Newell Restaurant in West Dorset

This is our go to place for great no frills rustic French cuisine at a fantastic price for 3 courses.

Fantastic gem of a French restaurant, authentic full-course menu, great wine list. Try the Rum Baba.

Always a delight and wonderful food in a small and comfortable setting.

Very good value ! £26.50 for 3 course, wines the usual price. Excellent and imaginative menu - will return.

As close to a traditional French bistro as you will get outside France. Prix fixe, chalk board menu, simple yet delicious dishes. We loved the brill, steak tartare and boudin blanc. Carafe’s of house wine .. and a classic selection of French puddings - crème brûlée etc. Very welcoming and incredibly good value. Can’t wait to go back!

I can only add to the fantastic other reviews (shocked by the not so!) An impromptu booking as visitors to Sherbert!? found us VERY happy with the incredible standard, selection and price at Newells. Lovely, friendly welcome, explanations and exemplary service from Tracey…and the food…divine: wonderful flavours, hot where appropriate and beautifully presented..You MUST try it!

Great French food in a cosy space. Simple prix fixe menu with lots of seasonal choices and friendly service. We really enjoyed our meal.

Sublime food as always. The kind owners did us a lunch of 'sharing plates' as there were eight of us. Absolutely first class service and utterly delicious food!

Absolutely brilliant. Wacky but delicious menu, splendid service and lovely atmosphere. I can't fault them

Decided to give this French Bistro located just outside Sherborne town centre a try. Parking was available right outside. The menu choices were very well balanced and in all 3 sections ( starter/ main/ desert ) there were several options that my wife and I might easily have chosen. Also, Tracey was on hand to explain the dishes if required. The whole restaurant is run by just Tracey and her husband, who is the chef. Consequently, it is not surprising that at times Tracey looked stressed and unfriendly, but as some of the last diners to leave, she looked noticeably more relaxed towards the end of the evening! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Another good and unusual point is that the complimentary table water is filtered- so often my wife avoids it due to the chlorine taste. We thought the price was very reasonable and testament to the increasing popularity of this restaurant is that there were no empty tables. We would certainly go again

A very small space, right by the A30 but a very good menu. Set price £26.50 for 3 courses for excellent food was good value. Some of the meat is sourced locally, but not poultry. There were 2 cod dishes available at the time of our visit. This venue sits between Sherborne's many coffee shops and few expensive restaurants in what it offers.

Our first visit to this little gem of a French Bistro. We enjoyed eggs mayo and duck mousse starters followed by mutton on creamed pearl barley and lentils and confit duck leg on cassoulet. This was accompanied by a carafe of the house red wine. Tempted by the dessert choices so chose pears in red wine and the tiramisu. Everything was delicious, friendly and efficient service and excellent value for money at £26,50 for three courses….we’ll definitely be returning.

Newell has slightly reinvented itself as a fixed price French Bistro. The cooking is excellent and the food is very much on the South West side of French cooking. Veal kidneys, rabbit, duck comfit, lamb, steak, etc. plus a couple of fish courses. Not a lot for vegetarians and vegans should just look elsewhere. The deserts are a bit of a let down, put together in the kitchen but probably from bought in ingredients. A reasonably priced wine list. The only thing that lets the restaurant down is the décor / ambience. A small room with too many small tables crammed in and claustrophobic wallpaper.

We were so looking forward to this dinner that I had booked for my husband for a special occasion. I wanted it to be really special but unfortunately the host and the ambience let me down. Tracey was perfunctory in explaining the menu and barely raised a smile the whole time she was with us. I have tried to give her the benefit of the doubt as maybe she wasn’t feeling well and was just trying to get through the evening. I hope so as we would love to come back as we are local and the food was lovely and beautifully cooked. We find that mostly what makes you return to a place time and time again is the staff. We are in two minds about whether to return at all.

Fabulous place. Tracey is the perfect hostess and Paul the most brilliant chef. Had my 60th birthday party here (24 or so guests) and everything was perfect. The food and service were fantastic, the wines excellent and we had such a fab time that nobody wanted to go home! Five stars for food (always good and hot - not tepid like most places) - great ambiance and comfort.

