Dorset Restaurants

272 restaurants in Dorset





Restaurants in Dorset:

Featured | Selected | Special Offers | Price | A-Z


Selected Restaurant
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Thames Street, The Quay, Poole, BH15 1JN [Map]

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but often un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style. Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould. Learn more

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but often un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style.

Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould.

Think quintessential British style, elegant and unpretentious. Combine this with a great spirit, wit and an unquestionable devotion to wine, and you have captured the essence of Hotel du Vin.

This area of Dorset is a popular destination for visitors and holiday makers alike as well as a welcoming stopping-off point for the many yachts and cruisers that ply the waters of the harbour and the wider Purbeck heritage coast. In Poole, also the haunt of the well heeled, du Vin has taken on the former Mansion House. In addition to the customary delights of a first class hotel they have some extra goodies. For cigar lovers there is the Bothy Lodge where enjoyment of that particular kind can be pursued lawfully and without hindrance. You can dine there al fresco too in the sheltered courtyard. A La Roche tasting table in the hotel permits wine-lovers to embark on a voyage round the world's finest vineyards with minimal effort.

Thirty-eight bedrooms and suites incorporating many of the original features of the Mansion House, with handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, plasma screens and DVDs throughout, deep baths and power showers. High speed wireless internet access is available in all rooms.

In the classy bistro, called Banquette, a choice of nine starters could include twice baked Dorset cheddar soufflé with herb cream, linguini Pea and smoked salmon risotto, a delicious Caesar salad with Cajun chicken, deep fried whitebait with mayonnaise, or basil pesto with slow roast cherry tomato papardelle.

Head Chef, Darren Rockett follows a cuisine that changes daily and supports the hotel's philosophy of the finest and freshest local produce. Operating from an open kitchen that services the 80 seat bistro, 'simple classics' for the first two courses yield whole pan fried trout almandine, pressed ox tongue, watercress and potato soup, and grilled sardines with confit tomatoes and gremolata. The fish round here must not be missed, exhibiting freshness to the last degree.

Whilst one might argue that the whole point of being in a du Vin is to snuggle up to the wine list, this list is designed to march with the food and can only be described as superb. With a team of experienced sommeliers there is no room for anything but the best. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

Click on their Website for full information and rates. Hotel du Vin, with fourteen options throughout Britain, awaits your call.

Bistro, French, Modern European

£25.00£35.00

Selected Restaurant

6 Ravine Road, Poole, BH13 7HX [Map]

A balmy location, close to the seafront in Poole's well-heeled suburb of Canford Cliffs, makes The Cliff an obvious magnet for a leisurely dinner or leisurely Sunday afternoon lunch. Located on Ravine Road, this excellent pub offers modern British food with a Mediterranean touch. Learn more

A balmy location, close to the seafront in Poole's well-heeled suburb of Canford Cliffs, makes The Cliff an obvious magnet for a leisurely dinner or leisurely Sunday afternoon lunch. Located on Ravine Road, this excellent pub offers modern British food with a Mediterranean touch. A carefully compiled wine list as well as a selection of cask ales, draught and bottled beers complement the food perfectly.

Close to Poole city centre and only a short drive from the resort town of Bournemouth, The Cliff's pleasant spacious interiors are dotted with comfortable banquettes and chairs where guests can relax and unwind at leisure. A large wall to wall picture brings a whiff of the sea indoors. Outside seating on the patio allows you to catch the sun's rays, when it's shining, and the smart bar, with beautiful light wood panelling and chic metal lights, invites you to linger into the evening.
 
The attention to detail extends to the high quality seasonally changing menu which offers customers a wide range of dishes from delicious British classics to pizzas and pastas, all made with the finest fresh ingredients including locally sourced fish and seafood. Try starters of smoked salmon with citrus ponzo dressing, Moroccan lamb koftas with fattoush salad and potato hash with poached egg and hollandaise sauce whet the appetite. Sharing plates of antipasti with dolcelatte, Italian meats, marinated vegetables and warm stone-baked flatbreads are perfect if you are with family and friends.
 
Each day is different at The Cliff. Steak and Wine Supper Wednesdays offer superb steaks with a bottle of red wine at half the price. Seafood lovers can look forward to battered haddock with chips, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas; sea bass fillets with sweet potato, spinach curry and tzatziki and much more, especially on Fish Fridays when the chef dishes out his specials and a bottle of white wine comes at a generous 50% discount.
 
