The Oxford Kitchen — Restaurant in Lodi

Introduction: I recently visited The Oxford in Lodi, California, a British-themed restaurant known for bringing a taste of Britain to the U.S. They offer a variety of traditional dishes such as fish and chips, beef wellington, and more. I've been a regular visitor for about two years and here's my detailed review.

Atmosphere: The Oxford boasts an upscale, well-lit atmosphere with shimmering lights that create a high-end dining experience. The bar, situated at the front right as you walk in, adds to the vibrant ambiance with a pleasant hum of activity. The restaurant features spacious booths that can comfortably seat up to six people, ensuring a comfortable dining experience. They are also highly accommodating for individuals with disabilities and service animals. The restaurant's front and side walls are glass, providing a scenic view of Lodi's historic buildings.

Value for Money: The Oxford offers excellent value for the price, delivering high-end food at a fraction of the cost. Whether you're there for lunch or dinner, the welcoming atmosphere and quality of food make it worth every penny.

Food Quality: I usually order the fish and chips for lunch, paired with a Pepsi or butternut squash soup. The fish is always flaky and well-battered, though the thick British-style fries are not my personal favorite. Their canned Coke is a nice touch, offering a better taste than typical machine-dispensed drinks. The bar offers a decent selection of drinks, including good mimosas.

Favorite Dishes: Desserts: Their desserts, especially the signature panna cotta, are phenomenal. They frequently update their dessert menu with items like chocolate mousse cakes and fudge cakes, all of which are excellent. Beef Wellington: The beef Wellington is a standout, featuring a delicate and flavorful preparation. Appetizers: The calamari, with its flat breading, and the grilled octopus are both delicious. The scotch eggs are another highlight, perfectly crispy with a flavorful lamb crust. Other Dishes: While their chicken tikka masala is popular with my fiancé, I find it less appealing. However, their salads and raviolis are consistently good.

Service: The service at The Oxford is exceptional. The staff is attentive, frequently checking to ensure that drinks are topped off and food is to your liking. They are always friendly, welcoming, and open to feedback. Even during busy times like Mother's Day, when special menu items are offered, the service remains top-notch.

Recommendation: While I wouldn't recommend the steak, as it lacks flavor and is not up to the standard of other items on the menu, every other dish I've tried has been amazing. I visit The Oxford two to three times a week and highly recommend it to anyone in the Lodi area looking for a great dining experience.

I...

I was really looking forward to my time here at the Oxford Kitchen but was very disappointed by the experience I had.

FOOD - My friend and I ordered the Beef Wellington as our mains, with the crispy cauliflower and the charcuterie board as our appetizers.

The cauliflower was drenched in a tomato sauce that tasted quite good, but it took away from the crispiness. What remained was well seasoned cauliflower with a soggy, bready exterior that did not homogenize well with the rest of the dish.

Then there was the charcuterie board, which I was particularly disappointed with, given that each and every item tasted like it was store-bought at a trader joes. if you are charging $25+ for a charcuterie board, I expect high quality ingredients. Only about 30% of the board was cheeses, and the rest were little tidbits like store-bought salami, prosciutto, olives, pickles, grapes, and strawberries - nothing exceptional and overall very disappointing.

Finally, there was the Beef Wellington, which had beautifully cooked beef, but lacked additional flavor from the pastry and mushroom layer. Maybe I am just not crazy about Beef Wellington, but it is not an experience I would replicate for $59.

SERVICE - The service at this restaurant was not horrendous but by no means exceptional. The waiter never came around to refill our drinks or check on us, and we had to wave him down every time we needed something. Our waters were empty for most of the meal, which was just a shame.

ATMOSPHERE - This place does have a wonderful atmosphere. They have live music and the layout of the restaurant is gorgeous. I just wish that the food and the service were up to par.

Overall, this place is wonderful for presentation but doesn't quite make the cut when it comes to quality. If the food was half the price of what I paid, this place would get a higher rating from me for sure. But with the prices they charge comes a higher expectation of customer experience, and unfortunately I did not get...

Part of my job is to travel to many different places. When I do get to escape the hell which is my hotel, I like to visit restaurants that offer a sort of "IT" factor. Cause let's face it, this is the only excitement I'm going to get all week.

On one of my recent travels, I was assigned to work in Lodi. I didn't know much about the place other than the fact that they offered skydiving and had gas stations. Perhaps, even have a Winery that dealt out gallons of well refined pruno, made by the hands of California's finest inmates, who are serving a 5 to 10 year stint.

As I walked downtown, I came across a place called The Oxford Kitchen. The interior was as if it was designed by an Englishman who had adapted the New American minimalist style. "Perfect." I thought.

I looked at the menu and noticed a nice variety of English beers and whiskey's.

"One Pint a Fuller's, a Jameson back, and your shepherd's pie, please."

The drinks were served post haste and the shepherd's pie came out almost immediately. It's presentation was excellent and reminded me of an old Celtic design somehow made with mashed potatoes

I dove into it with full force and immediately was engulfed with flavor, texture, and satisfaction.

"...the hell?". I thought. How was it possible that one of the best restaurants I've ever been to had be hiding in a place called Lodi?

Needless to say, I decided to return the next night and do something basic. Almost as if to accept the challenge to this restaurant was posing to this weary travelers taste buds. Fish and Chips.

The fish was fried perfectly. The breading on it was not to much and had a nice crunch to it. Not to mention, the portion size was excellent, especially when paired with a nice English beer.

Kudos to you, The Oxford Kitchen. You have definitely made me see the errors in my ways of thinking small towns cannot offer great flavor and an excellent dining experience. Until...