Simple but eclectic menu which should cater for everyone's tastes. It's all on a board, but Tracey explains it in great detail, and when the food comes, it's delicious. We had duck liver mousse, followed by veal and a bavette steak. A chocolate desert was delicious, and there was an excellent choice of cheeses. Wine list is varied, but we had house wines which were very quaffable. Paul is a very good chef, and the quality of his food was matched by Tracey's consummate front of house skills. This is not the first time we have been here, and the full restaurant speaks volumes for the high standing Newell enjoys in a town where there are several excellent gustatory experiences to be had.

I didn’t know what to expect when I walked in here to meet friends for a reunion lunch. If it was in the Main Street I am sure it would have been packed out from passing trade. But it is easy to find and walk to. This bistro celebrates simple French cuisine at its best. Each dish was described by our Australian hostess, while husband was beavering away in the kitchen. We all chose different dishes and all loved all 3 courses. There wasn’t a crumb left. It wasn’t too rich, but good honest fayre with fresh local ingredients. £26.50 for 3 lunch courses was a good price . Superb. I’m going to have to come back some time! Rooms are available above the restaurant but I didn’t see these as we were staying elsewhere in town.

Although the location and the ambience of the restaurant is not immediately appealing, once the food arrives you are immediately transported to France. This was a surprising and wonderfully positive experience enjoyed by all 4 in our lunch party. The menu is varied and changes on a regularly basis. If you enjoy traditional French bistro type food, this is the place for you. We will certainly be back.

Where to begin? The ambience, the service, the choices, the value for money and most importantly the actual dishes - all superbe! I tried to book for the next day but sadly ( for me) they were full. Thank you for a memorable evening for all the right reasons

As always, French-style cooking which is soignee and thoughtful. The menu has been shortened somewhat but is still excellent and there is still plenty of choice. It is our favourite restaurant in the area, and is consistently good. A corner of France as it used...

The greatest compliment I can give is that I could have been in a coupled owned and run retaurant in rural France 40 years ago it was that good.Good pricing wide choice 4 or 5 casserole oven type mains.Where do you get blaquette of rabbit...

Staying in Sherborne, Dorset, for the Travel Writing Literary Festival, I booked a BnB called Newell, recommended by Booking.com, And what a great recommendation it was! Clean, comfortable, near the town centre, parking space, well-equipped AND with an absolutely top -notch authentic French bistro! The...

No need to brave the tunnel anymore, it's the best french menu this side of la manche, You are in very safe hands here.the owners have been in the business forever and it shows.

Newell French Bistro is a hidden gem. The food is exceptional - Paul the Chef really does know his food and Tracey who is front-of-house is an absolute delight. We eat here regularly and love it. We will be back!

I contacted this establishment and spoke to the male proprietor. I got no further than stating I had just seen the program four in a bed with them in it. The rather rude proprietor just hung up on me. I guess after their disgraceful behaviour...

Drab and gloomy outside and as such is reflected inside, no atmosphere, basic food basic rooms all doom and gloom really. Lesson learned would not recommend and will not return.

Really good hospitality. Our train was late but we were warmly welcomed and very well fed. Tracey produced a delicious fresh scintillating 3 course veg meal for us both. The room was completely comfortable. Everything was beautifully sufficient. Nothing was pretentious. And we had a...

Really good restaurant with an interesting and imaginative menu. All the food was delicious and the service excellent. Would highly recommend it and if we lived closer we would visit often.

Superb food. Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable service. An excellent lunch, with great value house wine, and a French ambience to the cooking. We will certainly return

The Newell is one of our favourite restaurants in the area, and we are very lucky that it is not too far from us! The food is always delicious and expertly cooked. Tracey is always friendly and attentive, and does a great job of guiding...

My wife and I enjoyed a fabulous meal - the service was friendly, efficient - the food was delicious and cooked to perfection. A menu worth working through!

I had a business lunch at the Newell (14 people) and the food was beyond amazing. Tracey had provided us with a two course meal (which we were sent the options in advance so we could pre book) each and drinks. We had the whole...

We went with friends for lunch and were truly amazed by the super menu choices and the quality of the food. The crab bisque was excellent, full of flavour plenty of it. Same for chicken liver mousse and smoked salmon starter. Two of us chose...

