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

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

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 fantastic find; well worth a bit of effort as it is on an industrial estate on the edge of Bridport. Not far from the centre, maybe a 5 minute walk.I The sharing platter was simply great. 3 types of cheese, 3 types of meat, sundried tomatoes, panaforte, warm bread, olives, artichokes, little biscuits all super tasty. Lovely atmosphere too alongside their own Deli area. Simply super.

Possibly the best pizza I’ve had in the UK and I have eaten many pizzas ☺️ we had the salsiccia toscana & ricotta pizza

The locals will hate me for sharing this place… but it is awesome. Very unassuming, very reasonable and the pizzas are truly authentic Roman style. It gets really busy so you’ll need to book if you can. Don’t be fooled by the industrial location - this is a top notch Italian.

We came in twice on Valentine’s Day and a couple of weeks later as we were craving some Italian food and saw on Google that this was proper Italian cuisine, we booked in a table on a platform online which was extremely easy and fast. The atmosphere was lovely with low lights and some flowers on the tables, the place is like a true market food type place that you find in Italia, as it’s an warehouse it was a bit cold and unfortunately the air conditioning it was turned off before 21 pm so it made us feel a bit uncomfortable and had to put our jackets on. The food it was exquisite, we were amazed for such delicious and quality Italian food here in the South which compared with all Italians around it is extremely hard to find. We had the Italian board to start on both times which I highly recommend, we tried the medium and the large one both came with different meats and cheeses it was one of the best boards I have ever tried the meats and cheeses were extremely delicious high quality and the price comparing quality it is great. Even the olives and the sundries tomato that I usually never like were also one of the bests I tried, good quality olive oil as well. I personally loved the fennel salami and the truffle cheese. The pizzas were also stupendous they are freshly made you can tell and all the ingredients they sell on the house, I loved the aphrodisiac pizza is a must try with the chestnut honey and delicious ndjula, we also had the one with artichokes that was not so bad either. The porschetta was very good and delicious, very similar to when I tried first time in Italy. The desserts were excellent too, the mixed Italian pastries are a must as they are fresh and delicious, the affogato was also great but the biscuit with a wine dessert it was poor as just one small biscuit came, we wanted to pay extra and have an extra cup of dessert wine and actually wanted to pay extra for two glasses and they didn’t sold us even when we were willing to pay extra apparently is just for the dessert. The wine list although is not extensive it is just fine with a great selection of Italian wines, we tried two different rossi and were great. The staff are efficient and the service it was good also, this is definitely a great place to visit if you’re around as the vibe is unique and the food amazing. I recommend booking in advance as it was nearly full.

Could not fault a single dish and we tried many. Each plate of food was full of flavour, perfectly seasoned and mouthwateringly delightful. Honestly could have eaten every single dish on the menu. If you’re looking for something a bit special and different from the norm then do not miss the delights that Lilac has to offer.

We didn't book, and the restaurant was full, but the server offered us the bar table or outside dining, and as it as a sunny warm evening we landed on the outdoor dining. This is a rare find. Not only was the outdoor dining stylish and intimate, it offered wonderful service, and a 10/10 experience. The dinner was wonderful, from small bites all the way to the main the meal was wonderful. The menu is seasonal and delicious, this was a menu that didn't offer comfortable favourites, but diverse delicious plates that we talked about all the way home. They even made us a tailor made cocktail which was spicy and lovely. We had 3 servings. We are thrilled we got in, and would recommend it to anyone who is a food lover.

Upscale menu in an unpretentious basement "cave." Small plate (and I mean small!) offerings of exquisitely executed dishes that present a culinary experience for the palate. I wish there were 30% more on every dish we sampled (wouldn't really describe it as "ate," given the amount). But... they were all quite well done. You just need to order a lot of dishes. We had the Flatbread w Pickled Ewe's Cheese, Fig & Roasted (yumm) Pumpkin Seeds, Beetroot Carparccio (outstanding take), Soused Mackerel, Dartmoor Lamb (tender), Polenta w Girolles (mushroon), Ricotta & Cheddar, Fennel Truffles (not to miss for a chocolate lover) & Apricot & Thyme Sorbet (the only small miss: would have preferred a gentler herb like mint).

Exceptional food, locally sourced and foraged. The chef often came out to serve the dishes and was more than happy to talk about the ingredients, where he had foraged some of them and how the dish was made. Every plate was well conceived, light and tasty, even the bigger dishes such as the ox cheek or venison. Wine suggestions were excellent and every wine we tried was surprising and delicious. Staff were friendly and helpful, the venue small and welcoming. This rates as one of the best food experiences I've had. Get there now while it's still small and relatively undiscovered because it deserves to get better known and booked up months in advance.

