Eating Out

Recommended Restaurants:

The Crab House Cafe: This is a must, fabulous sea food cooked to order in wonderful seaside 'shack', very relaxed. Including delicious Portland Royal and Queen Oysters from their own oyster farm in the fleet. Must book, closed from New Year to Valentine's day! Tel: 01305 788867.

The Riverside at West Bay: A very popular fish restaurant on the water, definitely needs booking, only open from March – November as they will only cook fresh fish. This is a lovely relaxed venue with extremely good food. Tel: 01305 422011

Little Barwick House: For a very special meal we highly recommend this, there is a separate area for a larger group. This is a small country restaurant with rooms, contemporary yet very welcoming. Tel: 01935 423902

Summer Lodge: A very elegant country house hotel, fabulous food and wines, but definitely the pricier end of the scale (average price £55/head). A lovely place for a summer lunch, fixed menu £20/head if you want to sneak off for a treat. Tel: 01935 482000

The Greyhound at Sydling St Nicholas: This is a pub/restaurant, again excellent local food, good fish, very nearby and well above pub food. We would regard this as our best, most local food. Tel: 01300 341303

Montien Thai Restaurant in Bridport: Excellent eat in or take away, never disappoints. Tel: 01308 425570

Sienna, highly praised restaurant in Dorchester: wonderful for large groups as only caters for about 15 so you can take it over for a special occasion, but book early as it is very popular. Higher end prices but worth it. Tel: 01305 250022

The Wild Garlic: TV Master chef Winner Matt Follas has opened a lovely restaurant on the square at Beaminster, nice atmosphere, you can just go for coffee and cake! www.thewildgarlic.co.uk Tel: 01308 861446 email: mail@thewildgarlic.co.uk

Hix Oyster and Fish House at Lyme Regis: another celebrity chef. The location here is fab, overlooking the famous cobb at Lyme Regis. Reports can vary, but worth a visit for lunch or on a summers evening. www.hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk Tel: 01297 446910

The Bull Hotel at Bridport: in the centre of this lovely market town, the Bull Hotel has been recently refurbished in a contemporary style and is very popular. There is also The Stables Cider House behind the hotel which serves pizzas and pies and is extremely popular. www.thebullhotel.co.uk Tel: 01308 422878

Recommended Pubs:

The Three Horseshoes at Powerstock: This is a really good local pub, about 15/20mins away and the drive there makes it all the more worthwhile. Powerstock is a very pretty Dorset village and you can have a good walk on Eggardon Hill before or after to justify yourselves! Tel: 01308 485328

The Manor Hotel at West Bexington: A good place to eat if you are having a day at Abbotsbury, this is pub and restaurant. Tel: 01308 897785

The Anchor at Burton Bradstock: Has been recommended by guests. Tel: 01308 897228

The Hive Café at Burton Bradstock Beach: Fantastic food, particularly fish, this is hugely popular whatever the weather. Situated on the beech front with great walks around it and near Abbotsbury it makes a great place to stop and take in Dorset. Open all year round except a week in January, Xmas Eve and Xmas Day 9-5. Excellent evening meals through high summer, first come first served from 6pm. No bookings taken. Tel: 01308 897070

The Fox And Hounds at Cattistock: A real village pub, good atmosphere and if you were there mid week in the winter over lunch you might be able to enjoy a game of skittles, (ask me) very popular in Dorset and good fun. Tel: 01300 320444

The Saxon Arms at Stratton: Our nearest place to eat, a busy village pub with large eating area so can cater for big groups and children (outdoor play area). Good pub food for a quick, easy meal, but do book for evenings, large groups and Sunday Lunch to avoid disappointment. Tel: 01305 260020

The European Inn at Piddletrentide: The lovely Piddle Valley is worth a visit and this pub is renowned for its excellent food, and has just been made Pub of the Year 2007. Tel: 01300 348308

The Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton: Under the same ownership as the European but a little more pub than gastro pub! Very popular although further a field. Tel: 01300 345249

The Greyhound at Sydling: While this has always been an excellent pub much used by our guests it is presently changeing hands so we are unable to say at present how good it is!, but will update once things settle down.