Sleepy southern food and sparky cocktail joint. Oxford's version of the popular chain is settled right in the middle of it all on George Street - go there after spilling out of the theatre or before spilling into one of the many clubs on its doorstep.

The Venue
As it's smack bang in the middle of George Street you could happily end up wandering to either Escape, The Purple Turtle or Mood, or to the Park End street scene, after a few cheerfully cheap cocktails from this place.

The Deep South aesthetic of the place is pleasing and fun, if nothing more. Faux-sleazy neon signs, equally fake wrought-iron, pictures of blues singers and potted cacti are all a-go-go. You get the message.

The place manages to pull off being 'special on a budget' - you could get a bit dressed up and comfortably feel part of the scene. As a cocktail bar, the decor is very much aiming to look polished, but somehow only manages cute. It's very much the sort of place you might end up in on a work night out - mainly due to its spacious, sofa ridden novelty value. And it really is good for groups.

The restaurant is downstairs, with the upperfloor bar encircling it as a sort of wide balcony which, again, is cute. The restaurant itself is large, comfortable and pleasant, though it may remind you of a Pizza Hut with its cheerful, standardised children's party atmosphere.

The People
As an establishment that boasts of affordable glamour, the weekend clientele are largely preened, up-for-it groups looking to kick start their night.

On a Friday and Saturday expect lads and girls nights out galore, which can make the place somewhat boisterous (the Stella's pretty cheap at £2.15 a pint) but there's never any edge to the exuberance. Plus, as a starting point venue it seems to house more of a tentative just-warming-up attitude and is by no means raucous.

Bar staff are friendly when they're not overworked, and there's a small handful of weekday regulars who would testify to the fact. On the topic of weekdays, it's worth mentioning there's free unlimited Wi-Fi during the day which is very hard to find in Oxford. That's if you can stand the fact that it's cold, dead and the aforementioned regulars (lads with pints, just off work) look absurdly out of place.

Grim-looking bouncers make you feel slightly guilty for no real reason over the busy weekend, and the babyfaced among us might consider taking ID. The restaurant gives the place something of a dual identity and the early evening is substantially quieter, hosting gentler family excursions.

The Food
As an American-themed place, the portions are duly massive - don't expect to finish anything. It's £4.95 for a main course between noon and 5pm, which is reasonable enough, though the high street these days is awash with the same sort of value burger meals.

The good thing about half of it being a restaurant is the availability of nachos and other snacks while you drink, particularly if you've come straight from work. Again though, this doesn't mark the place out, but rather brings it up to standard.

The Drink
Old Orleans makes a big deal out of its various offers - £3.50 for a double and a mixer, two for one cocktails on weekdays, etc. Again though, you get what you pay for. Anyone who likes their mint painstakingly crushed into subtle blends of acclaimed vodkas, all served with various feats of acrobatics and fire, may find themselves disappointed.

Sex In The City fans might want a slinky Cosmopolitan, but will more than likely end up with a jug of something blue which tastes like a mix of vodka and Irn-Bru, with added sugar.

The Last Word
This is essentially a safe place for the standard work night out. Cocktails and nachos are a failsafe medium for office gossip. It's also a reasonably satisfying arena for most other kinds of gossip. Don't expect to be dazzled though.

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