Looking for somewhere to eat as a group of 6 in Oxford brought up a number of issues for us; there were 6 of us, we all have different tastes, and none of us are that familiar with the area. A triple whammy, really. We found a number of options but, really needing to book somewhere due to having to get the last bus / train back to Haddenham, we decided on Branca. After a quick drink at the Jericho Tavern down the road, we walked into Branca and were seated immediately; very efficient. Menus were distributed, wine and water ordered, and then our order taken. Service was friendly, if a bit stilted when it came to drink delivery. A great feature here is that the starters can be ordered in tapa or 'full starter' and the mains can also be ordered in different sizes. I had the red pepper, mozzarella and pesto as a tapa - it was an excellent size to start, though lacked in any notable flavours. Despite eating my body weight in it on holiday I couldn't resist a pizza - pepperoni, fotina cheese, chilli and spinach. It was spicy but well balanced, and very well turned out for a restaurant pizza. Pasta and risotto around the table looked equally tasty. It's a lovely location and we enjoyed the laid back atmosphere throughout the evening. We didn't feel rushed and could really indulge in our meals. Branca was a good first step in exploring Oxford but I'm looking forward to returning and trying somewhere new. read more

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Tried this place out for brunch, and was pleasantly surprised! The service was a bit slow to get started, but once the staff woke up (we did show up at the crack of 10 when they opened), things were great. The food was fine; not remarkable, not absolutely no complaints. The atmosphere was pleasantly upscale casual - this isn't a diner or cafe. What I loved was the attention to making kids welcome: we got high chairs, colouring books, crayons, and a kids' menu full of things I'd eat (rather than just the typical kiddie-food crap). I'm always eager to find a restaurant that manages to be family-friendly without being kiddie-centric. I'll be back. read more

Branca Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Oxford, OXF

I ordered delivery from Branca on deliveroo. Starting with the food: The king prawn bruschetta (£7.4) - taste is absolutely spot on, I love it and delivery doesn't affect its taste or presentation. Although pricy for a starter, I'd still buy it for its amazing taste. The 8oz burger with bacon and skinny fries (£13.9) - burger was nice but average, nothing amazing about it, so I'd say this dish is over priced. Branca is my local restaurant, it is great to sit in for a coffee/brunch, but it does get busy sometimes and it is not as nice during their busy hours. Their food is a bit more pricy and recent quality of brunch have dropped. All in all, I still enjoy Branca as my local place. read more

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Came here with a bunch of friends for my birthday. The ambiance was great... the interior was beautiful... candles, hardwood floors, comfortable seats, oh, and as a bonus, really hunky waiters. Unfortunately, the food was just so-so. We were given a complimentary plate of bread sticks to start, but uhhhh... there's a limit of one breads stick per person. Whu???? Maybe it's because I've lived for too long in the States, land of free, refillable bread baskets, but limiting ONE free bread stick per customer just seems so... overly calculating!!! It's like getting a slap on the hand while reaching for another cookie. For my entree I had a ravioli dish veered on the bland side, which was really disappointing because thus far the atmosphere and attentive service had set my expectations a little high. For dessert I chose the pricey tasting menu, and it was slightly better than my entree. I remember that the ice cream was excellent and everything else was just ooookay. All in all nothing special, not really worth the price. Heard they have special deals for lunch though, so maybe that's worth checking out...? read more

Easily the best meal I've had all year! I was super impressed with the asparagus salad I had (not usually a salad girl ;) The food was preceded by a huge portion of tasty ciabatta bread and olive oil/balsamic which was a great surprise. I ended up pigging out and getting the lunch deal which included dessert at £11. Not bad for a superb 3 course meal. Dessert was a huge Eton Mess and I forced myself not to finish the whole thing and burst my belly. The waitress was adorable - really nice - and when I realised I'd forgotten my Kindle (2 hours later!!) I ran back and it was still there safely by the tills :D Love you Branca! read more

Branca is hidden on a corner of Walton Street and far too few people will ever venture into its doors, which is a shame as it's pretty funky inside and the food is very tasty. Good points: The interior - arty pictures, a tree, candles, mirrors, general funkiness. I've spent hours staring at the giant tube on the ceiling, which I think is probably just an air-con tube, but adds to the mystery of the place. The food - very nice starters and well-presented mains. Save room for pudding - they're the best in the area! Cocktails - expensive but memorable Bad points: Slow service - polite, but definitely not good if you're in a rush Quite expensive - justifiable for the quality, but not too healthy for a student Busy - definitely worth booking on a Friday or Saturday night. read more

