British, Modern Restaurants in Dorchester
1. The Seaside Boarding House Hotel
British, Modern restaurant in Burton Bradstock
Cliff Road - DT6
A “stunning setting” is a highpoint at this contemporary dining room with outside terrace, overlooking the beach and sea on the Jurassic Coast on Lyme Bay. It continues to enjoy good ratings all-round although there is the odd gripe that it’s “a bit too pricey”.
2. The Thimble Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Piddlehinton
14 High Street - DT2
2023 Review: This thatched eighteenth-century Piddle Valley pub with an “enchanting garden” wins solid ratings across the board for its “great service and good food, whether you prefer pub grub or something more ambitious”. Its popularity was sealed by a rave review from The FT’s Tim Hayward a couple of years ago, and you need to book early to secure a table at busy times, especially Sunday lunch.
3. Catch at The Old Fish Market
Fish & seafood restaurant in Weymouth
1 Custom House Quay - DT4
In the exciting setting of the 1855 fish market, this two-year-old sustainable seafood specialist delivers “an earnest love letter to seafood and the fishermen who provide it” (as The Independent’s Kate Ng put it), with dishes changing to accommodate the catch even between customers – an “extraordinary way to run a restaurant” but one that “really works”. “It’s only a no-choice tasting menu” these days, which may not be to all tastes, but the results are “inventive” and “very reasonably priced for the quality”.
4. Summer Lodge, Summer Lodge Country House
British, Modern restaurant in Evershot
9 Fore Street - DT2
The Red Carnation group’s “very comfortable and traditional country house hotel is set in a time warp”, in prime Hardy Country (Evershot having been fictionalised as Evershead by the novelist, who also designed part of the hotel when he was an architect). The “very accomplished food” (“but at a high price!”) has some “nice touches”, with “desserts especially good”.
5. The Acorn Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Evershot
28 Fore St - DT2
2023 Review: This “quaint pub in the tiny village of Evershot” – immortalised as the ‘Sow and Acorn’ in Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ – offers “beautifully presented, consistently good and interesting” food from Kenyan-born chef Robert Ndungu. It is the more informal sibling of Summer Lodge on the other side of the village, from the Red Carnation hotel group.
6. Dorshi
Pan-Asian restaurant in Bridport
6 Chancery Lane - DT6
2022 Review: This hip West Country tribute to East Asian casual dining serves “great food” in a “great atmosphere”, and is “even better with the new look post-lockdown”. The menu is constructed around dumplings filled with prime Dorset ingredients, backed up by a small selection of main and side dishes, and with sake options on the drinks list. It’s a formula that comes up trumps: “couldn’t get enough of the dumplings!”. (Note: despite the suggestion in the name, there’s no sushi on the menu.)
7. The Station Kitchen
British, Modern restaurant in West Bay
Old West Bay Railway Station, Station Road - DT6
2023 Review: Two vintage railway carriages near the sea and harbour in the former West Bay station constitute this “delightful” venue. The cooking is sometimes seen as the weakest link (“they try hard, without really hitting the spot”), but most reports are upbeat, citing “above average food” in an “unusual and quirky setting”. Since our annual diners’ poll concluded, change is afoot with a new arrangement introduced in autumn 2022, which sees fine dining from chef Chris Chatfield’s seasonal menu in the newer ‘Beeching’ carriage, and relaxed dining in ‘Brunel’, from the First World War, with both menus available in the dog-friendly ‘Station House’.
8. Brassica Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in Beaminster
4 The Square - DT8
2022 Review: Cass Titcombe's “small, cosy and friendly restaurant overlooking the village square” offers “just the perfect balance of everything”, say fans – whether that’s the much-foraged, Mediterranean-style food, or the fine interiors, courtesy of partner Louise. The duo also run an excellent shop, Brassica Mercantile, across the road, mixing homewares, foodie books and gourmet treats (including from Borough Market).
9. The Club House
British, Modern restaurant in Dorchester
Beach Road - DT2
A “great location, with outside seating” overlooking Chesil Beach; an Art Deco atmosphere, thanks to its original 1930s styling, and a “tasty” seafood-based menu combine to good effect at this pleasing seaside venue.
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