We had a delicious meal. The food was interesting and beautifully served and not overpriced. Thoroughly recommend a visit to this great little restaurant

Have just spent two nights at the Newell over our daughter’s wedding. Tracey couldn’t have been more welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. Beds very comfortable and bathrooms excellent. It is on a busy road so a bit noisy (for a light sleeper!) Breakfast...

The food here is top quality the menu maybe small, but nothing on the menu is bad, the balance of flavours and quality/quantities are prefect. My partner had the smoked salmon which was a size some poorer restaurant would have served as a main.

Wonderful place to stay! Rooms where big, cozy, very clean, bathroom was fully equipped and handicapped accessible. The staff was so pleasant and accommodating. We wanted to drop off our luggages because we were very early for check in, and we were actually checked in...

Comfortable, reasonably priced, and scrupulously clean bedrooms, The Newell is a great spot to stay in Sherborne, but the star of the show is the bon hôte and bonne table of the owners, Tracey and Paul. Classic food cooked with an assured hand, superb service,...

This "unassuming" restaurant is a very pleasant surprise. The restaurant belongs to an Australian couple. The food is excellent and well priced and the wine list has some unusual wines, also well priced. The service is friendly (There are only 20 or so covers) but...

From the moment we walked in to this cosy restaurant on a freezing evening we knew we were in for a treat. A warm welcome, superb imaginative food and an excellent (house) wine - our experience was fantastic. Thank you!

The most delicious lunch, beautifully presented, wonderful FOH . There were four of us and we all concurred that our lunch was exceptional.

I'm emailing the restaurant directly before I add my comments. I have read recent reviews & I felt after my visit I was living in a parallel universe. My experience was very mixed, but not all bad & credit where credit is due.

Those who know the the French system of grading their less prestigious restaurants on major routes will recognise the style of this restaurant. It is not an eye-catching venue and in truth, it would be easy to pass the building without a second look. Stop!...

Arrived on a freezing Sunday evening to a lovely warm room and a nice welcome. Room was basic but absolutely fine and the bed was wonderfully comfortable. Although the room faces out onto a busy road and I was worried about being disturbed by traffic...

Disregard the stupid reviewer who comments on dress sense and haircuts and concentrate on what the restaurant does - which is to serve up consistently great food! We had a lovely meal there a few days ago and have booked three more times for the...

We eat regularly at The Newell and never tire of the warm welcome and really good food. The menu changes often and has fish, meat and vegetarian dishes, as well as a very reasonably priced set menu.

i shamefully don't write any reviews but I booked and stayed here, the rooms and decor is basic but fine, the food is simply magnificent, i cannot state how good it is 5* quality, the owner and front of house is Australian and she was...

The dining room is unglamorous/basic so I wondered what the food would be like. I need not have worried. It was amazing. My OH had the poussin - it was his meal of the week, simple but well flavoured. I had hake with chorizo and...

Had a really lovely meal at this small restaurant in Sherborne. A knowledgeable and friendly front of house woman explained all the dishes and ensured we had a well balanced and delicious meal. The wines accompanying the meal were good and well priced and it...

My partner and I had a truly beautiful meal last evening. Friendly, attentive service, wonderful flavours, great pairings, fab wine list. Would certainly recommend and have already booked our next table….thank you!

My wife and I stayed at the Newell for 2 nights On arrival we were made very welcome by Tracey one of the two owners. Our room was clean and confortable with a large, seemingly new, ensuite bathroom. Breakfast was an additional charge but well...

We visit Newell at least once a year. It is our family 'treat' meal whenever we are in the South West. Tracey is a formidable host. Her knowledge of the menu and wine is faultless. The quality of ingredients and cooking is top class. The...

I visited this restaurant on Saturday, we were a group of 5. The menu had a great range of very interesting dishes, which were delicious. It stands out as one off the best meals in several years. The wine list had been well selected and...

This unassuming restaurant certainly packs a punch when it comes to service and quality of food. The slightly quirky menu will cater for all tastes and the food was simply stunning. Tracy explained the menu in detail and made an excellent wine recommendation. Her direct...

