The Best Restaurants in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

The breakfast was outstanding, and the service was impeccable. Will be back again.

Fantastic pub, best carvery ever, if never been make the effort you can’t fault the food or the staff very helpful and friendly.

Had lunch here after walking on the coastal path. Slightly inland walk from the coast but worth it. Had Chicken Caesar Salad with ice cream for dessert. The chicken was moist, tender, and tasty. Service was relaxed and friendly. Nice clean decors with indoor and outdoor flow. Was initially worried that the place was closed due to the Google maps timings but it actually opens from 12 pm, not close at 12 pm.

Lovely evening with great views and good food

Amazing seafood in a very cozy location. It's close to the beach and you can reach it via a slightly hidden path that brings you pass the old mill. Very welcoming family business, I'd come back to any time.

Dropped by for dinner, where I ordered the scallops, mackerel and rhubarb clafoutis. Everything was beautifully prepared. Saying that, it must have been an off night, as the kitchen team seemed to have encountered a few challenges when prepping the meals. But, it all ended well as the service team handled everything professionally resulting in both a comped dessert AND an extra dessert. All done voluntarily without me even having to bring up any of the issues myself. The only thing I would suggest for the future is it might be worth investing in an air purifier or fan to help move the air in the restaurant. Because it was pouring rain outside at the time, I noticed the space was locking in various odours from other guests such as BO, perfume and cigarette smoke. As a result, I found that I couldn’t really smell the dishes. As a fine dining establishment, I suspect it is preferred that such smells not interfere with the dining experience carefully curated by your team.

Beautiful wine and food. The service was fantastic. Thank you for a lovely meal for my mother’s birthday, we will be back.

My boyfriend and I were holidaying in Lyme over the weekend, both from Birmingham, we have plenty of restaurants in the city… yet Millside is the best meal we have had so far in 2024! Such a beautiful setting and a intimate dining experience. Although a small menu for mains, the starters are varied. I tried the escargot which our waiter recommended - who knew snails tasted so good! My boyfriend had the half lobster and I tried rump steak, also for the first time. Both dishes were presented beautifully and provided explosions of flavour with each bite, I’ll be dreaming of this meal for weeks! Thank you for such a wonderful meal and such attentive service.

We stayed in the Shepherd’s Hut for 3 nights. The accommodation was superb - immaculately clean and tidy and beautifully presented. Shower was great and the hot tub was brilliant. Charlie and Lucy’s hospitality and attention to detail was, as always 10/10! They ALWAYS go the extra mile to make sure your stay with them is superb and this was no different. They are wonderful company, warm and helpful at all times. I cannot recommend them and the accommodation highly enough and would recommend Copse Gate Farm, plus Charlie and Lucy, to anyone wanting to book a 5 star accommodation in the heart of Dorset.

Loved this place & the owners, clean, modern farmhouse accommodation in a fantastic countryside location with far reaching Dorset views. Lucy & Charlie made our party of 4 feel very welcome & always had time to talk to us giving great insight in to farming life whilst also running & working their substantial small holding. It was great watching their animals from our large bedroom windows & Lucy allowed us to bottle feed one of their lambs. Charlies substantial cooked breakfasts were a great way to start the day & none of us wanted to leave after our 4 night stay! This is one B&B we will never forget & hope to go again.

Had a wonderful two night stay. Upgraded to the sheppards hut with hot tub. The welcome was extremely warm and friendly and Charlie and Lucy had left a bottle of prosecco and a card as we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. The hut was beautifully done, warm and comfortable and the hot tub was a lovely bonus. Breakfast was fabulous. Fantastic homemade produce, cooked really well. I would recommend eating with everyone, rather than in the hut as the stories from Lucy and Charlie (what a character!) were brilliant. Left with some of Charlie's home reared meats at a reasonable price. Really hope we can come back.

