Vaults & Garden Reviews Summary

Location & Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Unbeatable views, delicious food and fantastic service - all at a very reasonable price!"
• "Beautiful location, quick and efficient."
• "The best part of the Vaults and Garden is it's prime location right in front of the iconic Radcliffe Camera."
• "The ambiance is (obviously) unbeatable, with the high ceilings and the historic building."
• "Such a great little cafe, full of character inside and with such great and atmospheric outdoor seating."
• "A relaxing place where we enjoy the gorgeous view of Radcliffe Camera."
• "Really nice setting, located in the heart of Oxford, plus a very nice outdoor garden sitting with views on the Radcliff Camera and All Souls College."

Cons:

• "We were rushed by an employee who kept asking if we were done, such a shame."
• "But for me, the choice of food was quite limited and a bit over priced."
• "Location was cool but the food was lacking."
• "Entrance to the inside of the place is a bit cramped."
• "There was a bit of a long queue and difficulty finding seating."
• "1 star off cos toilets weren't disability friendly as you need to go up stairs and down stairs."
• "When I told staff politely no one seemed to care and I did not get any apology or refund."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Food first rate - made with care."
• "The scones were fresh from the oven, served with a little spoon of fresh cream and strawberry preserve."
• "Great food and unexpected yummy tasty."
• "The food is pretty good, with great vegetarian options."
• "They serve the best cream tea ever."
• "The food is plentiful, fresh, and well-prepared."
• "The food was delicious and very traditional."

Cons:

• "The scones and coffee are nothing spectacular, but they hit the spot."
• "The jam was very poor... it really was like water with floating seeds and chunks."
• "Food was decent (except our rice was stale and the cake a bit bland and disappointing)."
• "The food - while sounding nice in the descriptions - was only mediocre, and very overpriced for what is essentially canteen fare."
• "However, the ice cream (probably the summer menu) is a bit disappointment."
• "Vegan chocolate cake and coffee were mediocre."
• "However, today there was a wriggling worm in my salad."

Service

Pros:

• "Service friendly and efficient."
• "The staff are incredibly friendly."
• "Staff were friendly and efficient."
• "The tea was great, workers were very patient and friendly, and building was beautiful."
• "The staff is very friendly though and the scenery is beautiful!"
• "An Oxford staple. Staff is always very polite and attentive."
• "The staff were smiley and very friendly and it was a thoroughly lovely lunch stop, highly recommend."

Cons:

• "The same service member was pressing the litter with his hands, filing up a bottle of water and serving the food without washing the hands or the bottle."
• "Staff were off hand and talked to a group of tourists next to me like they were children."
• "Unbelievable rudeness! I asked the young man at the counter if they had smoothies... He rudely said no, staring at me as if I had asked if they serve an extinct species."
• "When I told staff politely no one seemed to care and I did not get any apology or refund."
• "Chaos reigned amongst the staff it took 3 attempts to get the order right."
• "Terrible service."
• "Staff stares at you while you take the bread."

Value

Pros:

• "Well worth the £10 I paid for the lot."
• "All you can choose would be worth its reasonable price."
• "The lunch was good value for money and delicious."
• "The prices are excellent, and the portions are great."
• "Their prices are also very reasonable, their service is fast and they manage to maintain a very clean space."
• "Great value with a dream setting very special experience to sit in this location and enjoy a lunch."
• "Everything tasted fresh and good, a hearty meal at a very reasonable price."

Cons:

• "But for me, the choice of food was quite limited and a bit over priced."
• "The food/drink is relatively on the pricier end and it's quality is so-so (can be quite variable from day to day)."
• "A bit expensive - but it makes sense given the location."
• "The food - while sounding nice in the descriptions - was only mediocre, and very overpriced for what is essentially canteen fare."
• "The food is a bit overpriced but tends to be organic and locally sourced."
• "Their small soup is REALLY small, and quite overpriced for that and some butter and a third of a bread slice."
• "One slice plus a tiny amount of lettuce & coleslaw was over-priced at £7!"