Branca has a smart interior; big tree at the back, candles in red holders on the tables and old Italian advertising posters and mirrors. It's always busy so the atmosphere is always buzzing. I've been many times and the food is always faultless; love the good quality bread with oil to start. I always have pasta which is perfectly cooked and husband always has pizza which is also faultless (in fact they were recommended in the Sunday Times as one of the best places to get pizza in UK). Once or twice service has been a bit slow - actually very, very slow once - we had to scoff our main course and run to pick up one of the kids from a party leaving no time for desserts so not somewhere to go if you're in a rush. read more

Was really good, now seems a little weak. My wife and I have been to Branca nearly 10 times in two years. We've taken friends, parents and celebrated there. When we first visited, we were blown away by the food, the cheap price and the lovely setting. The brunch menu was always our favourite. Sadly, now the food seems to have fallen by the way side. The last two or three visits have left me wanting more. The food seems bland and overpriced now. Either the restaurant needs to reduce the prices and keep the food at the current standard, or improve the food to match the prices. Also, the coffee is way overpriced. I don't want to give up on Branca, but it really has been overshadowed by much better restaurants in Oxford. read more

This place is top notch and has an unbelievable lunch/early dining menu. For the cost of a pub lunch, you can have a smoked haddock and poached egg risotto with a glass one the actually decent house wine. As a wine lover, I have to say that they have a great (small) wine bar style wine menu. The Nero d'Avola is great value with lots of concentration for a cheap wine. I usually get the 1 or 2 course early dining menu) but last time I went I tried the burger topped with dolcelatte (soft blue cheese). It was excellent. When I asked for mayonnaise and mustard, the server asked me which mustard I wanted, as they have a wide selection, and the mayo was organic and free range. The burger was the real deal, made from real meat, pink in the middle, and delicious. The portion of fat, crispy chips was more than I could finish. read more

I visited this restaurant a little while ago wth family and enjoyed the trip. The food and wine are both excellent, but the restaurant itself is quite large and gets very noisy. It's in jericho, which is a great part of town to have a night out as there are many great pubs and bars. There's a nice selection of food but it is a little pricey. As I remember, the portions weren't huge for the money, but the food was delicious. There's a good wine list so you can pick a good bottle to match the food. Not a great place to have a date or a quiet meal as the place is always very busy and the tables were quite close together. Good food and a lively atmosphere, if a bit expensive and loud. read more

I have eaten in Branca many times of the years and I keep going back. It's just so consistent. Firstly it's a really nice place to be, very well lit and great decor, and now it has out door seating in the new garden which is a real suntrap! The service has always been good, a little laid back but very friendly and attentive, just the way I like it. We chose to early supper menu, 2 courses for £12 with a beer or glass of wine. Everything tasted great and awesome value. Would reccomend to anyone! read more

Good wine by the glass selection and good beer selection. A variety of well prepared bistro food with prompt service. Their take away pizza is delicious and ready when promised. read more

It is always hard when eating in a place to think about the economics: say, the price to quality ratio. I can honestly say that this is truly economical (set menu for two lunch courses (starter and main, or, indeed two mains, should you be in a fit of hunger madness!) and a glass of house wine for a crazily reasonable sum) ---- and yet nothing about it feels hasty, quickly turned out or less than individual/very carefully prepared. I would usually opt for the deli plate starter (wonderful Italian cold meats, cheese and fresh olives), but, at (cold) times, soup was also a firm fav. Then pasta (fresh, rich and tasty, just the way I like it), perhaps a pizza (crispy and freshly baked) or risotto (ozzing rich flavours and perfectly seasoned); these were my staples. For lunch that is inexpensive yet amazing quality, this place is superlative. read more

The food is good and cheap. That's why this place is always packed. Great if you want an affordable meal in a nice restaurant that seems like it should cost more. On the down-side, service is very slow and there are much better, but pricier, restaurants in the immediate area. read more

