A long-established Jericho curry house with flavorful, often highly praised food and warm hospitality, though its compact room, booking pressure, service charge, and occasional takeaway inconsistencies temper the value.
The Standard delivers solid food quality anchored by consistently praised curries, biryani, and tandoori dishes, paired with warm, attentive service that keeps regulars returning for decades. The Jericho location adds convenient appeal, though the intimate setting and modest design prevent it from reaching the very top tier. Strong execution across core dimensions makes this a dependable choice for authentic Indian dining.
The Standard is a compact, long-established Jericho curry house with the comfortable buzz of a well-loved local institution. Reviews paint a room that can fill quickly—one diner effectively found the evening saved by a staff member offering a return time—while regulars praise warm welcomes, friendly owners and a sense that the team genuinely remembers how to look after people. The cooking is traditional Indian curry-house fare elevated by strong seasoning and a broad menu: fragrant biryanis, tandoori lamb, spicy vindaloo, regional-style prawns and unusually compelling vegetable dishes. It suits diners who want recognizable curries with real variation in spice and texture, rather than a minimalist or experimental tasting-menu experience. Quality is overwhelmingly praised, although isolated reports of a disappointing biryani, sweet gritty tikka masala and tough tandoori chicken mean takeaway and individual preparation can vary. Families have workable choices, especially with chicken tikka masala, naan, rice, mild korma, vegetable biryani and familiar tandoori chicken on the menu. The extensive vegan and vegetarian selection is a genuine advantage for mixed groups. The small, lively room and spice-forward cooking may be less comfortable for very young or noise-sensitive children, so booking early and choosing milder dishes is sensible.
Area vibe: Quieter, village-like Oxford neighbourhood with independent retail and café culture.
Safety: Generally safe, well-lit streets with steady foot traffic in evenings though quieter late night.
What's nearby: Close to Walton Street shops, The Oxford Canal, Jericho cinemas and short walk to Oxford city centre and colleges.
The menu’s standouts range from Goan King Prawns and Nihari Lamb Shank to unusually compelling vegetable dishes.
This small, lively curry house rewards planning, but noise, add-on costs, and occasional dish inconsistency are worth knowing about.
Expect a warm local-institution feel in a compact room that becomes lively and noisy when full.