Il Principe

I always thought this was 'just’ another Italian restaurant until I sheltered under the roof by the door in a rainstorm. It’s actually a wonderful Italian deli - just the sort of place you find in Cowley.

They’ve got an exciting mix of different foods with suitably Italian-sounding names. It’s absolutely brilliant if you want to try cooking your own Italian food at home, but using proper Italian ingredients, rather than Sainsburys’ attempt. Even if the idea of cooking foreign food terrifies you, there’s something for you, with a great range of prepared food and the staff’s useful advice on how to serve it. I imagine it would go down very well at a dinner party. They do sausages, cured meats, dried pasta (loads of funky shapes and sizes!), cheese and desserts (mmm tiramisu). They take telephone orders and are really flexible and helpful with orders.

Don’t fancy taking stuff home? They serve food there as well! Pizza for £4-£7, pasta where you choose your sauce first and then the sort of pasta to go with it, and even main courses like lasagne and meat dishes. Main dishes come with an Italian version of chips - absolutely delicious, Spinache and Parmesan or Fagioli della Mamma: a tomato sauce with bacon, beans, onion and chilli.

Pop in for a bit of Italian food love – see you in there!

This is one of Oxford's best kept secrets. I love the takeaway pizza from this little deli, really tasty and great value. Does some great vegetarian ones too, not just your standard margarita and mushroom!

In addition to this, the shop is packed full of interesting little deli items from all over the world. Go in for a box of fresh olives mixed on the deli counter, home-made tiramasu and a huge variety of pastas in all shapes, sizes and even colours! There's loads of continental style cakes and biscuits, as well as crackers and other snack foods.

Worth considering if you're after a takeaway pizza - great value and excellent vegetarian options. Try the creamy base instead of the standard tomato - delicious!