The Best Restaurants in East Stoke, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

The Italian Kitchen is the perfect spot to dine and unwind. They serve stunning, high-quality food at great prices. The service is impeccable—every staff member is helpful, attentive, and genuinely happy to assist. We’ve loved every meal we’ve ever had there. They even serve homemade bread while you wait for your starter or main course, which is a lovely touch. Whether it’s for a date night or a corporate works meal, The Italian Kitchen never disappoints. The quality has never faltered or wavered—it’s truly the best Italian restaurant we’ve ever experienced. We highly recommend a visit! Would recommend the squid starter, spicy nduja pizza's and the creamy tuscan chicken are some of our personal favourites!

a really good Italian restaurant! Me and my girlfriend went out eating tonight and had a great time. The team and the food was amazing I recommend it to anyone it’s a better alternative than the old granary or the quay INN in my opinion! Also recommend to book a table instead of just walking in in the evening

We found this restaurant when exploring Wareham. The small plates lunch menu was fantastic. Super tasty and amazing value. If we are in the area again we will return

Had an evening meal which was good value and delicious. The best steak I've had in a very long time. Sticky toffee pudding was great too although could have done with an extra blob of ice-cream given how large the portion was.

Had a meal here on a day out to Wareham. Very friendly staff and good atmosphere. I had a very tasty falafel burger with a glass of Dorset cider, which tasted like real cider! I would recommend.

Visit this place every time I'm in Wareham. Good selection of drinks, good menu and lovely staff. Outside seating and right by the river. Tonight was steak night. Quality meat, well presented and you cook it yourself to your liking. Loved the chips and salad. Staff were very busy but outstanding in service and very friendly.

Lovely place to stay, the rooms are situated in a very quaint building above a small shop. The room was up a steep staircase so not suitable if you are unable to climb stairs. But the view from the room was lovely, the room itself was small but clean and tidy with tea making facilities. The pub itself was lovely with very friendly staff who were happy to help in any way, the food both in the evening band at breakfast was great. Thank you to all

Can't comment on the food (though it looked absolutely exquisite on the table opposite). Classic local pub. Great service, lovely customers and atmosphere with good drinks. I'm a local and come here fairly often. Would always recommend.

From the outset, I'm a fussy eater, so no veg was required. They said they'd meet this and I asked for extra roast potatoes please, using the words 'lots' and reiterating several times. I was a little disappointed when it arrived. I 'should' have asked for Yorkshire puddings, it slipped my mind not having beef. The food was good, but pub was full so had to eat in the very busy beer garden. The wind was strong, the wasps a real nuisance. I was checked on, I should have asked for more, but was busy batting wasps away and just wanted to leave at that point. Wasps not pubs fault. I enjoyed what I had.

Truly amazing!!! Very helpful staff and were very welcoming of us. Menu was very varied even though it was stripped back due to Covid. Well priced food and drinks plus they stocked Purbeck cider which is a winner for me. The Mrs had lasagne which was fresh and tasty and the boy had kids fresh battered fish and chips, all sublime.

We visited during the last Wareham Wednesday event and despite being very busy we had a lovely meal from a friendly team. It was Steak night and my Wife and I had a rump steak and steak burger. Both were cooked as we asked and very tasty. Excellent value all round and we'll be back.

Stopped for lunch with our 2 dogs after a lovely walk in Wareham. Really nice food and really enjoyed. Dog friendly and recommend.

Very friendly pub in Wareham. Cosy little beer garden and Guinness zero available and dog friendly. What's not to like?

Lunch at this fab restaurant. Great atmosphere and location. Food was very nicely done and delicious.

We went for the Autumn lunch menu in the Garden Room to celebrate my wife's birthday. The moment we stepped inside we were greeted as old friends and this was our first visit! The lunch was superb and the service exceptional. The Priory Hotel should have at least 4 Rosettes. They deserve it. We shall be back since it is the best restaurant in Dorset.

We had an amazing lunch here with family. Christian and Lucinda were amazing hosts and made us feel extremely welcome. Food is delicious and perfectly portioned. Lovely interior design and gardens.

We went for lunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The staff were incredible. Great service and very knowledgeable about the grounds. Christian made us a strong, but very tasty negroni cocktail (as it was Negroni week being celebrated around the world). Food was wonderfully presented and tasted delicious. I couldn't fault it. Beautiful location. Thank you for making our day a bit more special.

Very fresh selection of seafood. Generous portions too. Had the white bait, the cod fish and chips as well as the mussels. Very impressed by the freshness and quality. Batter for the cod is very light and crisp. The cod was delicious and had the right texture, and ratio of cod:batter. The black mussels were very sweet and I enjoyed it very much when paired with fresh bread. Service was very organised. All in all a great experience and I’d definitely bring my friends here when we drive down to the south coast again.

I recently visited the Seven Stars Inn, and it was an absolutely delightful experience! The staff and their service were outstanding, making me feel truly welcomed with their warmth and attentiveness. I ordered a chicken curry meal, chips, and wings as a takeaway, and as an Indian, I was amazed by the flavors—it was so delicious that I almost fell in love with the food. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for amazing hospitality paired with excellent cuisine!

It was amazing. The dinner was really yummy. Huge portion, we had the steal & ale pie with chips and veggies. The meat was sooo tender, juicy and full of flavour. We stayed for one night in the little rooms they have in their fields. Very cozy and cute. Clean toilets and the shower was working really well. A nice warm bath after a hike to the beach. Breakfast was included, a nice english breakfast. I loved the sausages, very flavourfull. We had some tea or a coffee plus the Orange juice. I asked the staff if we could feed the pigs some apples that were in the floor and she said yes, very cute piggies! The staff is very kind and helpfull.