On Sundays enjoy a traditional meal with a variety of roast with all the trimmings. For a quick lunch, the prix fixe menu offers quiet satisfaction while the Supper Club menu is more celebratory with a two-course meal accompanied by a bottle of the renowned Rothschild champagne, starting at £40.
 
The dessert selection matches the rest of the à la carte with its delectable temptations. Round off with apple and blackcurrant crumble with vanilla custard, sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, a choux bun with fresh cream, espresso and chocolate sauce or white chocolate crème brûlée. If you prefer a cheese plate, it comes with flavourful Colliers Cheddar, camembert and gorgonzola.
 
An extensive selection of aperitifs, digestifs, beers, wines, soft drinks and hot drinks quenches the thirst. This includes Lillet Rouge, a splendid mix of summer berries and white wine; Tommy's Margarita, a delicious treat of Don Alvaro Organic Tequila with agave syrup and fresh lime and Frisky Bison, made with organic Zubrowka Bison Grass vodka and Appletiser.

Looking to repeat the enjoyable experience in Southampton? You could try The Chilworth Arms, a sister pub to The Cliff.

More information can be found on their Website.

English, Gastropub, Modern British

£18.00£28.00

Featured Restaurant

West Bay, Bridport, DT6 4EZ [Map]

The mere act of turning up at the Riverside at West Bay with its stunning views of the river and the sea, sends you into fishy mode. Nor will you be disappointed. Emphasis is on simplicity in almost every sense, food, cooking, décor, the lot. Learn more

The mere act of turning up at the Riverside at West Bay with its stunning views of the river and the sea, sends you into fishy mode. Nor will you be disappointed. Emphasis is on simplicity in almost every sense, food, cooking, décor, the lot. Those who, for whatever reason, cannot rise to the fish are not only tolerated but provided for with the same expertise and care that goes into the restaurant's forte.

The Riverside has its genesis in a tent that regularly used to sprout up on the site in early summer early last century, in which some aspiring local entrepreneur was wont to refresh visitors and locals with tea and cakes. Inevitably wooden huts took over, then a Post Office and finally increasing occasions when the whole area flooded during the 60s and 70s. This was no good to anybody so the present owners rebuilt the whole area in such a way that you didn't have to pack a lifejacket when you set out to dine.

Food from the sea has always been paramount and starters could offer smoked mussel and crab chowder, or the West Bay crab linguine topped with fresh parmesan shavings.

A good mix of locals and 'foreigners' is always a healthy sign and there's no lack of both as they work their way through pan seared scallops with pinenut and herb butter. While the roasted wild sea bass fillets served with tenderstem broccoli and dill Hollandaise takes some beating, but then you are up against whole or dressed crab with mixed salad. Never mind the sea food platter – it contains fresh seasonal sea food available such as lobster, crab, langoustines, prawns, mussels, oysters and clams, prepared as they should be with minimum mucking about.
 
Lover sole is good almost anywhere, but here at Lyme Bay it has a freshness about it that seems unique, grilled simply on the bone with sea salt and lemon. The fillet of brill is served with crispy spinach and sorrel sauce, but the money is on grilled Portland oysters with accompaniments.

Riverside is fortunate indeed to have in the puddings department pastry Chef Amy Moss, who daily engages in a contest with the other chefs to see who can raise the most applause from the diners, some of whom are rumoured to travel serious distances to sample the compelling results of her talents. Think Griottine cherries and white chocolate, or set rice pudding with Armagnac macerated prunes and Breton biscuits.

A wine list of over 100 bins gallops round the world and favours the fish, needless to say, but not exclusively. This is without doubt one the finest fish restaurants in the South West, a sentiment echoed by a local well known celebrity chef who also enjoys a rivered location.

Check on their Website for changes - they are a restless lot as befits those who strive for the best, so menus change, and their list of Awards might redouble your efforts to make an early booking. Watch out for the fact that they generally close from early December to the middle of February every year.

International, Seafood

£24.00£40.00

Featured Restaurant
Book

84 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 1LR [Map]

Bella Italia is a restaurant that pulsates with Italian style and fashion, where the day starts with breakfast, not least the Inglese, the familiar bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato and fried or scrambled eggs and sauté potatoes with ciabatta toast so beloved of hearty eaters seeking a good start to the day, particularly when they don't have to prepare it. Learn more

Bella Italia is a restaurant that pulsates with Italian style and fashion, where the day starts with breakfast, not least the Inglese, the familiar bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato and fried or scrambled eggs and sauté potatoes with ciabatta toast so beloved of hearty eaters seeking a good start to the day, particularly when they don't have to prepare it. A vegetarian option is available, along with the bambini of sausages, tomato and scrambled egg, or a strapazzata, scrambled eggs on ciabatta toast. A cappuccino or hot chocolate offers a more gentle awakening and croissant or pastries are welcome at almost any time.

