For the past five years I’ve been going to Oxford, PA, once a week to visit my mother. In those many visits I’ve had the opportunity to sample nearly every restaurant in the area. We’ve had Italian, Mexican, American modern, American retro—you name it. Oxford is a great example of a small town full of good local dining. What I mention here is in no way a comprehensive list.
Over the years we’ve seen restaurants come and go in town. Peppercorns has now been replaced by Muse but we haven’t had the opportunity to try it. The tea room on the corner has been replaced by a store for children, much to my sister’s regret. I haven’t yet eaten in the new Mexican place but I recently had a mushroom-cheesesteak at La Sicilia on Route 10. We miss the Oxford Seafood Company and hope George and his family are doing well. The Miss Oxford Diner is a landmark and the place my mother and I ate when we first came to Oxford. I will never forget the waitresses’ kindness to my mother over the years—or their Boston crème pie.
One of my mother’s (and my) favorite places is Morning Glories Coffees and Teas, a small place on Market Street right downtown. The food is always fresh and creative, from the salads to soups that can only be described as beautiful and delicious. The lunch menu has some staples, such as the Mediterranean plate (hummus and pita, greens--my mother’s favorite) to a traditional, chunky, savory chicken salad. We have been there so many times that the owners greet us as locals. Definitely worth a visit.
A few blocks from the main street is Numzees Tavern and Grill. My sister and I go there when we’re in the mood for a beer with lunch or a substantial crabcake. Most days the place is packed but we’ve never had to wait for a seat for more than a few minutes; the waitstaff really hustles. Warning: Their French fries are addictive, but they will give you a smaller serving if you ask. And I just discovered they’re about to start offering coupons on their website. I think there’s a crabcake in my future!
The most recent addition to the area is in Nottingham, which is right next to Oxford and home of Herr’s. In fact, it was Herr’s who bought the Nottingham Inn and is now in the process of rehabbing it into a hotel (more on that later). For now they’ve opened the Nottingham Inn Kitchen & Creamery. Delectable local-based food with some out-of-the-ordinary menu items, like a barley salad or a crab omelette. Another place where the fries are recommended—here they come speckled with cracked black pepper. There’s even a dinner menu beyond the lunchtime soups, salads, and sandwiches, but I haven’t tried that (or dessert!) yet.
Oxford is another one of those towns just off a main road (Route 1, America’s first interstate!), full of local businesses that people have no idea exist. Get off Route 1 at Route 476 or Route 10 and drive into Oxford. You won’t have any difficulty finding a good place to eat.
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