Gees Restaurant & Bar
Quick info
About Gees Restaurant & Bar
Gees Restaurant & Bar is a modern British restaurant on Banbury Rd in North Oxford, set in a Grade II listed Victorian conservatory that once housed the Gee family's greengrocers and floristry. The glass-walled dining room gives the menu a bright setting, and the city centre is a ten-minute walk away. The kitchen cooks British food from seasonal ingredients and adds retro classics, with an octopus starter, zucchini fries and fried ice cream among the dishes. Chips come alongside mains. Gees Gallery is a separate space with bare stone walls, oak panelling and a flash of green marble, and it has its own private bar, entrance and art collection. The restaurant has served locals and visitors for over four decades and opens daily.
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention octopus starter, victorian conservatory dining, lamb burger and zucchini fries.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention octopus starter, victorian conservatory dining, lamb burger and zucchini fries.
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often single out the octopus starter, called delicious by one reviewer who ranked it above their old favourite calamari, and by another who praised the food's consistency. Close behind are the lamb burger, the chips, the oysters on ice, the bone marrow with toasted bread, and the zucchini fries, fried ice cream and bread. Reviewers describe the large Victorian conservatory as light, airy and beautiful, and several call the waiters helpful, polite and friendly. The recurring caveats are cost and parking: a few say it is not the best value, a longtime regular notes higher prices after the refurbishment, and others had to find a spot on a side street. One regular found the panzanella too small for a vegetarian main and the courgette pasta light on vegetables, and another found the meat a little dry. Service drew a specific complaint too: dirty water glasses, a long wait to order, and a kitchen mishap that delayed mains, which was resolved with dessert on the house.
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often single out the octopus starter, called delicious by one reviewer who ranked it above their old favourite calamari, and by another who praised the food's consistency. Close behind are the lamb burger, the chips, the oysters on ice, the bone marrow with toasted bread, and the zucchini fries, fried ice cream and bread. Reviewers describe the large Victorian conservatory as light, airy and beautiful, and several call the waiters helpful, polite and friendly. The recurring caveats are cost and parking: a few say it is not the best value, a longtime regular notes higher prices after the refurbishment, and others had to find a spot on a side street. One regular found the panzanella too small for a vegetarian main and the courgette pasta light on vegetables, and another found the meat a little dry. Service drew a specific complaint too: dirty water glasses, a long wait to order, and a kitchen mishap that delayed mains, which was resolved with dessert on the house.
Featured reviews
- Fabian V
“A decent restaurant close to the heart of Oxford. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing particularly wrong with the food, but apart from the zucchini fries, fried ice cream and bread, there wasn’t anything that really stood out either. The meat was a little dry, and the lentils had more tarragon than I personally liked, but that’s subjective. The waiters were friendly, especially the manager (supposedly, as he was the only one wearing blue rather than white). However, the service could have been a little more attentive, with dirty water glasses in the beginning and quite a long wait to order the food. There was also a mishap in the kitchen which delayed our main courses. This was explained to us rather late, but we were given dessert on the house, which made up for it. So I don’t see the delay itself as a major criticism. Things happen, and I thought they handled it well in the end. Overall, a pleasant experience, but with some room for improvement.”
- FS
“Fabulous lunch in a beautiful setting. Had the daily special —globe artichoke risotto — and a glass of the Montepulciano. (By the way, the lime accompanying the side of corn smelled divine)”
- Lottie Lambert
“We had such a wonderful afternoon dining here. The atmosphere is lovely and perfect for catching up over a beautiful meal. Everything we ordered was prepared to perfection. I particularly enjoyed the oysters served on a bed of ice with a fresh lemon wedge; they were incredibly fresh and tasted like the sea. We also really liked the presentation of the other dishes, especially the bone marrow paired with toasted bread. It was a memorable experience in every way.”
- Jason Eis
“We have been going to Gees for years. It was recently refurbished, and they changed the menu a bit. The food remains very good, but in general, I wouldn't say the menu has improved, even though everything is a bit more expensive. The venison is a new edition, and really excellent. But the panzanella salad was really small for a vegetarian main. The courgette and green bean pasta was also good, but a bit light on the veggies. All that said, we'll go back, just maybe not quite as frequently.”
- Paul Pang
“Had a wonderful family dinner here tonight and everything was excellent. The food was rich, beautifully presented, and full of flavour. Every dish we ordered was enjoyable and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. A special thank you to Alain, who provided outstanding service throughout the evening. He was friendly, attentive, professional, and made our whole family feel very comfortable. His service really made the experience even more memorable. Highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely come back again!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Gees Restaurant & Bar is an independently-owned, restaurant, bar, and terrace set within North Oxford's famous Grade II listed Victorian conservatory, once home to the Gee family's greengrocers and floristry, just a ten-minute walk from Oxford's city centre. Enjoyed by locals and visitors alike for over four decades, Gees serves a distinctly Modern British menu using the best seasonal ingredients, with a playful nod to the retro classics of days gone by. Designed to be fun, highly individual, and relentlessly delicious. Gees Gallery upholds an authentic and organic feel, with bare stone walls, oak panelling and a flash of rich green marble, featuring its own private bar, entrance and art collection.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Assistive hearing loop
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Location
Restaurants near Gees Restaurant & Bar
- 0.6 miOutdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
afternoon tea, rooftop terrace view, flower pot dessert
- 0.7 miWheelchair accessible
full english breakfast, scones with devonshire cream, coffee
- 0.7 miWheelchair accessible
sushi rolls, dessert section, seafood selection
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gees Restaurant & Bar | 4.31,553 | — | octopus starter, victorian conservatory dining, lamb burger |
| Ashmolean Rooftop RestaurantOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.1688 | 0.6 mi | afternoon tea, rooftop terrace view, flower pot dessert |
| The Spires Cafe & RestaurantWheelchair accessible | 4.6829 | 0.7 mi | full english breakfast, scones with devonshire cream, coffee |
| COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant | OxfordWheelchair accessible | 4.33,367 | 0.7 mi | sushi rolls, dessert section, seafood selection |
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