WITH Valentine's Day now upon us, restaurants will soon be crammed with couples sharing candelit meals.

Rose-laden Romeos and Juliets will be out in force, but a disappointing dinner is sure to ruin the romance. 

THE BEST...

TripAdvisor's top five for Oxford and Oxfordshire features some familiar favourites, from the fine-dining elegance of Raymond Blanc's famous Le Manoir to the cosy and authentic vibe of East Oxford's Oli's Thai.

Of 493 Oxford restaurants listed on the review site, the following rank top:

1. Oli's Thai, Magdalen Road, East Oxford

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Pic: Google Street View

The tiny restaurant is booked up months in advance but, if you're lucky, you might be able to walk in and grab a seat at the counter.

2. Yeti Nepalese Restaurant, Cowley Road, East Oxford

3. The Old Bookbinders Ale House, Victor Street, Jericho

4. Comie's Caribbean Grill Ltd, Garsington Road, Cowley

5. Spice Lounge, Banbury Road, Summertown

Of 1,467 restaurants listed on TripAdvisor's for the rest of Oxfordshire, the top five are:

1. Wild Thyme Restaurant and Rooms, Chipping Norton

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Pic: Google Street View

The family-run restaurant serves modern British food with Mediterranean influences. 

2. Pizza Calzone, Banbury

3. White Horse, Banbury

4. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton

5. The Greyhound Free House & Grill, Peppard Common

If none of those are tempting enough, take a look at our long list of shortlisted entries for this year's Oxford Mail and Times Food Awards.

AND THE WORST...

TripAdvisor also lists Oxfordshire's worst eateries, many of which are takeaway places - which might make an unlikely Valentine's Day date - or only have one or two reviews.

Five of the restaurants, cafes and pubs at the bottom of the list, which have enough reviews for fair comparison, include (along with ranking): 

- The Bystander, Wootton, Abingdon: 1,369 of 1,467 restaurants in Oxfordshire, with 164 reviews

- Harvester, Wheatley: 1,324 of 1,467, with 346 reviews

- Wild Lime Bar and Kitchen: 1,330 of 1,467, with 128 reviews

- The Coffee House, Thame, 1,310 of 1,467, with 114 reviews

- High Street Cafe, Oxford High Street, 1,359 of 1,467, with 48 reviews