It is always worth remembering that eating Italian is a great opportunity to work away through something rather more liberating than the conventional 3 course English meal. Little and often seems to be the motto but move on to the antipasti and it's immediately obvious this is no easy task, confronted with well over a dozen dishes, not one of which you really have the heart to turn down. The selezione classica assembles a few of the favourite starters; oven baked lemon and rosemary chicken wings, spiced meatballs, calamari, mini garlic butter-filled calzoni and lightly battered courgettes served with flamed pepper and lemon herb dips.

A speck e rucola pizza, added to a traditional margherita brings together two traditions with Italian speck ham providing the second, but it is within the pasta and risotto dishes that you can adapt almost any main ingredient, as well enjoy some of Italy's most traditional treats. Who can deny a well formed spaghetti Bolognese or penne Marco Polo? And not for nothing is a nicely prepared spaghetti carbonara the preferred dish of many.

From a selection of five choices amongst the secondi many will head unerringly for controfiletto ai ferri, a 7oz sirloin steak char-grilled to preference and served with garlic butter, roast field mushrooms, fries and rocket, or the fritto misto, lightly battered prawns, cod fillet, calamari and courgette with fries and a herb lemon and caper dip.

Could anything be more appropriate than The Godfather, for 1 or 2 naturally, with nutty chocolate fudge brownies, vanilla and toffee ice cream with chocolate sauce, fresh cream and wafer curls, and rest assured the coffee will do justice to the meal.

With a wine list that makes few concessions to other countries - and why should it - good Italian food can receive an equally national baptism by wine. For further enlightenment, news about their on-line shop and special deals, a click on their lively Website will reveal all.

Italian

£15.00£27.00

Featured Restaurant

Ringwood Road, Tricketts Cross, Ferndown, BH22 9BB [Map]

The Beefeater Grill range of restaurants, owned by the well established firm of Whitbread has transformed over time into what is now predominantly a cooking platform for chargrill. The restaurants are warm, modern and stylish, with low lighting and contemporary artwork. Learn more

The Beefeater Grill range of restaurants, owned by the well established firm of Whitbread has transformed over time into what is now predominantly a cooking platform for chargrill. The restaurants are warm, modern and stylish, with low lighting and contemporary artwork. A comfortable, cosy, mainly booth layout offers guests their own space with no feeling of being hurried at any point. Staff are friendly and helpful if need be - what a difference that can make to a good evening out.

Be it the wide open spaces of Argentina, the intimate setting of a French restaurant, or a busy grill in London's West End, there's no denying the popularity of chargrill. As the production of quality beef, chicken, fish and lamb has grown, prices have come down by comparison, and the simple and traditional art of minimally cooking dishes by chargrill, sealing in the flavours and tastes by intense heat has caught the public imagination.

All the steaks at Beefeater Grill are matured for a minimum of 28 days before being seasoned. Whether it be juicy rib eye, the classic sirloin, that emblem of the Sunday lunch, a tender fillet, or a delicious 7oz rump, all grilled to your own specification, you're never far away from perfection. Even beefburgers have shaken off their dubious image and the highly popular Beefeater burgers are made from 100% beef.

The popular sirloin with giant prawns offers a treat to those for whom an alliance between sea and pasture is a natural attraction, whilst a 16oz steak platter links rump, fillet, sirloin and rib eye into one mouth-watering dish served with chips, battered onion rings, grilled tomato, a flat mushroom and peppercorn and brandy sauce.

Many of us love rib meat, and the rack of ribs at a Beefeater Grill has a meaty rack smoky flavour; maple ribs of pork with a choice of three sauces, mojito, smoked caramel and apple glaze, or Bourbon and black BBQ. And if all else fails and you are totally baffled by the wealth of choices, ask to have a word with the Steakmaster who will help find what is right for you, together with the best cooking method. These guys leave nothing to chance.

