating at the picnic tables, and more formal (read 'more expensive') food for at the proper tables inside the pub and on the patio. the bbq food is tasty and simple, but the full menu is really a cut above the usual 'pub grub'. Last time I was there we had some truely delicious fresh breads and oils, then i had a really wonderful bowl of mussles and a side order of chips. WE also couldnt resist the deserts- the pear frangipan tart was impressive, and the chocolate cake monumental!- make sure you get your dessert with a scoop of the really creamy rich ice cream they do. A nice touch is that they do quite a few wines by the carafe but, like me, that might mean your initial abstemious behaviour means you end up having two!

I have been a couple of times to The Perch recently, and I used to go to it from time to time when I was an undergrad in the seventies. It has a great location and the food has been good on all the occasions I can remember going to it. The reviewer whose experience of service and food has been bad must have been unlucky, or have gone before they got their act together. The place burned down a while ago, and still looks very new inside, so I imagine that they may have struggled to re-staff after the period of having closed down.

I met up with my family for lunch as i know The Perch has such a lovely garden area and it is so beautiful in the summer. The food is quite expensive and unfortunately average (not awful though). My mother and sister both had steak and about five hours later they were both ill. Neither had eaten the same thing before or after so it must have been the beef. My mum rang the manager to make him aware of the dodgy beef and he was very rude. No apology, in fact he seemed to be unable to take any criticism and was very snooty. Bad bad service. Such a shame because the pub itself is beautiful but the manager needs to work on his people skills. Won't be going back ever again.

What a lovely place! It's a really pleasant escape from the bustle of town and the tourist trap pubs which are all too easy to find around here. We had a really good lunch at the Perch last year, and felt very well looked after. The setting is beautiful and the interior of the pub is quirkily and attractively decorated. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly and we didn't experience anything of the patchy service mentioned in other reviews. We absolutely loved the chicken liver parfait, which certainly stood up to the hype. Don't miss the fluffy pancakes either! We'll be back next time we're in Oxford.

The Perch in Binsey Village has just re-opened; fully re-furbed, re-vamped and re-vitalised! Greeted by such lovely staff (unsurprising as the owner also had 4 other loved restaurants in Oxford, all with wonderful staff). A fine selection of lagers and ales are a available, at pretty decent prices for Oxford. The decor is comfortable; a real rustic pub feel - something that is needed in Oxford. The restaurant had a buzzing atmosphere, perfect for a Saturday night with the family. The menu had the perfect amount of selection; not too much that it made choosing impossible, but enough that you'd still get food envy from others plates. I had a delicious watercress soup with a buttermilk and chive scone; I'd never tried either and it was delicious. Our table also had the crab (bueno) and the asparagus and duck egg salad. The buttermilk battered chicken, with triple fried chips and celeriac coleslaw was chosen by two of us, and whilst I enjoyed it, I felt it was lacking in something from the ground (vegetables), and potentially a little expensive for what it was, albeit being tasty. I think my dad loved the chicken and ale pie, (the clean plate probably gave that one away) and the pea risotto was cooked perfectly. We enjoyed a bottle of the house Pinot Grigio, which was really nice and not too pricey. The service was a little slow, but to be honest we were enjoying ourselves so it didn't really matter. All in all I love the place. The menu is exactly what this pub needed. Though the French fine dining it was before tasted good, it did not suit the location. People stop off here after long muddy walks and want to be able to enjoy hearty food and a good pint. I think that the refurbishment is spot on, and on warmer evenings you can enjoy the garden, with heaters and a covered area (we're in England it's gonna rain). A great pub, I will be back.

This place really is a lovely place to visit, particularly on a summer's day. It's tucked away in one of Oxford's bizarrely central parks. I'd recommend a very pleasant walk here from either wolvercote or the Botley road. Within four minutes of sedate canals and ornate bridges you won't believe you're in a city anymore. The pub had two options when I went. Sit in the very comfortable, traditional English pub, or get something from the barbecue in the gorgeous garden. Both are well worth doing. It's a little expensive, but best to see as something to do on a special day rather than making it your local.

This place enjoys a big reputation amongst the locals and it certainly has a nice ambience, and was suitably rammed on a Saturday night, such that we waited about 20 mins for a table. The food was nice enough but the potions were minuscule, and a charge of £14 for 2 (two) fish cakes plus some side salad was pretty mind blowing. There was also a charge of around £3 for some pieces of bread. I believe the thatched roof was refurbished last year and perhaps the Perch Inn is still paying towards that. If so then perhaps the fish cakes are contributing towards the preservation of a lovely bit of English heritage. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're hungry!