Found by chance when perusing the menu of a more expensive establishment. Inside was too busy for nine of us but in the small yet quaint courtyard we managed to shuffle a few tables together to accommodate our needs. The food was delicious and reasonably priced... the pot of tea was enormous and required a strong arm to lift and pour! The staff were very friendly especially one gentleman in particular who instigated much banter. Would definitely visit again... highly recommended.

excellent venue , clean and well presented . i always check the toilet , spotless. the food is great and the atmosphere is fantastic. we have booked for christmas . thank you for going out your ti help us mike. see you all soon

A very warm welcome, great menu and friendly staff. The food was excellent.

Absolutely fabulous. Beautiful home made Dorset Apple Cake. Strong and tasty Latte. Staff are wonderful, friendly and Caring. I will be back. Thank you. ❤️❤️🌻🌻

On holiday and wanted a good quality take away ? We read the reviews and thought great we’ll give it a go ! Wow amazing food great delivery service IAN even gave me a lift back to our lodge. This place is above and beyond everyone else !! Thank you!!!

We stopped by here today, we all chose different variations of full English breakfasts and it was all DELICIOUS! The cafe is such a lovely environment, friendly staff and a really down to earth feel. Great price too.

Fab little Cafe! All day breakfast, lunches and dinners! PROPER MILKSHAKES!! Actually made with Ice cream and list of chocolates to choose from for flavour! Great prices, great food and something for everyone! Friendly staff and even gave my daughter a sweetie when we left.

A great little find. Lovely food we had 2 burgers, fries and some Chicken strips with Banana & Rum sauce. Loads to eat, everything got scoffed. Highly recommended.

Great value for money,good selection of roasts and specials and great puddings and not a bad selection of locally sourced beer

Went for Sunday roast. Delicious food. Generous portions. Booked in advance for a party of 6 adults & 4 children. Orders all ready and correct on our arrival. Very friendly owner, who made us feel instantly welcome. Only downside was no baby changing table available.

We came here on the last night of our honeymoon and we're so glad we did! We both had the duck and it was incredible. Staff were friendly and attentive, made us feel very welcome. Definitely planning to return in our next holiday in Dorset.

Absolutely amazing food; much more than usual pub grub! Everything was clearly freshly made and very well executed. The menu was varied and interesting. The service was also excellent.

Walked here from Pineapple Farm Campsite, we enjoyed a lovely lunch and a couple of pints. Good local pub & highly recommended.

A lovely pub - so pleased we found it! Bob and Jenny were wonderful hosts (actually all the staff were). The menu is reasonably priced and lots of choice. My husbands steak was perfect. The beer garden is so lovely - the wild garden is beautiful. We had a wonderful afternoon there and we will be back when we are next in the area. Really dog friendly too. Thank you and we will see you next year! :)

Some places just stand out and should be recognised as such. Bob and Jenny have not been at Hare and Hounds too long, but by goodness me, what they do there should be emanated across the service industry. Small, but absolutely fabulous pub and food is immense. Try it, try it today, you will NOT be disappointed. I always say, you tell a place by the toilets.... and this one they are A1*

We really enjoyed our visit and was one of the highlights of our trip when visiting Dorset. The service and food were fantastic and locally sourced, just wished we knew who the butcher was so we could buy some meat to take home with us! There is a lot of outdoor seating with a lovely view. We hope to come back again, thank you!

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.

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

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.

The best roast I've ever eaten at a restaurant. Beautifully presented, perfectly cooked roast pork.

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

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.

This is the second time we have stayed here and we love the location and the accommodation. It lacked a few kitchen essentials as we do like to cook and eat in but the rest of the cottage is very comfortable with a lovely wildflower meadow just outside. Owners very helpful, friendly and love dogs. The footpaths from Marshwood Manor are a bit overgrown but there are beautiful walks all around the area. We will definitely go again.

A lovely holiday home. We stayed in the Hayloft and had a great time. The owners are close by and very helpful, and their dogs were equally lovely. We were 7 adults and 3 kids. The play areas were good and the children spent a lot of time outside. The lovely kitchen table meant we spent a lot of time together which was good.

When we started planning our wedding we wanted it to be like a weekend away with all of our family with a wedding thrown in. We were in love with Marshwood Manor as soon as we walked into the bar and as we saw the cottages, the wildflower meadow and the woodland Bower for the ceremony we knew this place was for us. Marshwood Manor was a home away from home for us and our guests. It is idyllic. For our wedding we did not need over the top decorations, installations, flowers as the setting has a natural beauty of its own.