I actually think this is my favorite lunch place in Oxford. Yes, it's a trek all the way to Walton from the city center, but this one-stop-shop Italian brasserie is just nice enough (and not wallet wringing) to make it worth it. The exposed brick and the curved staircase, give Branca a loungey feel, akin to a Brooklyn bar in the evenings, with tasteful fairy-lights (who knew these were used outside of a pre-teen's bedroom) strewn across the beige walls. The smooth contours of the bar and the chandelier seen through the glassy entrance definitely bring you in from the cold, promising warm European comfort food in chic surroundings. It is modernly furnished with a lot of space in the back, including a new sunny terrace for the warmer afternoons. There is a deli next door if you want to sample a simpler take on the fresh ingredients. And I hear that they now do take-home pizzas...what else can this place do? I have been here with a large group for dinner (9 people) which resulted in a long wait for food and drink and a poor show by the staff. But I remember my steak being above average and my cheese board being the envy my neighbors. My lunch experience here was much nicer, with just us three ladies and a set menu. The lunch set menu is very reasonably priced, something like 15 quid for three courses. The pizza is fabulous, rustic, with that beautiful wood/stone baked crust that is puffed and spotted with slight char, giving it that smoky taste. The wine was good quality and they have some creative options like the duck breast, crispy gnocci, with spring beans in balsamic jus. Not too loud, nor too crowded, we never felt rushed. Though I have never tried the more demure, less savory, brunch menu, it seems to have a special section labelled 'Hangover Drinks'. That kind of brilliance, takes this place from 4.5 to 5 stars. read more

We ventured up to Jericho to give Branca a go last week on several recommendations; on arrival we were acknowledged ('greeted' would be going too far by half) by an uninterested waiter who processed our reservation and m friend's surname without uttering more than a syllable and without any change in expression to acknowledge that an interaction was taking place, then grunted 'this way' before perfunctorily installing us at a table next to three very loud girls who appear to have had dinner only to record the event in photos, despite plenty of empty tables. As luck had it, he was our waiter and the three of us were stuck in this awkward dynamic for the duration my American cheerfulness and my friend's posh English manners being deflected back at us off his shiny bald head and expressionless face. Mercifully he sought to mitigate our discomfort by speaking fewer than a dozen and a half words to us in our time there and visiting only when absolutely necessary none of this 'is everything okay?' pretense of friendliness. So we were left to our own devices, more or less, in a giant very cold room with an interior design scheme which utterly escapes me it is a clash of Manhattan upscale minimalism and French bistro casualness, with ill-conceived touches no doubt thought to be avant-garde thrown in for good measure. The warmth of the place was not aided by the open door despite the cold weather nor, as I may have mentioned, the attitude of our host, but I certainly did not feel that this was a space in which I wanted to spend any more time than was strictly necessary. That said, the food is nice. We split two starters, the beef with horseradish and beetroot and the Italian charcuterie, and both were very good to excellent. The mains, a carbonara for my friend and chili garlic prawn linguine for me, were very good though not complicated. The prices were comparable to better restaurants which do not use the term 'bistro' as an excuse for service that walks the razor's edge between aloof and rude, a haphazard design scheme, and a general lack of attention to such things as providing us with the proper cutlery. Despite the good quality of the food, then, I would not hurry back. I might enjoy a cheeky charcuterie platter at the bar if I were in the area anyway and equipped with a parka and some headphones, but I certainly would not seek it out. read more

Interesting wire sculptures and Victorian mirrors adorn the walls of this vibrant restaurant in Jericho, bustling at lunch and from early evening. A favourite place to eat for our Oxford offices. read more

If you are just there for coffee avoid BRANCA oxford on Walton street, they don't care. The coffee was cold and the cups were not clean.

We came here with a large group on the final night in town after a conference. I was a bit surprised they only put one server on a table of 12, but she did a bang-up job, even offering to take pics for us. Everyone commented on the quality of their meals. I enjoyed the smoked fish cakes and a taste of my wife's tuna. I had hoped to snag a taste of the Bolognese to my right, but it disappeared too fast. My friend to my left thoroughly enjoyed his steak. If I am ever in need of another Italian dinner in Oxford I would return here without hesitation. read more

Beautiful room, lovely location, great atmosphere, indifferent staff and pretty bad food. This menu has no idea who or what it wants to be - the length and the variety is silly. The kitchen is overstretched as a result and it shows. My aunt's pizza was doughy and undercooked, my husband's seared tuna steak was cooked all the way through, as was my rare sirloin starter, the vegetables that came with my meat were overdone, my (other) aunt's risotto was chalky..... I could go on. And it's not *that* cheap. Give it a miss. read more

My husband and I recently had dinner at Branca. The service was so-so and the noise level was VERY loud - I had a splitting headache by the time the meal ended. The soup was excellent but the risotto was a bit undercooked for my taste. My husband ordered a veggie pasta special which he enjoyed. Overall OK, but there are better dinner options in Jericho. read more