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

Had a wonderful lunch at Roots. We have been before, but many years ago. The food, drinks and service are all still top quality. Culinary delights that will entice the senses and tantalise the tastebuds. A very inventive chef who works hard to create wonderful menus. Thank you to all the team for an amazing lunch. We will be back.

Absolutely incredible food, the waiter was outstanding and made the evening, great wine choices with the dishes we had a great night and will come again

The new private dining room at Roots was truly special. The space features a beautiful, large dining table that comfortably seats 12 people, creating the perfect atmosphere for an intimate gathering. Our dedicated server, Jasmin, was an exceptional hostess, attentively catering to our every need with warmth and professionalism. Owners Jan and Stacey went above and beyond to make our night unforgettable, accommodating us at short notice and ensuring every detail was perfect. The food was absolutely spectacular—each dish was perfectly prepared and utterly delicious. Having our own private facilities added to the exclusivity and convenience of the experience. We were so impressed that we’ll undoubtedly be booking this space again and again. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a flawless private dining experience!

We had been here once before many years ago and enjoyed it, and more recently we have been to the sister establishment almost next door, The Cork and Lobster - which is always good. For no real reason we thought why not try Roots again. It is small but we managed to get a table and decided on the smaller of the set menus, which really was enough for us. Delightful and well thought out tastes, with presentation that is not too over-the-top. They carefully changed items to cater for the fact I don't eat pork or drink alcohol. There is a wine flight available alongside the meal but they were just as happy to give recommendations as needed. All the waiters were delightful, informative, and experienced which made the meal that much better and they are a credit to the place. The place remains a highpoint of local food-focused places, and next time, I won't leave it as long!

Our party of 9 thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at the Elms. Atmosphere was good, food was excellent and the waitress service was excellent too. A very nice restaurant to wine and dine your party in.

Fantastic Saturday lunch in Dorset. Excellent food ( Goats cheese soufflé and beef with horseradish mash ) good red wine and a divine panacotta with hand made turkish delight... bookings a must, very recommended.

We had a pleasant meal here, on a lovely day outside. The soufflé was delicious, although we would've preferred homemade chips. Minor thing really. Would recommend stopping.

Ok, it's great tasting food for sure, but can get a bit noisy when busy due to the wooden decorated design inside. But it gets busy because it's good. Always best to book. Cater for parties.

The best Italian food I’ve had in the UK - it’s tasty and authentic. So many options to choose from on the menu. Most of the staff are nice and happy to share their knowledge about the food. The kitchen closes at 9pm, not 11pm.

Amazing food and great service. Was truly a flavoursome experience. Went with some close friends and we all were blown away by the cuisine that was offered here.

I took a party of 26 to the Sherborne restaurant and was throughly pleased with the evening. Staff made us very welcome and were attentive during service. The food was great and the feedback from my party was positive. I'd recommend Tamburino Sherborne for a good night out.

Dined here solo on a weekday evening. Atmosphere was lovely with the restaurant feeling very open to take advantage of the lovely weather. It took a little longer than expected to take my order, but once this was done, food came out promptly and tasted delicious. I return to the area multiple times a year for work and will definitely visit this restaurant again.

Stopped off for a cold refreshing cider was lovley and very tastefully decorated to a high standard food looks amazing too would definitely recommend 👌

We had Sunday lunch here last month. This is a lovely pub, great lunch and most of all great service. Made our Sunday and fully recommended.

The food was delicious. Great customer service. Very nice pub and beautiful garden

Lovely Atmosphere, the Food was delicious at very reasonable prices and the Bar Staff and Landlady very pleasant. And exceptionally Dog Friendly. Well worth leaving our village and travelling a few miles.

This was our first time at Castello's and we were not disappointed! Absolutely delicious food and great service. Plenty of dishes on the menu to choose from and not too expensive either. If you are looking for great food and atmosphere, with great service, go to Castello's. This is definitely one of my favourite restaurants in Yeovil!

We had such a lovely time. The staff are really friendly and pay attention to detail. They figured out it was my daughter’s birthday and wrote happy birthday in chocolate sauce on her dessert. Yes it’s a bit more expensive than the average, but if you’re looking for something a bit special with fantastic food then I would recommend 👍

Good menu choices. Clear what is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Competitive pricing. Clean and organised. Attentive staff. Pizza, calzone and risotto good, and mozzarella garlic bread. Tried cocktails, very good and Rose wine. Family friendly. Accessible street entrance. Good space inside. Local parking but no car park with restaurant but it is fairly central.

