The Best Restaurants in Askerswell, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Just returned from a short break at Oxbridge Farm, we have been here on several occasions. Beautiful house set in stunning scenery. Very spacious and beautifully furnished bedrooms, each with a wonderful view and extremely comfortable beds. The host is very welcoming and provides an amazing choice of delicious breakfasts. This is the perfect place to recharge your batteries, very peaceful with lots of lovely walks, very rural but only 15 minutes from the coast at West Bay and Bridport with twice weekly markets and a good choice of independent shops. We are really looking forward to our next visit.

Nice week off with lots of local and easily accessible places to explore. Real Rural Farm experience with top hotel service, home hospitality and friendly host. Great location to relax and recharge. Any extras just ask. Perfect breakfast. Nice touch with welcome Tea and cake. Even locally sourced fish dinner offered and nice visit to the young lambs at the farm. Very pleased. Want something different and with personal touch - thats place for you.

A lovely get away for a peaceful weekend. Spectacular country side view. Stunning decor with a bit of old and a bit of new. Immediately felt like I was at home. Large airy bedrooms. Carolyn is a gracious host. Warm friendly and the breakfast was absolutely delicious. Will definitely be going back there.

Fab place we had a 2 night stay with relatives ..wonderful place stunning views ...carolyn was an exceptional host ess ..we really felt welcome and she couldnt do enough for us we will be returning ..

Stopped off here by chance as we were passing and fancied coffee and cake. Wow! What a beautiful place, friendly staff, delicious cakes and coffee, we were quite disappointed that we had already had lunch as all the food looked superb. Extremely dog friendly too! Wish it was closer to where we are staying as we would definitely be back

Absolutely love The Lemon Tree! Friends and family have stayed in the beautiful rooms. I’ve personally enjoyed eating here, (alone or with friends), or simply enjoyed stopping for coffee and cake in this wonderful friendly place. I’ve held events here with friends, and the staff are friendly and incredibly accommodating, and always happy to listen to suggestions and feedback. Beautifully decorated in a Mediterranean style which is reflected by the menu. Highly recommend you pay them a visit!

We stopped to get some breakfast on our travels. Even though we were 5 minutes late past breakfast time, the ladies served us breakfast with no issues. The food was amazing and worth stopping by. I would definitely recommend people to stop and have some nice lovely food

Went for lunch 14/12/24 with a work colleague, I had the sea bass and my colleague had the roast beef. Both excellent, the bass and it's trimmings, beautiful flavour and my colleague said the roast beef was very tender. Both plentiful portions. Definitely will visit again.

Everything was amazing. Between 2 of us we had almost all of the dumpling dishes because they were so good. The staff are brilliant & the drinks were exceptional too. Could not recommend it more.

This is mine and my partner's favourite restaurant. It was recommended to us a few years ago by the owner of another one of our favourite restaurants in Birmingham, when he heard we'd be holidaying in Dorset. It does not disappoint! The restaurant itself is well decorated with cosy isolated booths upstairs, ideal for couples or small groups. The branding is unique and well thought out, using a nice green across menus, decals and merch as well as fun iconography that feels authentic to their South East Asian roots. This is often overlooked by a lot of independent restaurants. The food is delicious across the board with complex flavours and textures. I couldn't name anything I tried that would rank below a 7/10. Our first visit we sampled everything we could with helpful recommendations from the staff. Crispy fried fennel with crab mayo being a personal highlight for us. So much so we (unsuccessfully) tried to make it ourselves at home. Originally when we came the menu felt like a South East Asian tapas with a diverse selection of small plates. However on our most recent visit the menu has been streamlined towards a more typical starter and main arrangement. The starters being a tasty array of steamed or fried dumplings and the mains being either a noodle or rice bowl, with the addition of some small side plates. I'd be lying to say that this wasn't a little disappointing but given the current cost of living crisis and increasing supply costs for independent businesses I can totally understand why they would switch to this approach. It certainly won't deter me from returning and I can only hope that one day they bring back my beloved crispy fennel.

