The Thames Valley Restaurants

Londoners weekend here, and where they go, stellar restaurants follow. Bray (near Windsor), Marlow, and Great Milton (near Oxford) claim some excellent tables; you need to book months ahead for these. Simple pub food, as well as classic French cuisine, can be enjoyed in waterside settings at many restaurants beside the Thames. Even in towns away from the river, well-heeled commuters and Oxford professors support top-flight establishments. Reservations are often not required but are strongly recommended, especially on weekends.

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  • 1. Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons

    $$$$

    One of the original gastronomy-focused hotels, Le Manoir was opened in 1984 by chef Raymond Blanc, whose culinary talents have earned the hotel's restaurant two Michelin stars—now held for an incredible 38 years and running. Decide from among such innovative French creations as spiced cauliflower velouté with langoustines, beef fillet with braised Jacob's ladder, or Dover sole with brown butter and rosemary. Or you can try one of the fixed-price menus starting from £229; the six-course set-price lunch (£190) is marginally easier on the wallet. There is a separate vegetarian menu as well. With more than 1,000 wines in stock, mostly French, you'll find the perfect glass to accompany your meal. You need to book up to three months ahead in summer. Elegant guest rooms are available, but at upwards of £800 in summer for even a standard double, you could just as well get a taxi back to almost anywhere south of Scotland. The pretty town of Great Milton is 7 miles southeast of Oxford.

    Church Rd., Great Milton, Oxfordshire, OX44 7PD, England
    01844-278881

    Known For

    • One of the top restaurants in the country
    • Flawless French-style fine dining
    • Beautiful surroundings

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Wed., Reservations essential
  • 2. Branca

    $$

    While visitors don't need much persuading to venture out of the town center to the trendy nearby enclave of Jericho, Branca's charming interior, vibrant atmosphere, and solid menu of Italian classics provides yet more allure for the neighborhood. À la carte options inside the rustic, airy corner restaurant include everything from stone-baked pizza to risotto along with a wide selection of meat and fish dishes. Look out for the lunchtime and supper specials and be sure to check out the next-door deli.

    111 Walton St., Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 6AJ, England
    01865-807745

    Known For

    • Great lunchtime and dinner set menu deals
    • Popular weekend brunches
    • Deli next door provides perfect picnic food
  • 3. Brasserie Blanc

    $$

    Raymond Blanc's sophisticated brasserie in the Jericho neighborhood is the more affordable chain restaurant cousin of Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton. The changing menu always lists a good selection of steaks and innovative adaptations of bourgeois French fare, sometimes with Mediterranean or Asian influences. Try the confit duck or the rainbow beetroot salad. In a happy concession to more Anglo-Saxon tastes, they also do a fantastic traditional British roast on Sunday.

    71–72 Walton St., Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 6AG, England
    01865-510999

    Known For

    • French classics like bouillabaisse
    • Affordable lunch menu
    • Good wine selection
  • 4. Cote

    $

    This reliably good brasserie serves decent French-influenced cooking in a contemporary setting. Start with an order of excellent calamari, fried in bread crumbs with a subtle infusion of garlic, before moving on to a main of fish parmentier (pie with a potato topping) or a classic steak in peppercorn sauce served with french fries. Desserts are rich and tempting, although the simple French cheeseboard, taken with the last of the excellent bottle of red you had with dinner, can make for an unexpectedly fine finish. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

    41–47 George St., Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2BE, England
    01865-251992

    Known For

    • Reliably good French bistro cooking
    • Rich desserts
    • Large crowds so reservations are recommended
  • 5. CuttleFish

    $

    The clue's in the name here—this popular local restaurant specializes in fresh, upscale seafood. Dishes are prepared with a European touch and frequently come with butter, cream, and other sauces, such as sardines served with lemon and parsley butter. Hot and cold shellfish platters are popular, as are the mussels in white wine and oysters in red wine shallot vinegar. The interior has a casual nautical theme with wooden floors and tables, porthole windows, and red sails overhead.

    36–37 St. Clement's St., Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1AB, England
    01865-243003

    Known For

    • Excellent seafood
    • Nautical surroundings
    • Good-value lunches
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  • 6. Gee's

    $$

    With its glass-and-steel framework, this former florist's shop just north of the town center makes a charming conservatory dining room, full of plants and twinkling with lights in the evening. The menu concentrates on the best of Oxfordshire produce and changes daily, but you can expect to find the likes of delicate seafood linguine, farm-fresh roasted vegetables, and wood-fired octopus. There's an affordable lunch and early supper menu, too.

    61 Banbury Rd., Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 6PE, England
    01865-553540

    Known For

    • Sophisticated Mediterranean dishes with local produce
    • Gorgeous garden
    • Affordable lunch and early dinner menus

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