If you’re at a loose end this Saturday, then I suggest you take a ride to Portabello Restaurant, Bar & Grill in Summertown, Oxford for a spot of brunch. Tom and I were invited to try out the menu and it was a brilliant start to the weekend.
Portabello Oxford is next door to the Mamma Mia Pizzeria (you can see how we got on there right here) and we love an excuse to have an amble around Summertown. It’s an area of Oxford that Tom cycles through on his daily commute and I think I’ve only ever seemed to stop in the evening. With the sun out, we took a spot on the terrace at Portabello.
When we arrived, the restaurant was beginning to fill up with families and friends enjoying a spot of early lunch and with the sun out, it felt exceedingly continental. When Henry, the affable restaurant manager, suggested starting with an Aperol spritz (my absolute favourite!) I knew that painting the fence in the afternoon had gone straight out the window.
It was seriously difficult picking from the menu. They have a dedicated brunch menu and their normal affair. I was deeply tempted by the pancakes with strawberries and greek yoghurt, but ended up with a more sensible choice – the original ‘Hellenic’: halloumi, grilled tomatoes, smashed avocado on English muffins with Hollandaise sauce.
Topped with a banana, blueberry and almond milk smoothie, it was heavenly.
Tom opted for the smoked chicken salad with grilled chorizo and a side of lightly battered zucchini.
To be honest, I would have happily sat there all day, working my way through the menu. Supping two beautifully brewed coffees topped the whole morning and we both left we quite a pep in our step.