Came here during our bank holiday weekend escape from London, and what a gem it turned out to be. It’s tucked away in a little alleyway but easy to find. We were seated in the downstairs bar area which has a mix of high and low seating, with just the right balance of cozy and charming. I didn’t catch our waiter’s name but I believe he’s one of the managers. His service was impeccable from start to finish. We loved all the food but the charred pork belly is a must try. You can truly taste how much love goes into every dish. We got to have a chat with the chef, Brendan. His warmth and passion for his craft shone through, making us feel incredibly welcome. The folks at Dorshi genuinely care about and love what they do, and that made for an amazing experience. Can’t wait to come back!

What a little gem this place is, decor was very cozy and very well done, food was outstanding, lovely cocktails, nice selection of wine, owners and there team were friendly and on hand to assist with any queries, can't recommend this little gem of a restaurant any higher. We will return

Absolutely amazing roast and I’ve eaten a lot of roasts!! Huge portions and the meal included cauliflower cheese at no extra cost. Lovely pub garden in a beautiful little village. Golden Cap on a nearby so I’d recommend a long walk along the gorgeous Jurassic coast followed by a roast at this gem of a pub

Great food, fantastic service and really well priced. A kids meal for £8 with dessert and a drink is great value.

I can firmly recommend this restaurant. We came here for a dinner and were very surprised. Everything was exceptionally tasty and very well decorated. Service was fast, the waitresses were all friendly. The food took a while but the place was full. We sat in the dog friendly garden. We had three starters to share, prawns, the cauliflower and BBQ pulled pork. Especially the cauliflower was awesome. To the point. Lots of spices, great sauce, spicy. The fries were crisp even covered with sauce. We then shared the fish curry. Another surprise. Also spicy, the rice was perfect, crisp vegetables and a delightful sauce over the shrimps, the fish and the mussels which were outstanding huge. The prices for such high quality are very OK. The negative reviews could be explained by the season. We were told that during summer vacation the near campground is flooded with people who then also flood this place.

A fantastic pub, clean, friendly, lovely atmosphere. The garden is sheltered with plenty of seating. Dog friendly. Booking is reccomendationed. The menu is varied with plenty of choice for all dietary requirements. Along with sharing platters. The staff are attentive and friendly. The pub is historical. The old post office has been integrated into the front lounge area. If you love your Sunday lunch, book early as you won't get a seat.

We came for a roast dinner on a rainy Sunday. The service was incredible. The food was delicious. The only problem was the portion size - barely enough meat on the plate to make a sandwich let alone a Sunday roast. Otherwise all good.

Wonderful spot down a country lane, nestled right on the beach. Great fresh local produce and friendly staff. I would love to stay one evening in their rooms and wake to the fabulous sea view

A good restaurant in a great location ! Market fish was the best choice on the menu! Extremely fresh and perfectly cooked, accompanied by fennel and good buttered bread. I must say I was a little disappointed with the bouillabaisse... A bit coarse for my French-educated palate... And the apple cake was as beautiful as amber but not very subtle and not rich enough in apples for my taste. The staff were extremely friendly, polite, smiling and efficient. Impeccable hygiene and one of the nicest toilets (perhaps not what you'd expect from a restaurant review, but how important it is! Particularly when you're on the road a lot, it's important that the place where you stop offers comfort in this respect too, and even better with a touch of aesthetics. I highly recomand 🩵

Me and my girlfriend came here for a dinner and had a great time. The food was amazing, the drinks somehow tasted better than other pubs I've been to and service was brilliant. We were served by an Australian girl and her partner and they were really lovely!

We ate here whilst on holiday as a treat for our grandsons, whilst for 4 the price was a little high, but the food more than made up for it, the food was awesome, each of our meals were beautifully cooked and presented. Staff were lovely. All in all a lovely evening in great surroundings.

