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

Stayed 3 nights ago. Beautiful pub. Location was great. Room was perfect for my wife, my son & I. Clean and comfortable. Breakfast was 11/10 - was superb. The people were so friendly and helpful - well beyond most locations. Highly recommend The Red Lion.

My family and I had lunch here, we all really enjoyed our meals. 4 of us had roasts and 2 of us had burgers. The chips were really nice. The hostess was absolutely lovely, really kind, funny and lifted the mood. The young waiters seemed quite new and unfortunately there was a bit of a wait for drinks and the bill, and drinks were a bit expensive (£4.20 for a coke). However, I loved the atmosphere of the pub, it was really pretty and nice and quiet where we sat. Got to see lots of dogs! Wi-Fi is an added bonus :) I would recommend coming here, very good for a large group too.

Brilliant experience, camped one night and we were welcomed from the start! Ate in the pub and met the owners and staff that were very friendly and made us feel at home. Genuine effort was taken by all with everything from food service to the hospitality. Food was also spot on! Would highly recommend and will be returning.

What an absolutely delightful experience! The food is amazing (the pulled pork: Oh, My Word!) the location is beautiful and meeting the owner was an absolute pleasure; she went above and beyond to ensure we felt warmly welcomed and completely at ease. Her attention to detail and genuine care made the experience all the more memorable. We can’t wait to return and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food, a beautiful setting, and top-notch hospitality!

I was visiting friends in England and they brought us here. It was a fun, lively place with a good atmosphere. There was no ordering at the table unless you used your device. I had trouble with mine so I ordered at the bar. The food came in reasonable time and was good quality. There were many choices and they were very accommodating to dietary requirements.

Love the decor on the walls gives it a unique feel to the place. The food not really top notch but if you want to sit there and use WIFI while you have a coffee and read a book in a private corner or couch then that is a place to go.

Vivo Lounga had something for everyone. Their menu is very inclusive and the vegan options are endless. The staff is super friendly and helpful, the deco is very tasteful with some beautiful furniture and interesting pictures adorning the wall. The food itself was superb and quick to arrive. The meat options and the vegan options were equally well prepared and presented. All in all, you MUST have a meal here for a great time!

A lovely place, me and my friend went there after a day out in Dorchester. They had amazing food and lovely staff. They were very kind to us when we said about allergies, and helped us to get what we wanted!

Just had a two night stay here at this beautifully presented pub/b&b. Staff were friendly and helpful, always polite. Room was clean and had everything we needed. It’s on the train line which doesn’t feel intrusive. The food was really nice in the evenings (didn’t eat lunch there), we were a big group one evening and there were two small issues but they were sorted. The first morning, arrived to breakfast and it wasn’t ready and staff didn’t know why, they quickly sorted it out tho. The only downside for us was breakfast, as there is no hot option.

My bestie Jane and I visited Moreton church, a beautiful tranquil place. We decided to be ladies that lunch and stopped at the Frampton Arms where we had a lovely lunch. The pub has a charming atmosphere, where the staff are chatty, friendly and our food was delicious and at a reasonable price, well worth a visit.

What a lovely place! We stayed here for 1 night. The room was so cozy and clean, the shower was fantastic. Sunday roast dinner and bread pudding after were absolutely delicious. Continental breakfast in the morning, which was free, had a great variety and assortment of yummy things. The stuff was very courteous and pleasant. Highly recommend!

On arrival, after making a online booking, we were nearly turned away as staff said there was no reservations in our name, we had to prove it was booked from our online correspondence. Staff then found us a table, but advised us we had to go because that table was booked out at a certain time. We had our main meal, but didn't have a desert as we would have outstayed our welcome, only to find that upon leaving most of the restaurant was practicly empty, very disappointing. Apart from the above, the food and service was very good.