What a wonderful experience visiting the Seven Stars Inn Wool, Moreton, Dorchester restaurant. The food was first class cooked with love and care by a really good head chef and his brigade. Couldn't fault the food in any way what so ever good flavours, textures and presented very well. A really great dining experience which I will remember for a long time. The front of house staff very very friendly, professional providing a great service to compliment the kitchen Definitely worthy of a 5 star review and I would definitely recommend visiting this wonderful restaurant and I hope I will be back here myself.

A lovely run pub visited for dinner while on holiday to the area will definitely return when next in the area. The meals were brilliant value and had an excellent customer service and great pub atmosphere.

I can’t express to everyone how amazing this place is , we as a family of 5 was so looked after by the staff , the older gentleman at the bar is just the most amazing person, the two younger girls also couldn’t do more to help , looking at this from the outside point it’s almost a if they want to make the customers happy “ which they do with pure ease “ but on the other hand you can see how well looked after the staff are and how they don’t like to over run them , which is so beautiful to see , we booked twice over two days we loved it that much , until next time !! Thank you once again xx

We had a skittles party and were in the side room. This was great but there wasn't enough staff for the busyness of the pub. We had to join long queues for a drink in the main very busy pub instead of using the bar hatch in the games room which interrupted the play of the games. The food was good value for money and the staff were friendly and helpful. They also had a little outdoor play park for young children. Definitely recommend this establishment for family gatherings.

Nice pub restaurant not been in a longtime. 3 stars you may say not good, (3 is my new 5) as we all give 5stars for good food and service, which this was did they go above and beyond, yes they did so let’s make it 4 stars. I’ve given 4 because they were busy and had a lot of reservations all but the skittle alley was full, Nigel said they were busy and the only place they could accommodate us was the skittle alley. Food came out hot and well presented. Only negative because we were stuck out the way the table wasn’t cleared away before desserts. See you again.

An incredible hidden gem! Staff were so helpful and friendly. Having a large booking they rang the day before to confirm brought over extra chairs when required as well. The food was incredible the portions don’t look big but I left so full and having had the best time! The dishes were so aesthetically pleasing to the eye and had one of the best afternoon teas I’ve had. Only criticism is for the scones more jam and cream required on the afternoon teas but it was still delicious nonetheless.

Amazing food, highly recommend the halloumi wrap or the quiche. Friendly staff although service was a little slow, however it was busy so to be expected to an extent. Great value for money on food and drink choices and lovely cosy atmosphere. Recommend a visit for an authentic Dorset countryside experience

We had the Halloumi Wrap and the Roasted Veg. Hummus Avocado Baguette. Both were delicious. Nice setting and a large menu generally with some more vegan options such as the Butternut Squash Soup. Good pricing too and service.

I have been before but my friend had not and we both enjoyed our lunch. She was impressed with the choice of food and teas/coffees and loved the ambience. My rarebit was tasty and she said her fish quiche was delicious but a very generous portion that she couldn't finish. Staff were helpful, friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We will certainly be back.

Enjoyed a lovely Sunday Roast today. The staff are friendly and very helpful. The food quality was excellent. Tables all nice land clean. Plenty of free parking. We will certainly be popping in again soon to this lovely friendly pub 😀👍🏻

Reviewing at the table, which I don't normally do. But it's a totally amazing roast. 4 clean plates. And to finish the most amazing creme brulee and the shortbread was totally 👌 😍. Nice to see somewhere that the team members actually help each other. Not just one server, but everyone was at your service. It's very warm and inviting. Called in last minute at 3pm in the afternoon on a Sunday and plenty of tables. A little Gem. There is only one small downside. Maybe a touch more gravy. But this does not affect the 5 stars this place totally deserves.

4 Ladies having a tasty supper and cold drinks on a hot day! The stuff is very friendly! I'll come back next year, cause I've got to go back home! I really love Purbeck!!!

First time & won’t be the last time…Wow what a lovely old pub with so much history. Came with the family early evening dinner & the food was amazing. Staff are really friendly & my grandson even sat on a Ducati motorbike outside, made his day thank you for that.

Went in for a (very) late lunch this afternoon. Was very quiet (only us and one other guest) but lovely to get out of the rain and had a good chat with the other guest and staff. Ordered the Venison Burger and the Maple Bacon & Brie sandwich, and can't fault either - super tasty and good portion sizes to boot! Had a beer recommendation from the staff which was lovely, and would highly recommend a visit if you're in Lulworth looking for a lunch or dinner location 🙂👍

What a lovely place! I visited today with four others after a walk round the Sculptures at the Lake nearby. It's a real old fashioned English pub. Delicious local beer, fabulous bacon and brie open sandwich, and the man on duty who was rushed off his feet (due to circumstances he explained) and working on his own, still served us efficiently and with good grace. Definitely recommend.

It was a Bank Holiday Sunday and it was not busy and the Front of House staff did not have a clue what day of the week it was. We where a party of 4 and that could not decide were to seat us, so they decided to put us on a table set 3 and never brought other set of cutlery until the meal came out after asking several times, we found a dirty fork on the floor under the table. It was not clear if it was table service or we order the food at the bar, we ordered at the bar after no one coming over after 15 min. They never brought out any condiments even though we asked twice. I must admit the service was shocking which is a shame as the food/meal was outstanding.

Lovely evening meal with my 2 friends. I liked the menu as it had enough choice without being too extensive, plus the specials added enough variety. I had the venison steak (from the specials) which was tender and delicious, with a good portion of chips, tomato, and onions. Nice friendly service. I marked down the atmosphere as we had a loud table next to us - but it did not detract from the overall experience. My friends also enjoyed their meals of vegan burger and lamb rump.