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

Overall is good, the quality it's top as the price and service. Lovely place with good atmosphere. If you're on rush, don't go, take your time and enjoy the food.

Fantastic food! Really delicious. We will definitely return on our next trip to the area. The staff are lovely and welcoming, and we felt at ease for the whole visit.

Oh my! ♥ What a magical experience visiting The Clockspire was. Where do I begin to describe the care and detail oozing from both the staff and the food, it truly is clear to see, even the toilet hand towels were folded beautifully! We decided to opt for an expensive treat due to a special birthday, but the restaurant also offers a very affordable day menu, so I would recommend for both a stunning meal out and for celebrating occasions.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable and delicious dining experience at the Clockspire Restaurant this evening. Food was excellent along with the service. The old school building has been beautifully restored and creates a delightful surrounding and atmosphere, complimenting the whole experience. This has just become my favorite restaurant. We shall return.

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.

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.

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

Every now and then, you actually have a recommendation that is actually perfect .went into the pursuit of hoppiness in the high Street bridport git chatting to the barman about food his first place was the dorshi hidden up a alleyway beside the bull pub .so went over to look found a great little Asian mix restaurant booked a table for 7.30 .when we arrived we were greeted but a friendly face and the chef who's cooking by the door .so we started with a local beer and saki .food wise we had dumplings with pork and ginger and steamed dumplings pepper chicken then the angry pig bowl then soy bean salad .and finished with steamed shiitake mushroom dumplings. WOW 👌 that's all I'm saying .chef your underpaid all the staff are excellent. Go here you will not be Disappointed. 🙂

Absolutely amazing lunch today at Parnham Park in Dorset. With a menu full of locally sourced ingredients combined in incredibly simple yet elegant ways, and a cocktail list to match, it is one of those rare places that has you planning your return visit even before the dessert course has arrived. A beautiful restaurant on the grounds of a gorgeous stately home, it is an experience not to be missed. And I haven't even mentioned the service, helpful, thoughtful and attentive staff that are a credit to the establishment, you are made to feel welcome from the moment you arrive till the time you regretfully leave.

Fabulous cocktails! Great atmosphere.

Just a quick visit loved it.

Great boatyard, friendly, helpful staff. Good facilities.

We were visiting family and travelled from quite far so we aren't familiar with the area but this place seems like it must be a local gem. The staff were amazing and so friendly, they couldn't be more helpful. The atmosphere was great and the food was so good. The price was so reasonable too for the quality of the food. Would recommend this place to everyone and will definitely visit again when back in the area. Thank you for a lovely lunch!

Lovely food...a touch of home cooking and very friendly helpful staff. Reasonably priced and large portions too. Highly recommend Chicken in Brie sauce

The best service we have experienced in a restaurant in ten years. Our host was happy to alter how my wife's fish was cooked to reduce the seasoning. Her Sea Bream and my seafood medley were prepared with excellent produce to a superb standard and well sized. Our lad was very happy with an excellent authentic pizza. Table service was quick, polite yet not at all overbearing. In summary, excellent seafood, very well prepared, attractively presented with understated yet world class service to match. We couldn't recommend more highly

Come across this restaurant by chance. My word What a Find!! The food was amazing Sea food very fresh, delicious!!! beautifully presented and friendly service, and amazing price. We can’t wait to return. Well done chef👏👏

We visited here last night with family, and I have to say it was an absolute gem. Roasted Hake was the catch of the day and it was divine. A brilliant combination of excellent food, friendly service, and all very reasonable pricewise. we very much appreciated the picture taken, including the bonus selfie 😂 Looking forward to coming back again sometime soon.

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. We went there for the spectacular and it was everything the name suggests and more, it was absolutely spectacular! The seafood was cooked to perfection and the taste was absolutely amazing. My son had the cabonara and said it was the best food he has tasted ever! We then finished our meal off with their raspberry cheesecake which was creamy and so fresh. We will definitely be back even if it’s a 3 hour drive from home, would drive all that way for that meal all over again. Great value for money and the atmosphere was lovely, the staff were so friendly and welcoming. Thank you so much Olive Tree we will see you again.

