Eating Out
This area has a large number of good eating places. Please update us on your experiences or any new places you find that you think we should be telling our guests about! Also do ring if you have specific requirements or occassions you are celebrating and would like any extra advice.
Recommended Restaurants:
The Crab House Cafe:
This is a must, fabulous sea food cooked to order in wonderful seaside 'shack', very relaxed. Including delicious Portland Royal and Queen Oysters from their own oyster farm in the fleet. Must book, closed from New Year to Valentine's Day!
- The Crab House Cafe
- Tel: 01305 788 867
The Riverside at West Bay:
A very popular fish restaurant on the water, definitely needs booking, only open from March - November as they will only cook fresh fish. This is a lovely relaxed venue with extremely good food.
- The Riverside
- Tel: 01305 422 011
The Wild Garlic - Beaminster:
Masterchef winner Matt Follas has set up this lovely restaurant on the square in Beaminster, worth a visit.
- The Wild Garlic
- www.thewildgarlic.co.uk
- Email: mail@thewildgarlic.co.uk
- Tel: 01308 861 446
Hix Oyster and Fish House:
Great for lunches, stunning views over the cob at Lyme Regis.
- Hix Oyster and Fish House
- www.hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk
- Tel: 01297 446 910
River Cottage Canteen - Axminster:
A fun, relaxed atmosphere, do book particularly for evenings and weekends.
- River Cottage Canteen
- www.rivercottage.net/canteens/axminster
- Tel: 01297 631 862
The Bull Hotel - Bridport:
A very popular relaxed and welcoming restaurant, highly acclaimed, addition to the centre of Bridport.
- The Bull Hotel
- www.thebullhotel.co.uk
- Tel: 01308 422 878
For something even more relaxed visit The Stables Cider House, with pizzas and pies in the Old Stables of the Bull Hotel.
- The Old Stables
- Tel: 01308 426 876
Summer Lodge - Evershot:
A very elegant country house hotel, fabulous food and wines, but definitely the pricier end of the scale (average price £55/head). A lovely place for a summer lunch,if you fancy a treat.
- Summer Lodge
- Tel: 01935 482 000
The Greyhound at Sydling St Nicholas:
This is a pub/restaurant, now owned by Fiona Philips, not quite as good as it used to be. Food is good but possibly overpriced.
- The Greyhound
- Tel: 01300 341 303
Montien Thai Restaurant in Bridport:
Excellent eat in or take away, never disappoints.
- Montien Thai Restaurant
- Tel: 01308 425 570
Sienna, highly praised restaurant in Dorchester:
Wonderful for large groups as only caters for about 15 so you can take it over for a special occasion, but book early as it is very popular. Higher end prices but worth it.
- Sienna
- Tel: 01305 250 022
All of the above use/promote local produce as much as possible. Pre-booking for large parties remains essential at all times, and for smaller parties over weekends etc. They are all extremely popular.
Recommended Pubs:
The White Horse - Litton Cheney:
Despite its very uninspiring exterior, this is a thriving village pub serving excellent food. The owners are very helpful and will accommodate wheel chair users if given notice so they can keep the appropriate table free. There is a skittle alley they are happy for guests to use if it is not pre-booked, a fun group entertainment on a wet afternoon, evening!!
The Half Moon - Melplash:
Under new management from December 2010, this is proving a very popular local pub/restaurant. On the road north of Bridport towards Beaminster.
- The Half Moon
- Tel: 01308 488 321
The Three Horseshoes at Powerstock:
This is a really good local pub, about 15/20mins away and the drive there makes it all the more worthwhile. Powerstock is a very pretty Dorset village and you can have a good walk on Eggardon Hill before or after to justify yourselves!
- The Three Horseshoes
- Tel: 01308 485 328
The Hive Café at Burton Bradstock Beach:
Fantastic food, particularly fish, this is hugely popular whatever the weather. Situated on the beech front with great walks around it and near Abbotsbury it makes a great place to stop and take in Dorset. Open all year round except a week in January, Xmas Eve and Xmas Day 9-5. Excellent evening meals through high summer, first come first served from 6pm. No bookings taken.
- The Hive Café
- Tel: 01308 897 070
The Fox And Hounds at Cattistock:
A real village pub, good atmosphere and if you were there mid week in the winter over lunch you might be able to enjoy a game of skittles, very popular in Dorset and good fun.
- The Fox And Hounds
- Tel: 01300 320 444
There are just masses of pubs around and you will discover them for yourselves, these are just some nearer to Court Close that do have a very good reputation.
Please remember to give us any feedback if you find good places to eat or are disappointed in ones we recommend for any reason.