A long awaited weekend away. Hotel Restaurant is housed in a former pub alongside the (fairly quiet) A30 in the historic town of Sherbourne. We arrived on Friday evening to find we were the only guests and diners. We were made to feel welcome, shown...

Absolutely outstanding food in the perfect atmosphere. Michel Roux would be very proud if he had served the delicious food that Paul cooks. Everything is made in-house with ingredients sourced locally where possible. The menu is very French and set our table off reminiscing of...

Just had the most amazing meal here. I can highly recommend the crab bisque, steak, and the tiramisu. Just the best way to break the lockdown drought. Planning our next trip here. Well worth an hour of driving.

This was our first visit on Saturday night .We couldn’t have got anything better the welcome was amazing so friendly.The food was just perfect and large portions all in all an excellent evening will definitely be going back soon

My wife and I stayed and ate here. Our room was a good size, was very clean and had a large bathroom. The bed was very comfortable and we both had an exceptional nights sleep. The restaurant was something else!!! What an amazing chef! We...

We had Catalan toast and smoked almonds to start, venison and lamb, iced nougat and tiramisu. All the food was superb. The meat is locally sourced and beautifully cooked- tender and delicious. Plenty of space between tables and all precautions taken.

Had dinner here again last night. Perfect! Food all very delicious and hot - portion sizes excellent (too much for oldies!). Tracy very welcoming as ever, and social distancing measures made it feel very safe. Great service, great wines, great food. I had the pigs...

I have just had lunch here and commend it highly. It’s a simply furnished unshowy dining room and the whole point of the place is the lack of pretension and excellence of the fresh imaginative food. We both had fish - perfectly cooked - and...

I had dinner at this restaurant together with two friends shortly after it had reopened post lockdown. We were warmly received and enjoyed a nice starter after which I had an excellent steak with frites and a good dessert. I have no complaints about my...

We are immediate neighbours to this restaurant. We had heard great things about it and were so looking forward to it, we pre ordered paella. It was advertised as £37,00 online. On the menu it was £47. 00. The chef has a very good reputation....

Excellent food and reasonably priced. Fantastic fish. Starters can be huge, wine is very good and a bit different, overall very good value

We have been here several times now and it has invariably been first rate - cannot recommend it highly enough

Our room was right at the end of the corridor and was very private and peaceful. The room was very comfortable with good quality furniture and furnishings.Tea and coffee are not provided in the rooms themselves but are available in a kitchen area centrally located to the 4 rooms available on the first floor.Breakfast in the restaurant was very good and reasonably priced. The service was very good and not too intrusive.Although we had no problem parking, parking is very limited outside the Newell and access to rooms is via a steep staircase so accessibility may pose a challenge.

I come here regularly but I think this time was the best time!On Friday evening 10 of us dined at the Newell in Sherborne. The “food is like heaven on a plate” utterly delicious. The highlights for me were the mussels cooked in a cauliflower broth. The mussels were like big fluffy pillows of yummy-ness - So fresh and wonderful.For desert the rice pudding with big succulent prunes was the best I have ever had.The atmosphere is unpretentious - it’s all about the food cooked with love and passion by Paul the chef and served by Tracey his wife.If you have never been before, this place is worth a pilgrimage.

We have eaten dinner here a few times and were always impressed by the quality of the food and service. This time we tried Sunday lunch and again we were not disappointed. The choice and preparation of the menu is first class as is the warm friendly service you receive from front of house.

My husband took me to the Newell Restaurant with a couple of friends for my birthday. The Food was exceptional - original and delicious. The room itself is lacking atmosphere, but all in all a good experience

We visited this restaurant for the first time this evening. Although we were slightly early, we were greeted warmly and made to feel at home. For starters, two of our party had the crab soup, one had the salmon ceviche and one the duck rillettes. The portions were good and large; perhaps a little too large for our advancing years and decreasing appetites! But all was delicious. For main courses we had rump of lamb, hake, cod and duck, all tasting very fresh and piping hot. Only the chaps could manage puddings! This isn't 'normal' restaurant food that has been subject to a conveyor belt of chefs; I believe there is one chef only and we were full of admiration. It's more like top grade home cooking. Service was swift and courteous, the wine list was excellent, the decor simple but comfortable. No frills but definitely worth a visit.

