The best restaurants serving British food in West Dorset South West

Great service quick and friendly, with a good choice on menu. Fast turnaround of food, and reasonable prices. Overall a good visit.

The perfect overnight stay in Dorchester, passing through. An excellent price. Central to all amenities, other pubs and nearby fish and chips and the river. Host, Chris, was welcoming and friendly and helpful when asking questions about the nearby areas. Our room was neat and well presented. Overall the atmosphere in the pub itself was friendly and warm. A classic pub and inn!

Popped in here for a bottle of water on a hot afternoon. Thought I had misheard when told it was 1 pound, that's a great price. The ladies were very chatty and explained they tried hard to keep their prices down. Although there were plenty of patrons sat outside it was quiet inside and I had a good chat/laugh with the two ladies. It seems a popular place.

So disappointing. We had the Brie bacon and cranberry baguette. The cranberry was so sour we couldn’t eat it. We did raise it at the time and the waiter acknowledged and said sorry but offered no recompense even though we couldn't eat it. As they were so busy I didn’t make a fuss. I emailed the manager after and she acknowledged the batch of cranberry sauce used was very sour. She offered us two free drinks and 15percent off our next meal. We paid 30quid for lunch we couldn’t eat. This offer was insulting.

This cafe is in a great location and could, and should, be amazing. Instead it feels like something that's been knocked together as a temporary solution to people arriving expecting a cafe to do food and drink. After a long walk we arrived about 2 and hot food had finished. The staff were obviously grumpy that anyone might want a cafe to prepare food and we ended up with hot drinks and not very good chocolate brownie. You order at one trestle table stuck in a doorway as a barrier and then go outside and wait for your order to arrive at another trestle table blocking another doorway. Just when you think it can't get any more unfriendly you are told the bin by the door only takes small items and not large ones. On leaving to go back to the car park I noticed a storage container back across the river - it looked like it might be serving food and/or drinks...I suggest you go and find out - I wish we had.

Disgusting service from an elderly lady in here. My daughter was rudely approached by the old hag, and told not to eat her sausage roll in the restaurant as she isn’t a customer. I explained that I was going to be eating and buying drinks. We didn’t even have the time to find a seat, as my daughter was collared by her half way in. Now I totally respect that places don’t want you eating food from other eateries. But her manner and approach was completely aggressive, and to approach an 11 year child. I explained that if there is an issue to then speak with me, the parent. Totally rude and ill mannered, and the rest of the staff had an awful attitude. I’ve eaten here before and food has always been mediocre. Just cheap and cheerful. The service is just appalling. AVOID

Great entertainment today in the queue with Fun and Ali serving which made the wait worthwhile. Fun nickname of man with big lobe earings very good with the kids and spending time chatting to them. Hot chocolate and cakes as yummy as ever and plenty of gluten free options available (the fruit meringues looked lush). Well done guys x

Having visited for thr first time after visiting the old castle I had high hopes for the walled garden, the food on entry smelt amazing, if only we could get out hands on some of it, so as a family of 4, 4 drinks and 4 lite bites seemed not to much trouble, alas the drinks came out in 20 minutes so far so good, waiting telling my children it's ok it's busy but should be soon, lots of meals came and went for others that arrived after us, then after an hour I had to go and ask, as I qued up other people were also asking where is their food, the polite girl went to find out and the food was coming imminently. So drinks finished food after an hour and lots of the menu not available, high hopes dashed but lesson learnt. The food was hot and good but the wait was absolutely not worth it. The staff were polite and friendly but the organisation of the whole place needs a big overhaul, and if the food is going to be longer than half an hour then tell the customer, an informed customer is a happy customer.

Would definitely not recommend. Cafe staff so miserable especially lady serving on the till. No please no Thankyou’s. Brought our food over and was disgusted by the way it has all just been chucked on the plate. The lady that served the food put it on our table without saying one word then just walked off. Shocking visit. Will definitely not be returning and will be warning friends and family not to visit.

We ate here as we were staying in the hotel (Royal lion) for a couple of nights and had a nice meal. We both opted for fish dishes and whilst the menu is not extensive we were both happy with our food and accompanying wine. The menu is reasonably priced compared to some in Lyme Regis and the service was good. The price of restaurants in Lyme seems to have increased significantly since Covid and availability is sometimes limited (staffing seems to be an issue here as with many places). The hotel restaurant used to be located in a large room on the first floor and had a more inventive menu although the room itself was a bit too formal for my taste

Went there with my family for a drink and ordered fish and chips to be shared as we already had our lunch but still spent around 50 pound .we ask a rude lady for extra cutlery she very aggressive said that you are paying for 2 but feeding 4 mouth and I will have extra washing to do ...never heard anything like that. She even took our plates away while we were still eating avoid avoid avoid.

I bought a steak pasty, hot and fresh and perfectly cooked. I've bought their loaves before and those are also brilliant. Everything is a little pricey but you have to pay for good quality handmade bakes which taste fantastic and are served with care and attention, and they can be fun as well

We walked into west bay bank holiday Monday we live locally so easy enough walk for a few drinks something to eat support the local buisnesss. Anyway attended the pub for a couple of ciders waited at the bar for some time which is fine although pub not busy at all and lots of staff milling about started to be served she then walked off and another gentleman stepped in young fella with curly hair popped the first pint in front of me undefiled so I asked of he would obviously fill up my pint of cider after all that is what I am paying for and his answer was it makes it easy to carry if its not full what!!! I replied its OK ill sup it before I walk with it. Wow talk about saving cider. Anyone falling for that load of cobblers anyway never to say the least we drank our full pints and left to go elsewhere. Thing is it was nearly 14 quid for 2 pints of cider so certainly wasn't the cheapest for exact same cider in a nicer place with better staff.