Shezan

This 17th-century building has housed a pretty fi rst-fl oor dining room since 1915 and has served as an Indian restaurant since 1978. Scholars, students and visitors to Oxford have fl ocked to this restaurant to enjoy its culinary delights for almost a century.

The experienced chefs roast and blend exotic whole spices to create simple, fresh dishes inspired by centuries-old traditions. All food is cooked to order using fresh produce. Start with pan-fried fi sh marinated in fresh spices and herbs, or paneer tikka: cubed cheese marinated in mild spices and barbecued in a clay oven. Follow this with a speciality such as Goan chicken, which sees chicken cooked in a hot creamy sauce with coconut milk, red chillies and fresh curry leaves. Shezan also caters for those looking for something a little milder and has a very good choice of vegetarian dishes. With attentive customer service and a deliciously fresh choice of select dishes, this Indian restaurant is the place to be.