The Old Parsonage - Oxford

Looking suitably ancient, The Old Parsonage, a seventeenth-century weathered-stone building on Banbury Road, used to be the parsonage for the nearby church of St Giles. These days, it sees itself as a 'thoroughly grown-up establishment' and a haven of tranquillity within easy reach of Oxford city centre. It's an intimate rendezvous that feels rather like a private members' club and it's open right through the day for casual snacks and full meals. Fish is freighted in from Jersey, while meat and vegetables are mostly from the owner's farm in rural Oxfordshire.

Fillet steak with hand-cut chips and béarnaise sauce is a perennial favourite (along with smoked Lincolnshire Poacher soufflé), but the kitchen also sends out crispy squid with basil mayonnaise, veal Holstein and grilled fillet of brill with buttered salsify and lemon verbena dressing. Lamb burgers and pastrami sandwiches on rye are always available, and desserts could feature chocolate tart or Sussex Pond pudding; moderately priced wines suit the food admirably. Don't miss the summertime barbecues and live jazz every Friday night.