Dorset Restaurant Guide

Bistro on the Beach

As the name implies, short of setting up camp on the beach you will not eat any nearer to the sea than at the Bistro, a fact which has been totally accepted by locals and holidaymakers alike who flock in great numbers to enjoy the buzz and informality of this friendly place that offers real value for money.

• Address: Solent Promenade, Southbourne Coast Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 4BE (Map)
• Cuisine(s): Modern British
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: N/A, Dinner: £31.00

Blake's Restaurant

Book Online

• Address: Best Western Connaught Hotel, West Hill Road, West Cliff, Bournemouth, BH2 5PH (Map)
• Cuisine(s): British
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: N/A, Dinner: £32.00

BlueFish Cafe & Restaurant, The

This popular family run business is open all the year round, - but opening times and days vary according to the season - the restaurant is full of character with lovely Portland stone walls and a simple white décor, in the evenings it is transformed with white tablecloths, atmospheric lighting and candlelight.

• Address: 15-17a Chiswell, Portland, DT5 1AN (Map)
• Cuisine(s): Modern
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: £15.00, Dinner: £38.00

Brace of Pheasants, The

Located in a quiet piece of a quiet county 'The Brace' satisfies the desires of those whose idea of a cosy pub with restaurant in deep English countryside, an old thatchedbuilding with log fires, oak beams and a minimum of formality.

• Address: Plush, Piddletrenthide, nr Dorchester, DT2 7RQ (Map)
• Cuisine(s): Modern British, Gastropub
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: £15.00, Dinner: £30.00

Broad Street Restaurant

Lyme Regis seems to be taking a leaf out of Devon and Cornwall's book and getting itself some decent eating quarters. The recently opened Broad Street Restaurant may well do for the town what, say, Rick Stein has done for Padstow.

• Address: 57-58 Broad Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3QF (Map)
• Cuisine(s): Modern British
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: N/A, Dinner: £41.00

Byzant Restaurant

It seems unlikely that the original inhabitants of this former monastery would recognize either the victuals or the surroundings in present form, though rumour has it that the upper echelons looked after themselves quite well.

• Address: Best Western Royal Chase Hotel, Royal Chase Roundabout, Shaftesbury, SP7 8DB (Map)
• Cuisine(s): Modern British
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: £13.00, Dinner: £35.00

Cafe Rouge - Bournemouth

Café Rouge has around one hundred branches throughout Britain all offering a wide range of dishes drawn from the French cuisine. Slightly less than half their branches are in or close to London. Almost inevitably the décor and design of each restaurant differs from the others, but there is a general curtsy towards La France.

• Address: 67-71a Seamoor Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth, BH4 9AE (Map)
• Cuisine(s): French
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: £21.00, Dinner: £26.00

Cauldron Bistro

Whilst the restaurant lists itself as of the French persuasion when it comes to cuisine it seems more likely that what really draws people to this little West Country bistro is the quality and range of the fresh fish.

• Address: 5 High Street, Swanage, BH19 2LN (Map)
• Cuisine(s): French
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: N/A, Dinner: £28.00

Chef Hong Kong

• Address: 150-152 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 1NL (Map)
• Cuisine(s): Chinese
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: £15.00, Dinner: £28.00

Chez Fred

With five years in the fish and chip trade already behind them, father and son team Peter and Fred Capel bought the premises at 10 Seamoor Road, Westbourne in January 1989. There had been a fish and chip shop at this address since 1968 - as little had changed in the intervening 20 years, a major refurbishment was called for! The refurbished shop opened on April 3rd 1989.

• Address: 10 Seamoor Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth, BH4 9AN (Map)
• Cuisine(s): English, Fish & Chip
• Avg. Cost Per Head Lunch: £12.00, Dinner: £17.00