Snackbar — Restaurant in Oxford

First, the food is spectacular. Chef Vish's dishes are an amazing fusion of southern comfort food with the spices and flavors of India, the Middle East, Latin America, and many other regions of the world. He also takes great pains to obtain locally-sourced, fresh ingredients that he features in many of his dishes. Pastry Chef Austin Agent rounds out the menu with a dazzling array of desserts that range from deep-fried cookie dough to cornflake granola parfaits. Plus, the menu rotates every 6 weeks, so there's always something new to try.

The cocktail menu is also exceptional, featuring seasonal cocktails created by head bartender Ivy McLellan, house specialty cocktails accumulated over the years, and classic cocktails that have stood the test of time. They will also do their best to make you any cocktail your heart desires, even if it isn't on the menu. Additionally, the restaurant has a varied wine list, curated by the Assistant General Manager, Jeffrey Grimes.

Furthermore, the service is second to none. All the servers and bartenders have a complete knowledge of the intricacies of both the dinner menu and the cocktail menu and are more than happy to answer any and all questions one might have. Everyone works together to ensure the best experience for each and every guest.

Finally, the atmosphere is very friendly; my family has been dining at Snackbar since I was a child, and we've developed a great rapport with the staff. There's always lively conversation to be had while dining at the snack bar or sitting outside on the porch with a glass of wine. Snackbar is definitely my favorite place to eat in Oxford, and I recommend it to everyone!

additional notes: happy hour from 4-6 with specials on cocktails/beer/wine, oysters, and small plates. you can wear whatever you like; the only dress code rule is no hats for gentlemen! fresh raw oysters served every day the kitchen is happy to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, just let the hostess know when making a reservation or your server know when you arrive. sometimes have live music...

Ate here with a parent for dinner. I have a peanut allergy (which I admit I should have made clearer to our server), and ordered the Okra Chaat to share. Unfortunately, the dish had peanuts in - it did NOT say this anywhere on the menu at all. I never write reviews, but I was really close to a potentially deadly reaction and I think it's super important for the restaurant, and customers, to be aware. While I should have asked about the ingredients, I do think the restaurant would benefit in putting an allergy warning on the menu anyway, because it was not clear and this could be life-threatening. Even so, once we alerted our server she was incredibly apologetic and immediately took the dish away and got us a peanut-free replacement (which tasted great). They boxed up the peanut version of the chaat for my parent to eat (not allergic), AND they also took the dish off the bill at the end. Could not fault the service at all (and the food that I could eat was tasty). Overall, my only suggestion would be to add allergens to the menu (e.g. a P or an N), or at least make note of the ingredients in the dish, to make customers aware and avoid illness. Other than that, thoughtful service, great atmosphere, and...

I used to enjoy dining at this restaurant, but it has become one of the worst “nice” restaurants in Oxford. This opinion is based on a series of bad experiences including having to wait 30+ minutes for a table WITH a reservation on multiple occasions. Most recently, I made a reservation for my husband’s birthday weeks in advance and had a terrible experience. We waited 35 minutes for a booth, which I requested with my reservation, only for the staff to attempt to seat us at one of the worst tables on the floor, which was available from the moment we walked into the restaurant. The service was incredibly slow. We were seated for over 15 minutes before our drink order was taken. The food was subpar, and my husband’s steak was burnt. The table behind us had a birthday and received a dessert, and the staff sang “happy birthday.” My husband’s birthday was not acknowledged in any way despite the fact that I noted it on the reservation and verbally told the staff upon arrival. Multiple staff members were rude. So frustrating for the $150+ price tag and for choosing to dine at Snackbar on a special occasion. If you’re booking a dinner reservation in Oxford, I would suggest St. Leo or...