Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Barbecue, British, Fusion, Halal, Ice Cream, Noodles, Pubs, Steak, Thai, Vegan, Vegetarian·
££££
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SquareMeal Review of Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Over the years these eccentric have made quite a name for themselves. From their club and restaurant in Fitzrovia to one of their two hotels within striking distance of London and Oxford, whichever you visit, you’ll find an eclectic assortment of objets d’art, coupled with impeccable service and good food. Visit this English restaurant for classic afternoon tea or a proper Sunday lunch, where local beef and their own lamb and Old Spot pork are roasted with all the trimmings. Meals at other times aren't to be sniffed at either; yellowfin tuna tartare with shallot and radish salad or charred squid with home cured pancetta make lighter lunchtime options, or indulge with pies, steak or lobster and chips.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Barbecue, British, Fusion, Halal, Ice Cream, Noodles, Pubs, Steak, Thai, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Fun, Lively, Quirky, Unique
Food Occasions
All day dining, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Beer garden, Outside seating, Terrace
Special Features
Dog friendly, Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Nestled within the Oxfordshire countryide amongst working farmlands, Crazy Bear Stadhampton is a five star hotel home to two dining destinations - a contemporary British restaurant and a Thai restaurant. Within the grounds you’ll also find a bar, terrace, and garden, perfect for popping in for a drink pre or post-dinner. The interiors at Crazy Bear are arguably some of the most eccentric around, with chandeliers, eclectic decor, gold accents and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

For a taste of modern British dining at its best, head to the English restaurant. With pink seats, lush carpets, and silver mirrors across the walls, guests are transported to another world for the evening while they dine from its seasonal menus. Primarily based around small plates, you can enjoy delights like homemade pastrami with confit duck yolk puree, pickled shallots, dill pickles and crispy fried capers, tempura king prawns with warm tartar sauce, or glazed hen of the woods with grilled chicory and dried porcini powder. Don't miss the prime cuts specials board, as well as the Crazy Bear classics list, which features dishes like the house burger, plus truffle risotto with parmesan espuma and shaved truffle. There is also a seven-course tasting menu on offer, perfect for special occasions, with a dedicated vegetarian alternative menu available.

Upon entering the Thai restaurant you’ll be greeted by glimmering gold interiors with moody lighting and wooden beams across the ceiling. The a la carte here is best enjoyed sharing style and offers tasty meat, fish, and vegetable dishes, as well as familiar favourites like curries, noodles and rice. If you’re having trouble deciding, there are also three set sharing menus which showcase the most popular dishes, so you can just sit back and enjoy.


FAQs

Is there a wine list?

Yes, there is a stellar wine list including affordable bottles, wines by the glass, and revered labels from celebrated vineyards.

Helpful? 0

This venue also offers

Crazy Bear Stadhampton
Private Group Dining

Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Crazy Bear Stadhampton
Christmas Parties

Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Crazy Bear Stadhampton
Event Party Venue

Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Crazy Bear Stadhampton
Wedding Venues

Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Location

Bear Lane, Stadhampton, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX44 7UR

0203 994 4555 0203 994 4555

Website

Opening Times

Mon-Sun 12N-3pm-6-10pm

Reviews

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3 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Jennifer G

18 April 2013  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 4
A 'local' pub/restuarant without the 'locals'
This is a venue I have frequented many times over the years as it's only a few miles up the road from me and has played host to weddings of friends, first dates(!) and cosy Sunday lunches. It's good for all 3 and more in my opinion. A less ostentatious version of it's sister venue in Beaconsfield but still a great little place. Their Thai is very good but my rating today is based on a recent Sunday lunch, which came after a nosy around their on-site fam shop. The Sunday lunch was incredibly good value for money and I've not stopped recommending it since. The usually boring vegetables that can be served with a good roast dinner were lovingly cooked and tasted delicious! They even let me change some of the vegetables for alternatives on their side dishes menu. The meat is all organic and reared locally (the lamb actually reared on the grounds near the farm shop!) and it's cooked to perfection. The Yorkshire puddings were just huge as well; all in all I actually struggled to finish my meal if I'm honest, I still found room for a desert though of course ;-) I love this little venue but the only thing I would say its lacking a little of is atmosphere. It's a very small bar and eating areas so without the right cosyness it can feel a little like it's so quiet your conversations can be overheard at the next table! Great range of drinks available at the bar too, I always indulge in some of their good quality flavoured vodkas when I visit a crazy bear and their cocktails are fantastic and as with all of their venues, the service is very very good.

Wendy M

06 September 2010  
Food & Drink 3
Service 3
Atmosphere 4
Value 2.5
Comfort – good. Sedate – definitely not. But with “Crazy” in the name would one really expect a calm atmosphere? The quirky, miscellaneous décor is exceedingly busy and music was not background, though in no way did it interfere with our conversation. Having dined in the Thai section previously concluding that it was not good enough to repeat, it was time to visit the English restaurant, enticed in knowing that they now breed their own livestock and fowl. Being a hotel, food in some form or another is served all day, so there is a lot to read. Even skipping breakfast list and lunch, appetisers will be found, followed by salads or starters and an extensive main course list, making it impossible to take in desserts til later. From a promising start for all four of us, we happily munched on Tuna tartare, an excellent classic French onion soup and equally good chicken liver salad with fabulous bacon pieces from home reared Gloucester’s with super fresh salad and a perfectly poached egg. Two bottles of Douro were excellent. Onwards to two different pies and a mixed grill of pork meats, and this is where discontentment set in. Three different complaints about pies, one having bacon to chicken ratio out of kilter; one with bone and some gristle and then the beef cheek not having been cooked down properly, so though it was soft it was also chewy. Dry pork chop and a cement-like rosti didn’t please one guest, but side orders were cooked correctly and most impressive of all, the tender young broad beans were devoid of skins. Service, whilst pleasant and attentive enough, distinctly lacked knowledge. Good ingredients were used but sadly the treatment didn’t afford them justice, which is a shame because the prices are definitely City.

Rob B

19 October 2009  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 5
Value 4.5
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.
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0203 994 4555 0203 994 4555

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