A lovely warm friendly welcome in the restaurant and excellent main course duck and also the hake Lovely evening

It has taken us some time to get to Newell, after dithering around we now see what everyone is raving about. Now there will be no stopping us. Tracey gives a great welcome, a factual guide through the dishes, helpful notes on the wine. Then she lets the food do the rest. Flavours are big, seasoning spot on. We had lunch, and those who chose two starters rather than a starter and main ate just as well - the rotolo was light and folded round a deeply satisfying stuffing. The celeriac tonnato was a perfect combination of crisp salad leaves, a light tuna sauce, lightly cooked celeriac and a good preface to a dish of salt cod stuffed piquillo peppers. Lamb rump was perfect. The atmosphere is relaxing, the other customers were all happy and enjoying themselves. A joy to have in Sherborne.

We had very good service when we arrived and all times. The food was so good chicken lamb ands fish was amazing. Best rice pudding I have tasted. The other desserts were good.

We were told this is a really great place for food, so we booked. On entering the restaurant there was a hollow feeling, our feet echoed on the floor, the tables were bare, no table cloths, two other couples. The waitress was very friendly but badly dressed. We ordered the Rollo and Salmon mousse for a starter. It was very nice and we thought this will be OK, but the main course of Veal, which was supposed to have a potato gratin, was with a rice which was not nice at all. My course was the lemon sole with mussels and was with tinned potatoes, awful. I tried to please my wife by giving her a couple of the potatoes, but we gave up and left.

This is just down the road from us and it is a pleasure to have Tracy and Paul within walking distance. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and the dining room is pretty plain, apart from some interesting mid-century classic lights, but the food is fresh and well put together, they don't fuss about with it or try to impress you by complicated tableware, this is about food of a brilliant quality, prepared by someone who really knows what they are doing. We eat there when we can, it's about £90 for a three course meal, inc wine and coffee for two and it is worth every penny. Bravo!

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. Simple decor with a focus on service and the quality of the food - Fantastic. The wine selection is also excellent. We will be back very soon!!

We’ve eaten here three times now and each time has been better than the last. It’s the quality of the food, the way the chef knows how to put things together, the seasonal choices he makes, the inventiveness of what he puts with what...and the exquisite way he cooks. It’s all,perfect. Tracey (front of house) has a welcoming, professional yet friendly manner, and is so helpful at describing the dishes and suggesting what you might like with what. It is altogether a most uplifting experience, eating at the Newell. If you’re wondering whether to try it..... just go!

Four of us visited for the first time to celebrate a birthday. From a menu showing originality each of us had a different starter and different main and all were thought to be exceptionally well cooked and tasty, a testimony to the chef ‘getting it right’. Along with a nice bottle of Picpoul we had a very enjoyable evening, good food, the most delicious chocolate truffles ever and will most definitely return soon. It has taken a while to ‘get off the ground’ but can only see the Newell becoming a firm favourite in the area. Deserves to succeed.

We had an excellent meal. If you just want good food this is the place. But the dining room is rather plain and lacking in atmosphere.

Another amazing meal, simply delicious and cooked exquisitely. Crab soup was delicate yet hearty, delicious bread, the Brill was perfectly cooked and amazingly delicate and the peach soufflé was an explosion of refined flavour, not too sweet and light. The perfect end to perfect meal and well worth the 90 mile round trip.

Party of 20 from the Yeatman hospital had an exceptional evening. The food was superb and the hospitality second to none. We will definitely be returning.

Tried and enjoyed an excellent Meal at the end of May when the Restaurant first opened and realised straight away this couple knew what they were doing !Just what Sherborne needs as endorsed by all the great Trip Advisor reviews since then. Looking forward to going back there for our Wedding Anniversary Dinner later this month.

Just home from a wonderful evening spent at this restaurant. Food and service was excellent, will certainly recommend to friends and return very soon.