It was a very pleasure being in this restaurant. The atmosphere and the place were very welcoming, very cosy, and so unique The food was very good, very particular, and something very sophisticated, a treat for the palate I spent a lovely evening in this special train station. I felt like I defenatly was in the uk, and I defenatly was in this era Love it 9/10 Defenatly coming again

We didn’t even know until this place existed, until today. We thought we’d give it a go as we’re both foodies and like something different. And your restaurant hit the spot! The carriages are super cosy, warm and beautifully designed. The octopus starter must be one of the best starters we have had in a long time. Keep doing what you’re doing as you are doing the right thing! We will definitely be back when we’re in the area again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fantastic service, superb foods and by far the best Palmer beers in the area

What a wonderful place to stay! Delicious home-cooked food, nice accommodations, but the best part was that my wife and I were treated like family!

Only had Sunday lunch here. It was great. Pork and apple, before that a delicious mushroom soup. Dessert was good, but you could argue the fine points of Dorset apple tart!

Located at the end of a primarily single track lane, you'll find this charming pub. If arriving between 2pm and 6pm the owners will give you instruction how to access your room. Starting with the accomodation - the bed was larger than average and exceptionally comfortable. A couple of very tasty homemade biscuits awaited us on the room's serving tray. How lovely! Tea and coffee also in the room, however the milk is kept in the fridge at the bottom of a very short corridor. Disappointingly, one of our folded 'clean' large towels was still dirty, and whilst not affecting us personally it may be worth noting that the shower cubicle is on the smaller side with an older model Mira shower. You'll need to turn the main dial to the left, and the water temperature reaches hot almost instantly. We'd booked an evening meal for 6.30pm, and whilst the dining area was pretty empty at this point within an hour it was full. My meal was heavenly, I cannot praise it enough - a starter of salt & pepper squid on a garlic and lime mayonnaise, a main of sticky beef with rice and an Indonesian-style salad. Absolutely amazing! Breakfast was wonderful too - a small selection of cereals (Weetabix, Alpen or Cornflakes), with the option of pre-prepaired chopped fruits and natural yogurt; followed by a full English. I'd definitely recommend a visit to this pub if you don't mind a drive down a narrow lane -you'll probably not find a more tranquil location.

A stellar experience. Lovely service from the team, who clearly are passionate about what they do. The steak I had was maybe the best I have ever been served - a lovely cut and cooked perfectly. Just a great experience.

Went for a Mexican and half price cocktails on a Wednesday evening. Mexican is cooked in a van in the car park, but served in the bar/conservatory - excellent food (real cutlery but takeaway boxes).

Had lunch one day and drinks another. Great place. Nice atmosphere. Pleasantly upmarket without being pretentious.

A lovely place which such an amazing team! We were well looked after celebrating our first wedding anniversary and the crispy lionsmane mushroom dish at the restaurant was one of the best I have ever had! We had the most perfect stay.

Very good atmosphere, Land lord and land lady great hosts. Lovely location and setting, idealic on hot days to sit outside next to a cool fresh stream. Very convenient If you are staying at the YHA next door. Dog friendly, 24 hour licence, good food and drink.

Just stopped by for a couple of beers. Loved the location and chilled atmosphere. Not overly posh or pretentious like some in Dorset, despite the affluent countryside. Food looked very good but we were camping nearby and already had food planned. Dogs are most welcome too.

Really nice down to earth country pub. Food is delicious and very generous portions, particularly the home cooked Sunday Roast - amazing value for money

Lovely friendly country Pub . The food was delicious and generous portions , catering for vegan and vegetarian. We had the Nut roast which was very tasty with freshly cooked vegetables . Will visit again.

Our experience was dinner which we enjoyed the first time to warrant a return visit two days later. We were staying close by not in the hotel. Luckily I had pre-booked as gets very busy especially Mondays. The service was excellent and Matt made us feel very welcome on both occasions. Good food, good atmosphere and a great view from the conservatory.

Didn't stay, just visited for food. The staff were brilliant, very warm and friendly. The steak dinner was amazing to match the gorgeous views. It is absolutely worth the long drive down. Can't recommend enough.

Hiked a loop from abbotsbury and stopped here for lunch. As it was the off season, many places were closed. We were so glad to find that the manor was open. I had a local Dorset crab linguine and it was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had. The crab was flavorful and plentiful and the whole dish was cooked and seasoned perfectly. My husband enjoyed his aubergine platter as well. Beautiful spot, great service, highly recommend!