The best restaurants in Christchurch South West

Booked this whilst on holiday in Christchurch for a few days. I saw the 5* reviews on TripAdvisor and I have to say that they are fully justified. There is plenty of parking nearby and easy to find. When you enter the restaurant it has a really nice ambience and the tables are arranged really well, I liked the decorative screens that separated tables so you don’t feel on top of other guests creating a more intimate experience. A massive plus for this restaurant is the tall female manager. When I visit a Thai restaurant I like to see Thai people serving and cooking the food, this wasn’t the case at Nusara but I have to say the female Manager was absolutely fantastic, her knowledge of the dishes, recommendations and great ability to look after guests in an incredibly amiable way was a real credit to the business. I also liked the way she coached and looked after the younger members of staff. We had a slight mishap with the order that one of the younger members of staff took but the manager handled it with such style and class it really wasn’t a problem. The food was really very tasty and I left feeling very satisfied and wishing we had a Nusara close to home 🤣. Portion sizes are very good, two of us had a starter each and three main dishes, on reflection two starters and two main dishes would have been enough. The price was really good/fair in my opinion for a quality meal in a great environment. The manager highlighted the service charge was not compulsory, I think this was done due to the minor order mixup but it really wasn’t a problem and I was more than happy to pay. In summary / fantastic food, great service, great ambience all at a fair price.

Asked for a cappuccino with no chocolate, but received a milky coffee with chocolate on it! I was told that I should have specified! Asked for no black pudding, but received black pudding! Asked for toast for myself and my friend. It all came on one plate! I know it wasn't expensive, but that shouldn't mean low quality service. The food was actually not too bad, albeit not very hot.

Tucked away spot for good quality drinks and good value food. Warmed up in here following a blustery walk to hurst castle. Had a panini and a tea cake. Friendly service and a nice atmosphere. Mixed clientele.

Wonderful place. Understated kindness and efficiency from the staff. Delicious food. Kofta 👍 toasties 😋 cakes 👍. Coffee is one of the best I have ever tasted. Loved the ambience too.

We have had takeaway from Bao Bao 3/4 times since moving to the area and each time have been so impressed with the delicious, freshly cooked food. I am gluten free and I called to double check my meal options (even tough the menu is clearly labelled with icons to show food allergens). They were extremely helpful in answering my query. I don’t enjoy regular Chinese takeaway food which always to me tastes greasy and unhealthy. This is nothing like that, it’s fresh, you can distinguish what you’re eating and tastes amazing! Highlights - crispy seaweed and sticky crispy beef (served with Kung Po sauce) although last time they were unfortunately out of beef so they recommended chicken strips instead with the Kung Po sauce and this was just as delicious, thick chicken strips which were very succulent. It does appear to be slightly more expensive than you’re traditional take away, but it is absolutely worth it (after all why pay for something you don’t enjoy, when you can pay a little more for incredible food you’ll love). And as a huge bonus all food is ethically sourced and is served in recyclable cardboard/compostable packaging.

Good crack, friendly landlord and fellow drinkers,made me feel welcome.will Go again Good beer,got squiffy,overall banging

Found ourselves passing by while visiting Christchurch & decided to pop in as fancied some Deli delights that evening... WHAT A FIND!! Lovely Italian / Spanish couple serving and advising on their cornucopia of artisanal products. Whether it's sweet or savoury (our is both!) you will not be disappointed. A REAL GEM!!!!

Amazing little bakery in Highcliffe. Fantastic variety of baked goods (including an outstanding vegan cookie) and bread. The coffee was also wonderful. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

Very friendly and warm atmosphere. The owners accommodated us with two small babies during a rain storm. My older daughter is milk an d wheat intolerant and always finds it difficult to find somewhere to eat, the second daughter is vegetarian, so you can imagined the difficult logistics; plus two babies to feed. The owners went to great lengths to help her; it was delicious. They put together two tables to help us and it was so good, we came back especially 2 days later. This is a perfect example of a small family run business offering a better and more personal service than the big chain cafes and succeeding. Many thanks for your help, we shall be back late spring next year. Chris & Kate

Lovely café, indoor & outdoor seating. Delicious locally sourced ingredients. We had coffee & cake (gf carrot cake & coconut cake), and full breakfast 😋 Friendly staff. Very accommodating with gf options for our daughter who is coeliac. Highly recommend! 🌟

Visited on a rainy Saturday and was delighted! I ordered from the cabinet food, although the menu looks great. Awesome range of food and it was delicious! My mocha was one of the best I've ever had. Definitely recommend you visit!

What a great little find. Popped in here to get out of the rain and so glad I did. A delicious toastie and cup of tea served by Warren. Very clean and friendly. Lovely menu and a great place to meet for mooching in Highcliffe or visit to park or beach. Highly recommend.

What a wonderful little place. My croque monsieur had crispy, crunchy, chewy bread, and the right amount of cheese and ham. So unusual to find a croque monsieur done well in the UK. My wife had an almond croissant and it was crisp and flakey on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. More than anything else though, the dough had such an amazing butter smell. We also shared a lemon meringue tart because we were impressed with everything else. The base was well cooked and short, the lemon curd was the perfect balance of sweet and tart, the meringue was light, marshmallowey, and perfectly toasted. Oh, and the coffee was also great, the staff were friendly, the setting was clean, and pretty, and cute. Bravo!

I am a self confessed coffee snob and was not disappointed. Rich aromatic with a long flavour and a warm after glow. Best coffee in town.

What a wonderful find! The welcome and service was great. The menu was simple but ample choice for lunch - we had a tuna jacket potato and a bacon roll both accompanied by homemade coleslaw and salad garnish. Both were delicious. The decor was lovely and the loos were the best I’ve ever seen! We’ll be back!!