Beautiful farm house with immaculate rooms. Fabulous hosts Charlie and Lucy were amazing, so friendly and welcoming. Food was spectacular from their farm. Charlie is a superb cook. We had an evening meal by prior arrangement, which was the best pork chops, minted lamb burger and rhubarb crumble, with farm cream, I've ever tasted. ( I think it depends upon their diary and how busy they are regarding evening meals, it's normally a B&B) They let our daughter bottle feed the lambs and collect chicken eggs x she had a brilliant time. Easy parking Warm house with good WiFi and brilliant showers. Genuine people really lovely couple Small working farm is quiet They don't currently have dogs Had pigs and piglets, sheep and lambs, cows and calves, chicken and geese. *** BOOK DIRECTLY TO GET A BETTER RATE , AS BOOKING. COM TAKES A FEE IF YOU BOOK ONLINE * Short drive to Bridport or Lyme Regis.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Great authentic Italian pizza. Absolutely delicious. Super “warehouse” atmosphere and really friendly staff. Definitely put this on your list to go to.

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.

Not going to lie, the food was kinda ruined by a sodding seagull. We bought three chorizo pasties and some cake to takeaway, and whilst I was attempting to give a bit to my daughter some VERY confident seagull swooped in took the WHOLE THING 🤯 Quickly learned a very important lesson about Lyme Regis, and that’s eat your food with caution 😂 Oh, we also bought some lemon olive oil and some smoked sea salt. Sure, it’s more expensive than you’d pay in a supermarket, but so it should be. We like coming away and support random places that we find, and the whole “Mill Lane” area is quite nice and picturesque. The type of place I could imagine spending a nice afternoon with my wife. Alas, we had three young kids so we didn’t really fancy sitting in a small restaurant 😅 honestly, they’re too chaotic for that. But yeah, if you’re in the area and fancy giving somewhere nice a visit, then give Strawberry Tree a crack 👌🏻 just be AWARE OF SEAGULLS.

What a wonderful Place to eat and enjoy the atmosphere! Amazing fresh food! Couldn’t ask for anything else. Do not hesitate to book

Had a fabulous evening here on a recommendation and it did not disappoint. The warmth and welcome of the place was fantastic and despite not having booked, we were made very welcome (a party of 19 was about to turn up at any minute as well) The staff were engaging, knowledgeable and polite. Owners Ed and Giselle were charming and our waitress, Emma from Manchester was great fun.) The food – small Tapas plates, was amazing. The Pig Cheeks with Prunes and Sherry, Chicken Skewers with Micro Herbs and Yoghurt, Cod Cheeks in Tomato Sauce and the Canaries Style potatoes with Mojo-Rojo Sauce – were delicious. The Burnt Cheesecake with Cinnamon Apples to finish was divine – you must try to pay them a visit.

I would have missed this place completely, as it’s in between the two main shopping streets in town, and boy would I have been missing a treat. With its delicious (very authentic) tapas and fabulous cocktails, this cosy little restaurant is well worth a visit. Charming staff too. The Prawns pil-pil were the highlight for me…I felt like I was back in Spain…but my wife enjoyed the croquetas more…but everything was good. This will be top of my list for next time we’re in Lyme Regis…and I will probably try to sync up my visit with one of their cooking classes - I’ve always felt scared to try making paella but I would bet that fear will evaporate after a class here.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A secluded, quaint, and tranquil inn. Great price. Truly a hidden gem of Dorset. The owners are good people - friendly, yet discreet. Georgia, one of the hosts, can be found working the bar at the pub, which offers quality food and drink. Short drive away from Lyme Regis and Charmouth.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

If there is one thing you should do before you keel over is go to The Half Moon and try their food. They have amazing customer service from the get go, great COVID regulations, ths canopee was such a lovely atmosphere with beautiful lights and fire heaters. Wildflowers and brilliant music. Such a lovely atmosphere all round and the food was to die for. It was absolutely delicious and we are definitely going back. Hopefully every year! Thank you for an amazing experience and unforgettable anniversary