On a menu that is a delight to read, let alone choose a meal from, expect to find smaller dishes such as traditional prawn cocktail, whitebait, chicken liver pâté and baked Camembert, or juicy lamb koftas served with yoghurt and mint dip. There's something about a good steak meal that always leaves a gap for a little temptation to sweeten up the scene and from amongst twelve options look for Belgian chocolate cheesecake, treacle sponge pudding or a caramel apple crumble pie.

Throughout the day a wide range of more general dishes are yours for the ordering, sandwiches, jackets, classic favourites like fish and chips, pasta, salads, and sharing dishes of nachos, potato shells and a Beefeater Grill combo. Next door to many of the restaurants are Premier Inns, so staying the night whatever the circumstances need not be a problem.

And what about wine? Endorsed by Matthew Jukes, wine writer in the Daily Mail and bon viveur in his own right, a wine list that marches with the menu completes an impressive and compelling invitation to enjoy whatever takes your fancy at the nearest Beefeater Grill.

Click on their Website for menu updates and special offers.

Grill, Pub

£11.00£25.00

Featured Restaurant
Book

5 The Square, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, BH2 6HE [Map]

Nestled among shops and bars on The Square, Zizzi Bournemouth offers contemporary Italian dining in a delightful setting. With an open plan kitchen and a friendly vibe, Zizzi is the perfect spot for a quick meal after a busy shopping trip and is just a 4-minute walk from both the Avenue Shopping Centre and The Quadrant Centre. Learn more

Nestled among shops and bars on The Square, Zizzi Bournemouth offers contemporary Italian dining in a delightful setting. With an open plan kitchen and a friendly vibe, Zizzi is the perfect spot for a quick meal after a busy shopping trip and is just a 4-minute walk from both the Avenue Shopping Centre and The Quadrant Centre.

In a delightful setting, near the beach, Zizzi is close to local attractions such as Bournemouth Oceanarium and the Bournemouth Eye while the Odeon Cinema and Pavilion Theatre are also within easy reach.
 
The bustling open kitchen at Zizzi turns out freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers distinct sections of antipasti, salads, pizza and calzone, pasta, risottos and mains of seasonally changing meat and fish dishes with a variety of tempting desserts to finish.
 
Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.

Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website.

Italian

£25.00£30.00

Featured Restaurant
Book

Purbeck House, 5 West Borough, Wimbourne, BH21 1LT [Map]

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets. Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. Learn more

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

Italian

£10.00£25.00

Prezzo Valentine's Menu: 3 Course for £18.95, add your first glass of prosecco for £1 Book

Featured Restaurant

Barrack Road, Christchurch, BH23 2BN [Map]

Part of the Whitbread family, Table Table restaurants aim to bring great value tasty pub food to an ever increasing eating-out public who like well prepared and genuine food served by friendly staff in relaxing surroundings. Learn more

Part of the Whitbread family, Table Table restaurants aim to bring great value tasty pub food to an ever increasing eating-out public who like well prepared and genuine food served by friendly staff in relaxing surroundings. If that sounds too much like a dream come true be assured that at Table Table they also walk the talk, and are pleased to have the chance to prove it.

Their well located restaurants are spread across a wide range of decors and styles, and all of them share a determination to provide comfort, warmth and relaxation. Their buffet menus for special occasions are remarkable value.

In keeping with modern trends they provide dishes to nibble or share as guests consider the spread of options on a menu that could be described as British with welcome incursions. So as you share long Italian flatbread, and dough balls and dips, or a sharing platter with an imaginative range of finger food starting with garlic and breaded mushrooms, it's time to think about the relative merits of aromatic duck parcels, a prawn cocktail, breaded Camembert or sticky chicken goujons to name but a few.

Many an innocent dish from the past has been hi-jacked in the best possible sense into becoming what is now called a 'pub classic'. Wiltshire cured ham with eggs is served with chunky chips and beef, mushroom and ale pie, or chicken and chips are all familiar with British tables, be they in the dining room or the kitchen. Now they have been added to by chicken fajitas, a sweet red pepper, crème fraiche and fennel tart, a leg of duck slowly cooked and served with a Bramley apple and cider sauce, or chilli con carne with basmati rice, sour cream and guacamole and nachos. So is the humble burger with six enticing toppings.

The point is they, and others, are all here at Table Table, well prepared with quality ingredients, and presented in a way that makes you hungry even if you thought you weren't.

Getting down to the more serious side of the table keep an eye open for the seafood pie, a delightful assembly of things fishy including crayfish, red snapper, prawns and clams. Many of their steaks are 28 days matured, including a 7oz fillet. All steaks are served with watercress, roasted cherry tomatoes, a flat mushroom and chunky chips. A choice from 4 sauces adds the final touch of enjoyment.

