Hi-Lo

I had heard the tell-​tale stories of this place. There were rumours circling about everything from assaulting the customers to the owners having screaming matches and hurling insults. I was warned. But I am a see-​it-​for-​yourself kind of girl. Also, I just generally do the opposite of what I am advised. So the second I was told to keep clear of Hi-Lo’s Jamaican eating House, I ran straight there.
Situated on our slightly kooky Cowley Road, it doesn’t stand out a lot. However, if you walk by late enough (2am– yea, that’s late for Oxford) you notice that there is something lurking beneath the surface. The place is open until the wee hours of the morning serving overproof rum and Red Stripe along with other drinks. The atmosphere is relaxed and smoky with many bench-​like tables and an underground (PT-​like) feel. It’s not for the faint of heart nor it is a place to take your granny.
That being said, I had an awesome time. The wait on the food was actually ridiculously long but the waitress assured us that is because the dishes are made from scratch in true Jamaican custom. Regardless, we loaded up on drinks in the meantime (standard) and the cook delivered on the promise of a good meal. I had the Goat Stew– well, because I had never had Goat. And it was well-​spiced and served with a heap of rice and fried vegetables. It was tender and warm and filling. I had major food envy of the crispy coated Funky Chicken which was fantastic. I had a bite of my friends’ and it was to die for. It’s like Reggae Island version of fried chicken but with the perfect mix of spice and sauce. Yum. Will come again for that and the tropical drinks. And the Rasta man. Definitely need to get to know Andy better considering he is basically a staple of Oxford Cowley cuisine. My friends literally had their parents come here on a regular basis which led to some nice cross-​generation texts and passing along the phone to Andy to recount the good old days. Great night.

Not bad for late night drinks when you’re in Oxford, UK. It’s an old Jamaican restaurant that is now, atleast it appeared this way, just a bar where you can get completely blitzed and if you feel so inclined, imbibe your way into the wee hours of the morning (4 — 5 am).
I was here with some friends during my vacation and we really enjoyed ourselves. It reminded me a lot of some dive bars here around home, just slightly pricier.

We adore this place. In the owners’ defense, their craziness keeps it interesting, and mostly free from obnoxious students (this, coming from a student — let’s be honest with ourselves). I have never encountered any trouble with Andy’s wife, who has always been good-​humoured with me. Andy is a cranky old guy, but I’ve only seen him (over)reacting to other people’s antics. I like to think of it as a free floor show.
Hi-​Lo has much to recommend it — Andy doesn’t seem to give a damn about local custom and stays open as late as he pleases; the little outdoor area is pleasant in a hanging-out-in-someone’s-garden kind of way; and the overproof rum gets you where you want to go in a hurry.

I would give this place 4 stars if it wasnt for the afore mentioned crazyyyyyyyyyyy owners. Boy are they weird… which is why you should visit here! But please do not go for a romantic or serious meal, as you may catch them on a ”off” nite haha.
Obviously, this is a jamaican serving all things jamaican sounding… chicken with this… chicken with that…:) No the food is good. The atmosphere is also good when the rasta man is feeling friendly.
He will sit and chat with you and make jokes which is good fun, but go here early … before he is drunk. or something similar. The earlier you can go in the evening the better :)
I have never found them utterly rude but it can make for an uncomfortable dinner when they are screaming lol.
This place is perfect for a novelty nite out tho, or if you are in a group. The prices are very reasonable too!

I like this place. It’s frightening and confusing. But I like it. It has a hell of a lot of character and all the Red Stripe you can drink. It’s definitely a place to hit towards the end of your evening. The table layout is cozy and relaxing… or maybe that was the «haze»

dont be fooled by the exterior… it is open. the jamican bar on cowley is the thing of legend. run by an aging rasta, who actually doest seem to anything but watch tv and drink. this place serves a great blend of authentic caribean food, beer and liquer. however, i must warn you stay away from their house rum, it 68% its not something for the faint of hearted.
always good reggae and ussual filled with a bunch of charcters, Hi-​Lo is a must for anyone in oxford