The food is excellent no two ways about it. We had the crab bisque to start and all 4 of us loved it and the homemade bread truly is to die for. We all then had different fish main courses, I can strongly recommend the mussels, all of it was cooked to perfection. We went on a Saturday lunch time and were the only patrons so it did lack a bit of atmosphere. The prices are not cheap expect to pay £30 per person for a starter, main course and wine should you be drinking, but you can spend more and get a lot worse that is for sure. That you to both Tracey and the chef for making my mum and dad’s anniversary special.

Well what a triumph! After hearing many good things about this place we finally made the leap and came for supper here and it did not disappoint!! Authentic, tasty, homemade food. Absolutely delicious!! 5 stars

A last minute decision to give this place a go this evening on the way back from the usual bank holiday traffic madness ...... the food is wonderful. Really really good .

We wanted a base to explore Sherborne and Newell’s was perfect. It’s a very special place, both to eat and stayThe food was out of this world and Tracey was so helpful in guiding us through the menu (and in also suggesting places to see).To top it all, the room was simple but beautifully furnished - some classic pieces made it really comfortable stay.

Dinner last night for 3; confident assured cooking, bistro-style, from short menu that changes daily. Excellent low key service, and a relaxed atmosphere. What's not to like? We are definitely coming back on a regular basis.

Really good food, properly cooked, and delicious. The mussels with cauliflower broth were particularly memorable. Mmmm, must go back soon.

We saw a review of The Newell in the Sunday Times a few weeks ago which raved about it and so we made a booking immediately. What a brilliant place! The food is to die for!! We had our best friends from Australia staying with us and wanted to give them a treat. They are real foodies plus they are wheat and dairy intolerant but nothing was too much trouble for The Newell. We all ate well. My lamb was so tender that I barely needed a knife. Ian said that the black forest summer pudding was just gorgeous and should win prizes. We have been short of fine dining in the Sherborne area. Not now! The Newell is a must but you need to book

This place has the potential to be a great restaurant.The proprietors have recently taken over an old pub (The Crown) and in the process of setting up, therefore the set up is still work in progress (hopefully this includes the seats which are on the firm side).But food and ambiance is what it's about. The host is brilliant very welcoming and explaining the menu if necessary. The food is great, good food done well. The menu is relatively small but this means everything is fresh and ingredients of the highest quality/providence. My steak was pure melt in the mouth and the Black Forrest pudding delightful.Special mention must go to their beer, yup only 1 available but it is beautiful.

I read a review of Newell Restaurant in the Sunday Times so we booked for Sunday lunch here. it was AMAZING. Every course was superb, the service was fantastic and all in all a fabulous experience. Definitely a restaurant worth travelling to! Highly recommended.

excellent service and superb quality food with very good choice bearing in mind only one chef who does it all

Having driven past several times, the decision was made to book and try it out. "Good call". The best meal in a long time. Chef trained by Roux Brothers. Lady of the house was fantastic. Food sublime. Book and try it. You simply must

This is a new restaurant at the top of Sherborne. We had seen no publicity but had heard good things. The couple who have previously owned a restaurant in London were more than welcoming. The menu was delicious with every dish explained in detail. We would have chosen everything but contented ourselves with having a different dish each so that we could all have a try. Worth every penny. The only slight negative was that the starters were so hot that it was impossible to eat them for a while. Definitely worth a visit. Unique and interesting.

We enjoyed a super meal here. The salmon mousse starter, lemon sole main and iced nougat pudding were all delicious - rivals other “high end” restaurants in the area! Decor bistro style. Would definitely return.

All I can say is its exceptional. Food of very good quality, service is friendly but not intrusive. Give it a go you won’t be disappointed.

We had a lovely date night (my fiancé and I) and really love our food. We were quite blown away at how amazing the food was, how friendly the service was and the overall experience. We’re very lucky in sherborne to have such nice restaurants but I think this is our new favourite. The Shallot crumble on special was literally one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Absolutely superb. We will certainly be going back!

We had dinner at the Newell Restaurant last night and found a pretty good menu and wine list. A strong French and Italian feel to the dishes on offer. The cooking was excellent and it was a joy to find the kitchen and front of house working in harmony. Everything full of flavour and served without fuss (or foam). We'll certainly be going back, especially if they can find room for a couple of vegetarian main course choices (plenty on the starters list already). Not cheap, but very very good.