R.R.Gill's review of The Crazy Bear

I love the Crazy Bear Group – Really really love them, So for my wife's 30th Birthday decided to head up to Oxford to spend the weekend there. It's a shame I can't really write a review about the rooms (which are fab) but thankfully both the English and Thai restaurants give me plenty to write about. We had decided on the English restaurant for a light lunch which I'm happy to say turned into a bit of a heavy lunch. Starters of Oak Smoked Scottish Salmon and Oxfordshire Aberdeen Angus Steak Tartare were a wonderful way to start – both very fresh and tasty. Pork was the order of the day with my wife going for the Old Spot Pork sausage and mash while I went for the Old spot Pork Belly with apple salad and duck egg. Absolutely delicious and huge portions. Dessert was taken care of with strawberry summer trifle – supremely tasty and very refreshing. Service was smooth and subtle – there when you need them but otherwise unobtrusive.

Fast forward 8 hours and it was time for dinner in the Thai restaurant – a beautiful little relaxed lounge type area, very intimate and relaxing. A mixture of snack style starters got us going including duck spring rolls, prawn dumplings and some of the best ribs I've ever had – the meat very tender to the point of dropping off the bone. Mains were soon followed up with Duck breast in Tamarind sauce and the divine slow pot roasted Ox cheek – extremely soft and tender with the roasted garlic and spring onions giving it a lovely zing. Service was excellent especially considering the intimate space the waiters have to work inn.We practically ignored the wine list for both meals opting to go for champagne (Belle Époque 1998) which felt a little pricey but it was after all a special occasion, but the champagne and wine list can easily accommodate all tastes and budgets.

I think the venue as a whole is excellent and perfect for a weekend getaway or a bite if you are in the area, but I would suggest booking ahead rather than leaving it to chance. Another bonus being that if you like the food there, then you can pop over to the farm shop and pick up anything you may need – the only downside to this was having to face the cute little pigs in the farm fields, knowing that their brothers and sisters, although delicious are now in my belly and not so cute anymore.