Date: 11 February, 2008

‘ It was a fun night for jazz-diners downstairs at the newly-redecorated Big Bang on Tuesday. The ever-effervescent Max made a point of checking my booking for a table for 12, even though everyone else was already sitting down, furnished us with a bottle of Old Pig Merlot and that was it for the night. Mirth, fine service (don’t you just love it when all the food is delivered together, without asking who’s having what?), probably the best range of sausage you can get in Oxford (with imaginative mash) and I have to say, some pretty solid live jazz music.

Oxford’s jazz trio, 3bpm, played two sets from their new album, ‘First Hearing’, featuring original numbers, some very fine bass solos and innovative keyboards work, held together by venue-sensitive percussion to help the evening go with a blast.

The staff and other diners joined in enthusiastically with two birthday celebrations. Intimate it was not, atmospheric, well I think so!

We’ll be going back. ‘

Reviewed by: K C Young

Date: May 17, 2006

‘ Two vegetarians walk into a sausage and mash restaurant…

And to their delighted surprise find two vegetarian sausages on the menu, PLUS two vegetarian sausage specials. The dishes were all very interesting sounding, and the ones we chose (tomato and basil, and walnut and stilton) were fabulous. The local beers on offer complemented the meal very nicely. The meals were too large to consider the desserts, but those too sounded delicious. Next time we’ll have to eat less of our mains in order to leave room for pudding. ‘

Reviewed by: anon

The Big Bang
124 Walton Street
01865 511441