We’ve just returned from a wonderful two-night stay at The Smugglers Inn. On arrival, Lloyd greeted us and made us feel welcome instantly - before any money had even exchanged hands he made sure we were ‘fed and watered’ after our long drive. Nothing was too much effort for any of the staff…. Special mentions to Rafaela our waitress,Ella, and the bar-staff who really looked after us. The Sunday lunch was fantastic, great menu in general and a great breakfast spread! The room was spotless, cozy and well-equipped. It was my partners birthday and they went out of their way to make it special for him. We would definitely recommend staying here and we have already talked about returning one day. Thanks again to ALL the staff for making our stay so special. Sam and Phil

If you're looking for a cozy pub that delivers on all fronts, this is the place! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. The Sunday roast here is absolutely top-notch. The portions are generous, and the quality is superb. What really sets this pub apart, though, is the service. The staff are incredibly friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. From the moment you walk in, you feel right at home. They’re attentive without being intrusive and always make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your meal. Karli served us today and Hebe greeted us. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a hearty Sunday roast in a charming, welcoming setting!

Just back from a fabulous 2 nights here. What a lovely place, would highly recommend to anyone thinking of going. We were made very welcome and the staff were so friendly. The food was lovely and my husband said especially the breakfast. I'm sorry I didn't get one of the managers names who spoke to us this morning, just after breakfast, but she was so nice and a credit to The Smugglers. We will be back.

We’ve been quite a few times now & on our visit last night we were both saying how the service & food is amazing each time! It’s not often you can say that about many places these days either. We’ve tried many combinations of the menu along with some amazing specials and they have all be outstanding. The staff are always super friendly, quick service and a welcoming atmosphere. Keep up the great work guys & the burgers 🍔 🌟

My favourite burger place and the dirty fries are unreal. The milkshakes are amazing, it’s definitely on the pricey side, was £75 for 2 of us but worth it in my opinion

Fell into this restaurant as the establishment next door was closed and didn’t inform individuals who had booked. We were welcomed by the team and explained the situation. They got us seated and we thoroughly enjoyed the food. We shared some waffle fries and had a burger each. It was reasonably priced and very tasty. Good veggie options also. Would recommend the halloumi burger for veggies and the Honey C chicken burger. Big thanks to the staff for keeping our anniversary evening on track due to the Asian restaurant next door being shut.

Surprised to see a very reasonable priced Christmas 3 course menu still available with loads of variety for each course , food came out quick , hot and was very tasty. Laila ensured we had all we needed ! Recommended pudding too- she was spot on ! 5*

We had the best evening a Zizzi Dorchester. It was prime Christmas party time, the place was packed (a table of 27 came in when we were there). The staff were run ragged, but they were polite, efficient and had smiles on their faces. The food was amazing, service prompt and great value. It was my husbands first time there, he’s lactose free, but had a great choice, including desserts, we will definitely be back 😀.

Great Italian! Visited a couple times and cannot fault anything. Great food and not badly priced compared to most. Would recommend the Pizzas and Bolognaise Chips…

Great carvery highly recommended. You will need to book at busy times, we got there at 2pm on a Sunday and there was only one table free. Staff were friendly and cheerful. I had the standard size, they also do small and large. Prices are the same as other carvery pubs nearby.

Friendly team, great food and lovely welcoming ambiance I highly recommend the Port Laureate. Rugby pub with sports matches on a big screen too for big games. Good beer selection and nice setting in the square. Outdoor seating for the Summer months.

Amazing Sunday roast, the landlady was extremely nice and attentive to anything I needed such as drink refills etc. the roast had beef, gravy, carrots, Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese and some other bits that I don't remember but it was all very delicious. I will come back here for a roast for sure if I'm in the area.

Great place lovely atmosphere.

An oasis in the heart of Crossways village Dorchester. lt is a members only club but you can visit as much as you want for £1.00 pp as a non member. It has a nice selection of beers, lagers and cider on tap plus a pool table and dart board. Upstairs it has another bar plus a large room to cater for parties, birthday's and anniversarys. Myself and my partner have been to the club twice to date and have met and made friends already, everyone is so friendly and welcoming.Well worth a visit as there are not many pubs in walking distance from the village.

Very friendly social club. Only open at weekend. Locals were happy to play pool and poker with us. Great special offer on Heineken at £3 a pint.

A friendly private club, ideal for functions of all kinds. There are 2 bars and the upstairs has a good sized dance floor. There's parking nearby although not on the premises.