The best restaurants in West Dorset South West

On Friday 17th January 2025 my wife and I visited YC Café for lunch. We have visited this café over 30 times in the past as we enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere and good food but what has happened? I had to go to the counter to order as the waiter seemed to busy to actually come to the table. I first of all ordered two coffees and we both had Eggs Benedict with varying add-ons. we waited 15minutes for the coffee and again I had to get up an ask the waiter where the coffees were and he told us he would bring them out to us. After another 10 minutes the coffees arrived and they were cold. We informed the lady who was washing up also the cook about the cold coffee and look warm Eggs Benedict and she smiled and did not say anything by way of an apology. This used to be vibrant eatery but the toilets were dirty and cobwebs hanging off the door and it was a very poor resemblance to the YC used to be. I know times are hard but this visit was a world away from being friendly and lacked any real reason why we should go back. Yes times are hard but this was worse than the food van across the road.

A small hidden Cafe hidden down a side alleyway, delivers a big smile through it's food and warm welcoming hosts. They make delicious salads, homemade crustless quiche, large saucer style macaroons, homemade sausage rolls and vege rolls. It's the only place in Dorchester that i feel the food is good for you, cooked on the spot there that day, great coffee and choice of tea's etc. Seating is limited and very sadly due to it's size of premises maybe closed due to Covid, please double check. They have worked so hard and deserve all our support

What a lovely place this is. Nestled in a remote narrow valley, Plush is the village that time forgot. The Brace of Pheasants is a quintessential, ancient thatched inn with beams, low ceilings and bags of character. We had a great meal, lovely to see (and eat) game but the whole menu was well balanced and interesting. Food beautifully cooked and really tasty. Excellent choice of beers and wines and the draught bitter was delicious. Service friendly and very professional. Good parking beside the pub. This is what everyone imagines a pub in England should be like and for once, it is.

Lovely friendly pub. Lots of character and great atmosphere. They don't do food

Nice coffee and satisfying pasty. Being a fan of bread pudding the ‘Cornish pudding” piqued my interest and was delicious.

Spent weekend here in our motorhome Friday and Saturday night, great food lovely atmosphere had Pizza Friday which was superb and chicken skewers on the Saturday with great live music in the garden. David and Louise are superb hosts and should be celebrated, coming back at the end of July

This incredible hotel was a great experience, i felt like absolute royalty, there is even a park opposite and wonderfull food, 5 stars ( if I could give 100 I would!) And very happy and polite staff! - happy customer age 10

Wonderfully efficient and helpful service. The food was pretty good too but would suggest the a la carte menu not the set menues which we found to be a bit too filling and the dishes a bit to similar to each other. However it was well cooked and delightfully presented. Well worth a second visit.

Ci ha attratti la piccola fila davanti alla vetrina dalal quale servivano le commesse, i colori dei vari fudge e il profumo. Deliziosi!!! il sapore autentico evidenzia gli ingredienti semplici e freschissimi. Ci tornerò di sicuro!!

What a great café.. Fabulous staff, great service, and the best bit was the tea! I love a good cup of tea, however, this café has raised the bar of what a good cup of tea is. The proper cup and saucer were delivered with an oversized tea bag draped over the cup side, and inside was a piping-hot, crystal clear, magical amber-coloured liquid - My Tea! You HAVE to try their tea.. I'm sure I loved their cakes too, but for three days in a row, I stopped there for tea. Nice work "The Pantry", that's how to run a business...

Called into this pub many times over the years after finishing work at The Melplash Show. A wonderful stop at any time but especially after 12 hours hard work. Food and drinks always good. Now retired and on holiday, we took on the well talked about Sunday Roast and we were not disappointed. Superb food, service and presentation. Staff were out of this world and so proud of what they were doing. And what a beautiful setting with a stream flowing through the garden. We will return.

Amazing food, lovely service, can't wait to go back. They have a wide range of food and the queues aren't long. Definitely recommend!

Very pleasant young girls, very welcoming and helpful. A varied breakfast menu serving some different choices. Food arrived quite quickly. Good size cup of coffee. Could have been a bit warmer but it was a very cold day.

Their website booking service suggested we wouldn't get a table in the dog-friendly area until quite late but we took our chance and walked in and were seated within minutes thankfully. They were amazingly busy, it was Saturday, but mid-March, and the staff were great; still had time for smiles despite being rushed off their feet. The food was fabulous, and we greatly enjoyed our meal.

Lovingly handmade baguettes/sandwiches, made to order, great range of fillings, including vegetarian options, tasty coffee, quirky wooden spoon numbered collection service, blankets outside to sit on, prices very reasonable compared to the extortionate menu at the nearby ‘Swim’ cafe. Highly recommended.