Lovely village pub. Only one server to convert bar and restaurant so a bit slow but very friendly and good good though fully priced eg fish and chips 18gbp

We popped in for Guinness at lunchtime and really enjoyed our visit primarily because of the very friendly locals. It was my birthday and we decided to come back in the evening for dinner. Unfortunately our second visit was completely different from our first. My partner had anchovies for a starter which were lovely and beef scrumpet for his main, I had rump steak with chips. We had never heard of scrumpet, it was a thick square of brisket that had been coated in breadcrumbs and fried. I asked for my steak medium rare, but it was dry and over cooked. I had mine returned to the kitchen so another could be prepared. This meant my partner ate his dinner on his own. My dinner returned and it was perfect, but I ate mine on my own. It wasn’t the birthday dinner I had hoped for. No discount was offered, or complimentary dessert. Very disappointing!

We popped in for a spot of lunch while visiting sights around Dorchester. The landlady of the cottages we rented highly recommended the pub and even contacted them about allergens in their foods to help support one of our party who is suffering some medically induced food issues at the moment. The staff were absolutely superb and did everything they could to ensure we had an excellent experience there. The food was typical pub grub, but at its finest and the prices were absolutely spot on. We will be visiting again.

After an emotional day, my partner and I decided we would stay over and booked our room on line. On arriving quite late, we received a very warm welcome and despite the kitchen having already closed, were offered fish and chips without hesitation. Our host did check with the kitchen first but it seemed absolutely no trouble. The rooms were worthy of the most historic public house but still provided all the home comforts one could wish for. After a comfortable nights sleep, interrupted only by the effects of alcohol consumes throughout our day, we descended the stairs to have breakfast. Eggs Benedict and cooked to perfection. The spread was fantastic and would satisfy the biggest of eaters and overall, the standard of what was offered was far in excess of expectations. Would recommend without hesitation and when we return to this quaint little place, we will definitely be booking our room here!

Ordered a Sunday roast delivery. Delivery arrived on time and was hot. Food was amazing and very large portions. Highly recommend.

Really nice pub with log fires. Very welcoming and dog friendly as well. Food was very nice and reasonably priced. If being really critical to them, then they could do with being a little bit more flexible around the menu...ie.. can't have the lamb with chips, can't have a sweetcorn as a kids side meal... As they only have enough for the steak meals that it comes with.. As i say, it's being super critical, not a deal breaker and didn't spoil a lovely meal.

We visited the Half Moon whilst on our minimoon in Dorset. We wanted a lovely “home cooked” Sunday roast and boy did they deliver. The food was exceptional. They also had a band playing in the garden and a magician coming round to the tables (when you weren’t eating) and it was great! Highly recommend and if we’re ever back in the area, we’d definitely visit again.

Hi called in today with my other half after visiting the local churches grave yard to lay some flowers and was very pleasantly surprised with the new landlord and landlady they was lovely. Will visit again . Good luck you will do well . Will visit again

My partner and I spent three wonderful days at Summer Lodge to celebrate her special birthday. The staff were consistently courteous, professional and friendly: we were received with a special birthday tea and a lovely welcoming message from the managers. Our room was perfect, the meals were delicious, the grounds are delightful and the location is ideal for exploring the glorious Hardy Country (incidentally, Thomas Hardy was an architect who designed a wing of Summer Lodge). We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will certainly return. Stephen Friar

We had a fabulous 2 night stay here. It's in a lovely little village, very quintessentially English. Staff were really lovely and couldn't do enough for us. Our room was really lovely, with a welcome drink and snack. We also tried a treatment in the spa and really enjoyed that too. There was even water and a cookie for our journey home.

Went many years ago for lunch so decided to revisit for afternoon tea whilst on holiday in the area. What can I say. Unquestionably the best afternoon tea I have ever had. Service is impeccable without being overbearing. Lovely peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Had a nice chat with the manager (sorry forgot his name). Strongly recommend.

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

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.

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.

I often stop off here on a Friday after work, The staff are lovely, the beer is fab. I've yet to try the food but plan on coming back with family. Well worth giving it a go. Just a few mins off the A 37.

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.

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.

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