We went here on a whim when visiiting my daughter in Oxford. One of the things that hit you as you enter is the pleasant olde world atmosphere it does look like a very comfy joint with large sofas in front of a wood fire. I can attest that the beers are good, the barman is friendly and this friendliness extends to all the serving staff who were really rather pleasant. We had the chicken liver parfait for the starter and it was superb as good as anything you get in Paris for twice the price. It was presented rustically in its own jar and the little pickles accompanied it well. The mains were a little bit of a let-down the turkey was dry and the pork belly was a little tasteless but it could just have been an off day as I am sure the cook can do better. The dessert was also OK but nothing special or memorable. What does stick in the memory is that Lewis Carroll developed and wrote many of the ideas for Alice In Wonderland here and I can completely understand why he liked the place so much. And it looked like it hasn't changed much since.

We arrived at 3 pm for lunch. While the staff is lovely, the experience was terrible. They forgot to put our order to the kitchen, then got it wrong, then brought us two dishes that they, and we, thought were for us but really were for another table. In the end, we got our food at 4:30 pm. It is delicious, though; and the setting is marvelous. I am sure our experience is not the norm here. But still, it had to be shared.

I dined at the Perch last night. It offers a unique and cozy dining room-- it's probably not as slick as the Trout or other gastropubs, but has a quirky, homey feel that I found a perfect escape from a rainy evening. The menu showed tremendous depth without branching off into the try-to-please-everyone trap. I started with the chicken liver parfait-- excellent, although the toasted bread could have been toastier. The main genuinely surprised me, though. I ordered one of two veggie options, the mushroom velouté and poached duck egg in puff pastry, and while I thought it would be good I was blown away by just how confidently a seemingly simple dish achieved its effect. Beautiful presentation; alternating bites between light and rich; dangerously more-ish combination of flavors. I'm surprised to find myself craving it at 3PM the next day. The wine and liqueurs on offer matched the food with style, and the staff were all extremely welcoming. I'll be back-- can't wait to drag along friends.

Best meal I had in Oxford. Vension pie - outstanding. Really nice staff, comfortable dinning room and enjoyable dinner.

I went to the Perch yesterday, remembering it from my Uni days as a lovely country pub with welcoming staff and great food. Things have changed. We were shown to a table by an indifferent waitor, who then sent over the most arrogant individual I have ever come across, to take our order. I am vegetarian but do not like mushrooms or goats cheese. One of the vegetarian meals contained goats cheese, the other was mushroom-based. The soup was mushroom soup. I therefore requested the roast vegatables with lump of goats cheese to arrive without the goats cheese. I was told snootily that "the food comes as it is described. No changes". I can only infer from this that the Perch's management was trying to sell me pre-made microwaved rubbish for my £20. I explained my dietary requirements was the waiter responded with a smirk and a shrug of the shoulders and walked off! We left in disgust and will not be going back. Such a disappointment that such a lovely pub is being dragged down by such shocking service. Thankfully, Oxford is not short of decent pubs.

Food good ,trying to be French but no complain on that score cosy pub,no point of writing a novel about it nice all round

Very poor gluten free option which was served cold at a wedding. Didn't eat the food.

Don't bother eating here unless you're on a slimming diet or have already had a full breakfast before you arrive. We ordered the fishcake, expecting a big plateful with veg, chips, salad etc. But no, it was one solitary fishcake swimming in a dish of buttery soup. No chips or potato or even a bread roll to fill you up. I could hardly believe it when the waiter brought it in. There was a minute portion of veg hidden underneath the fishcake, comprising some thin slices of leek (which fitted together might have amounted to half an inch) and three slices of mushroom. Luckily, we were on a free lunch, because, with the prices they charge, I would have complained.

We found this restaurant via the Port meadows - which are beautiful. The first impressions are amazing, very pretty country pub with huge gardens. However, my son and I chose to sit in the restaurant part outside without knowing you couldnt sit there without ordering/booking. We were only buying drinks to begin with. The manageress came over and bluntly and rudely said "CAN I HELP YOU" I realised I was in the wrong area and we moved. However there could have been lots of other choice words to ask us to move like "Hi sorry you cant sit here unless you are ordering foord, but there are more seats available in the gardens." Or "is it your first time here, Welcome. Just to let you know you can only sit here if you order food" etc etc.. In an expensive and unique place as this customer service should be high up on their agenda. Rude to the point with no smile the manageress left me with a bad taste in my mouth before even sampling their food. So although location gets 5 stars sadly everything else would be given 1. I would vist again, as maybe she was having a bad day, but only once. A bad experience twice and I would never return. Letsd hope they read these reviews as im not the only person unhappy with the service and they improve quick smart!!!