The Back Lane Tavern — Restaurant in West Oxfordshire

I wanted to love this place. As a local, I haven’t felt like there’s a pub in the area that truly stands out and after seeing some good reviews, we booked a table.

The food was delicious, every single plate that came out looked and tasted great. It was however overpriced. There was not enough food on each tapas dish to justify the price in our opinion and it did feel as non meat eaters that the fish and veg options were particularly small. Three very small scallops for £13 for example or one courgette flower for £8. We ordered 2-3 tapas each as advised by the server, additional sides and dessert but didn’t feel particularly satisfied. To be honest, in the end, the tapas approach just came across as a way to make more money from hungry customers than a tasty dining experience.

What really let this place down was the ambience and will probably be the reason we don’t come back despite the tasty food. The place was just too loud and too busy. They had lounge beats (not sure how else to describe it!) playing at a volume that made it hard to hold a conversation in the restaurant and at 9pm it appeared to be turned up to create some kind of party atmosphere. The tables were crammed together, my chair backed into a through way for staff and despite trying to tuck myself in, I was shoved by staff over and over again. No apologies and at least 20-30 times I was pushed and shoved. Not a single mask in sight on any staff member or encouraged of customers walking to tables. It was hot, stuffy and I felt incredibly uncomfortable.

Despite the food being tasty, the experience was unpleasant and like other reviews on Trip Advisor, it felt particularly poorly thought out regarding implementing any covid considerations. Even pre covid this would have felt full on, so for it to feel this way now in the world that we live in just feels...

Unlike the review from Mr Burgess who thinks that a busy listed building whose front door leading onto the main bar warrants a 1 out of 5 rating, my experience of this place was absolutely different. Mainly because unlike Mr Burgess I waited until they'd actually opened the restaurant and booked myself into it before commenting, so my review is based on experience rather than ignorance and speculation. You will not see another 1 out of 5 review for this place because it was quite simply the best small plate dining visit you are ever likely to make. The tables were full, the staff friendly and helpful, and the back garden was bustling with happy locals. Every dish that came out was insanely good and we even had the head chef come out to explain how small plate eating works. The pork belly was one of the finest dishes I've ever eaten and we picked away at most of the menu between eight of us which we washed down with excellent wine. Every dish served to our neighbouring tables was greeted with oohs and ahhs and I am sure I can speak for every customer last Saturday when I say it was quite exceptional. I even stopped, smiled and waited for an elderly couple to move aside as they let me through the busy front door without so much as a grumble. I only wish this wonderful place was...

What an example of a great food place but execution is beyond repairable. We visited on NY Eve for lunch, pre-booked, the restaurant was half empty! 15 mins for two cocktails and over 35 mins for the tapas themselves. No kitchen rules can excuse more than 12 mins to prep a dish (except a well-done steak!) and more than 12 mins between the meals. One of my tapas came before my drink! This is a basic restaurant rule. After the 35th min I felt like getting into the kitchen and cooking my side of salad on my own! I have tried The Back Lane many times, but this time you have outdone yourselves. My fishcake came before my side of salad. The fishcake took about half an hour! Are you joking? You filleting the fish and just starting the fishcake?! I have a very basic understanding of cooking and timings, and you are all over the place. Same for 90% of your staff on the restaurant floor. What a shame, not only spilt my day, but just pushed me away from a place that has such great potential. Really a shame as you want to an iconic place, to me is an icon of the longest I have ever waited for...