Celebration time? Revision blues? A classic case of the munchies? Step away from the bucket of chicken: Liz Nicholls serves up a few of Oxford’s best bites – that don’t cost an arm or a leg

 

Rock the Kazbar

Rub the lamp and you’ll find this Marrakesh miracle slap-bang in the middle of Cowley Road. This Moroccan-themed bar and restaurant serves up small, tapas-style feasts on low tables while you lounge on the magic carpets and cushions. Small orange trees, sandy-coloured walls, gnarled leather bar stalls and lots of wrought iron complete the look. The staff are friendly, despite being required to dress up as extras from Aladdin. They are often on the lookout for enthusiastic staff, too. Funny that...

  • Kazbar, 25-27 Cowley Road. 01865 202920, Kazbar.co.uk

Thai rack

Arrive on the Cowley Road of an evening and you might feel like a kid in a sweet shop with the huge offering of restaurants from all over the globe. But it’s worth sniffing out the fairly plain-looking Oxford Thai for its fantastic grub. Head chef Nisa, who hails from Chiang Mai, does a mean pad thai and a superb Singapore noodles which are both the ultimate in cheap eats. The restaurant is now targeting your student pound with its bargain belt-busting £6.50 lunch menu – including starter, soup and main course for £6.50 from 12.30-3.30pm all week – or eat like a king on Wednesday evening for just £7.50.

  • Oxford Thai,179 Cowley Road, 01865 203 763, cash only

You should also head to Old Tom for its old-school pub vibe serving traditional cask ales and draught beer in St Aldate’s with authentic Thai grub on the £6.50 express lunch menu.

  • theoldtompub.co.uk

Tell me what’s your flavour...

Be warned: G+D’s ice cream (right) is seriously addictive. And there’s a flavour to ease almost every student crisis. Oxford institution G+D’s was launched in the late-90s by ex-student George Stroup – a man on a mission to bring students and city folks the ultimate feelgood food in a chilled-out environment.

  • There are now three ice cream cafes, open 8am-midnight, in Little Clarendon Street, St Aldate’s and Cowley Road. Flavours include Oxford Blue, St Clements or Super #?*! Chocolate and with every scoop free from artificial flavours, preservatives or additives, it’s almost a health food! Well, OK, maybe not... Can’t choose? Go for a whopper ice cream cake made up of three layers of the good stuff lovingly stacked on top of a brownie base (£25 to takeaway or £35 eaten in with hungry friends).
  • gdcafe.com

Middle-eastern wonder
If you live anywhere near Summertown, say hello to your little friend. LB’s Lebanese in Banbury Road has been serving students and well-heeled locals superb Lebanese grub for decades. What’s its secret? Walk past in the middle of the day and you’re sure to be drawn in by the aromas of the freshly cooked specials wafting out of the shop – usually lamb special with green beans and tomatoes. Resistance is futile. The vegetarian takeaway lunch (£4, including hot drink) flies off the spotless shelves and manages to be super-healthy and delicious enough to turn the most hardened carnivore. The pastry-coated parcels of chicken or spinach with lemon are to die for.

  • LB’s, 253 Banbury Road, Summertown, 01865 311660. Lbsoxford.co.uk


Fill your freezer
While you’re in this neck of the woods pop into Cook Oxford (or else available online with free delivery service) and stock up your freezer with ‘home-cooked’ dishes you can whack in the microwave for hangover food heaven. This Oxford staple has won the hearts and minds of yummy mummies looking to pass off the dinner-party specialties as their own handiwork for good reason. Meals such as Moroccan Harissa Chicken and Indonesian Vegetable Curry and mega desserts such as Chocolate and Orange Blossom Pavlova cost the same as it would cost you to buy the ingredients which, we think, is the ultimate no-brainer.

  • Cook Oxford, 237 Banbury Road, Summertown, 01865 554 268. Cooknet.co.uk


Atomic, kitten
Competitive types can fill their boots at student fave Atomic Burger in Cowley Road which boasts a pleasing cartoon-fuelled 1950s diner vibe. Many a round-eyed youngster has starved themselves all day before taking on the Fallout Challenge to gobble the triple burger stack with triple chilli fries complete with XXX Fallout Ghost chilli hot sauce and deep fried double cheese & tomato pizza buns. The challenge costs £25 and winners scoop the exclusive Atomic Fallout T-shirt and maybe a place on the top 100 wall of flame. You'll have to be over 18 and sign a waiver beforehand. Y’know, in case you die.

  • Atomic Burger, 96 Cowley Rd, 01865 790855, atomicburger.co.uk


Shake it up
And, at the end of term, even if you’re just eating beans on toast, these will brighten up the blandest binge. The Sgt Pepper Mill, £12.99 and Matryoshka Cruet, £7.99 both from

  • Lakeland.co.uk.