The best restaurants serving Other cuisines food in Downlands and Forest New Forest South East

Found the Pantry Barn Cafe by chance after seeing the signs on the main road as we were heading for Bournemouth - and what a find - what a gem. Had a light lunch and it was the best Ham & Cheese toastie on sourdough that I had ever tasted. The tea and coffee was delicious as well and my wife said it was the best soup she had ever had. The cakes are lovely as well. although we took this with us. Well done and we will be back when the house is open next year.

Supermarket pre-sliced bread, sickly sweet "hot chocolate " that didn't taste of chocolate, cheese in my sandwich that turned oily when toasted....I didn't say anything at the time because my very kind friend was treating me to lunch and I didn't want to embarrass her by complaining. But I will not go back and cannot recommend. We also struggled to hear each other speak because of the rather loud music playing. Very disappointing.

I'd rang in the week before the Saturday (19th Oct) lunchtime, and pre-booked a table for our party of 13, and I said we needed 2 high-chairs. (How nice it was to ring and book a table verbally, instead of booking on-line.) On the day, we arrived to find 3 tables pushed together for us, and all was good, though no high-chairs, which the staff member got sorted fast. We arrived in a bit of a disjointed way (an initial 5, then a 3, then a 5), but this caused no problem, and we had drinks on tab. Our meal experience was really very good, with good attention by all staff (at bar and at table). The food (we had main and dessert) came in good time, and it was delicious. All in our party thought their main course was excellent, being really flavoursome. I had the cottage pie, it was delightful, as was my partner's pork rump steak. Yes, prices were a couple of pounds more per plate for mains, but definitely worth it. At no time were we hurried along, or unduly hassled, and we ended up spending much of a great Saturday afternoon there. Our 7yo in the party enjoyed the wooden play apparatus outside, and I loved the Exmoor ales! Lastly, how refreshing to have no service charge automatically added, and allow customers to decide. We'd never eaten there before, but we will again!