Pastas and salads embrace some well known and loved names, but for sheer enjoyment the hot smoked salmon salad takes some beating - flakes of hot smoked salmon mixed with a house salad and soy and ginger sauce. A real winner.

Snacks aplenty cover hot baguettes with the like of grilled pork loin and Bramley apple sauce, sandwiches filled with Cheddar cheese, or prawns and Marie Rose sauce, and jacket potatoes with such temptations as chilli con carne. Add a bowl of chips for only a little extra.

A well travelled wine list offers helpful advice for the uninitiated and there's an impressive choice of draught and bottled beers and lagers. All in all it would appear that Table Table are more than achieving their aims, providing the opportunity for people to eat out enjoyably, with excellent value for money. Long may they continue to do so.

For completely up to date information on menu changes and special offers do make a regular check on their lively Website.

Family, Pub, Traditional

£13.00£20.00

Featured Restaurant
Book

43 East Street, Blandford Forum, DT11 7DX [Map]

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets. Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. Learn more

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

Italian

£10.00£25.00

Prezzo Valentine's Menu: 3 Course for £18.95, add your first glass of prosecco for £1 Book

Featured Restaurant

Tower Park, Poole, BH12 4NY [Map]

With quality food, friendly staff, quick service and excellent value for money, Nando's is a great place to eat. Don't expect identikit, pre-fab restaurant interiors which are usually a staple of the larger chains; each restaurant is tailored to its local surroundings and customers, offering up a unique restaurant experience to go with the equally unique taste of legendary, Portuguese, Peri-Peri chicken. Learn more

With quality food, friendly staff, quick service and excellent value for money, Nando's is a great place to eat. Don't expect identikit, pre-fab restaurant interiors which are usually a staple of the larger chains; each restaurant is tailored to its local surroundings and customers, offering up a unique restaurant experience to go with the equally unique taste of legendary, Portuguese, Peri-Peri chicken.

Your peri-peri chicken, when the chips are down so to speak, is a fresh A grade chicken that has never seen the inside of a freezer, but having made the supreme sacrifice is butterfly-cut, marinated for 24 hours in a secret brew called - you've guessed - peri-peri, and is then cooked to your choice over an open flame.

There are, of course, many variations on this broad theme, numerous plays on words such as Nando's experi-perience, peri-peri good reasons why you should eat at a Nando's' and all one hopes is that for their sake chicken never goes out of fashion. New Nando's are opening all the time, peri-peri quickly in fact, the spicy bastes become hotter and more daring, and the full platter offers a whole chicken, large chips or spicy rice and Nando's salad or coleslaw.

Since chickens are vegetarian it seems logical you can order veggie or bean burgers and patties, and still feel the heat from the peppers. All in all, Nando's is hotly recommended for those occasions when you have a large following of permanently hungry children, or adults even, to keep happy - the only thing taken really seriously is the quality of those peri-peri good chickens.

Nando's is a place for bright people who love to laugh and love to eat, and is guaranteed to spice up your taste buds. Their fun approach to life means that when you visit Nando's you can fully relax without the airs and graces associated with more starchy dining out.

For the location of your nearest Nando's restaurant and a host of details about menus, parties and drinks, a click on their Website will reveal a Pandora's box of information.

Casual, Portuguese

£11.00£16.00

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Latest User Reviews

Anong Thai

By Mark and Jill 10 February 2012

Wow this remains out favourite Thai restaurant this side of Thailand! We have been many times and always have a good meal, ...

Mehfil

By paul from Cleaning contractors London 10 February 2012

We had lunch there recently. The quality of food was extremely good and service was great as well. I definitely would go ...

Special Offers

Prezzo - Christchurch

Christchurch

Prezzo Valentine's Menu: 3 Course for £18.95, add your first glass of prosecco for £1

Prezzo - Blandford

Blandford Forum

Prezzo Valentine's Menu: 3 Course for £18.95, add your first glass of prosecco for £1

Prezzo - Dorchester

Dorchester

Prezzo Valentine's Menu: 3 Course for £18.95, add your first glass of prosecco for £1

The Green House Hotel

Bournemouth

Valentines Champagne Offer - Valentine's 6 course Tasting menu with a glass of local sparkling wine £45

Selected Restaurant

Hotel du Vin - Poole

Poole

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but often un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style. Complement that ...