This place is by far the best Italian in Yeovil. A friendly welcome when we arrived and when led to our table you could see how clean the restaurant was, lovely decor. A wide selection of dishes on the menu and Peroni on tap. Food was fantastic and well presented, we all had starters and mains and were pleasantly full. The facilities were very clean. Staff very friendly and helpful and nothing was to much trouble. Defenatily will be returning.

We met friends here today for lunch, on their recommendation. Absolutely delicious food, beautifully cooked and served, excellent value for money and lovely, friendly staff. My new favourite place, especially as it's only 10 minutes away!

Lovely local pub in the heart of the Dorset Countryside. Lots of nice walks around and rural spots to explore!

Really well looked after when they were busy with a birthday tea party. Delicious cream tea in a beautiful garden. Excellent staff. Made really welcome. Looks a pleasant place to stay too.

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.

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.

Absolutely delicious Sunday lunch. The vegetarian options were just as good as the meat roast options. Treacle tart pudding was wonderful. So glad we stumbled upon this little gem!

Came in on the off chance, staff were very warm and welcoming, food was delicious and good value for money, My husband loved the homemade tartar sauce. Did use the facilities the toilet clean and fresh. Will definitely pop in again whenever we are in Cerne abbas. The place was bright and light and spacious

A group of 4 of us came in today at lunchtime, including a very disabled gentleman who is in a supportive wheelchair. Great choice of food and we all enjoyed it. Briony was serving behind the bar and bringing our food. She was so very helpful, friendly and attentive, we were really impressed. We'll come again!

We visited on a weekday. We chose this pub over others in the village because of the reviews and because the food looked good value. There was one bartender on quite a busy lunchtime. She was good humored and efficient, taking drink and food orders, and delivering the food to the tables. We ordered our food and took drinks out to the garden at the back. Our food soon arrived despite being warned it might be a time. Simple fare, but generous portions. I ordered ham, egg and chips. The ham was delicious, three thick slices cut from a ham leg. Not the normal plastic ham in a prepacked plastic container. My partner had Nachos with a vegetarian chili. She enjoyed it. After lunch we walked around the village and came back for another pint before leaving on the bus. Good collection of beers including a local beer brewed in the village The pub has music events as well.

Now I would've given this place 5 stars however there was a man in the corner, drinking, miserable and shouting at the staff. I watched and listened to him shout and abuse the waiters which were lovely and later I found out it was the owner. Really rude and ruined the experience for me and he should not be doing that Infront of the customers or ever for that fact. Now to the food, it was lovely. Probably the best pizza I've had in ages and my work mate had the spaq bowl which he also said was lovely. The waiter and waitress were both lovely and professional and the service was excellent. I will definitely come back again as long as the boss is nowhere to be seen and then maybe I'll give it 5 stars.

Went for lunch with my family today and it was amazing. Very nice food, excellent service and a laid back atmosphere. Highly recommend eating here.

Best Italian food I've ever had (in the UK). Everything was SO delicious. Staff were amazing and very friendly/funny. Lovely atmosphere too.

One of the best restaurant in Yeovil and one of the better Italian restaurants I have visited. Amazing traditional tasty food which I easily visit weekly for my trips here. Great service reasonably priced nothing not to like here it's really good.

What a surprise treat! I visited this restaurant with family when staying in the area for a weekend away, and what a gorgeous find this was! Situated right in the heart of Sherborne (which is a charming town to visit regardless) this restaurant was just fabulous. The menu was fab, tapas dishes inspired by Italy but using West Country produce - what's not to love! Staff were friendly and accommodating, the drinks selection was vast and impressive and the food quality was truly 10/10. Would definitely be back if I lived closer! This place gets very busy over weekend so definitely book in advance, and also would recommend arriving for an earlier sitting rather than later before it gets too busy.

Lovely late lunch. Quality food and friendly, accommodating staff. The outside looks fairly drab and some of the Italian signage is slightly incongruous (are Wadsworths synonymous with Italian dining? No), but don't be put off, the inside is far, far better with modern styling in a traditional setting. Not cheap but where is these days.

Absolutely gorgeous pub situated centrally in the lovely historic town of Sherborne in Dorset. The staff were so friendly and helpful. We stayed in The Hayloft for one night, like a lovely mini apartment overlooking the courtyard of the pub. Super comfy bed, great little bathroom and really lovely breakfast in the morning.

Small plates, order at least 3 each and share, great selection and good quality. Dog friendly every where in the restaurant. I found it a bit complicated, it's a bit like Spanish Tapas and our total bill was around £70 it soon mounts up.