The Best Restaurants in Dorking, Surrey, United Kingdom (2025)

Four of us visited for dinner on Friday evening. Delicious food, beautifully presented and all with the loveliest smiles. Sadly, there was hardly anyone else there, so we are really hoping they are able to survive. Having never had Sri Lankan food before, it's definitely now our new favourite cuisine.

Found this unique gem off the main drag in Dorking on a mini pub crawl... only came in for beers not knowing anything about the fabulous fusion of Sri Lankan food, and its still a proper pub! Had great tap beers and small bites - mutton rolls & fried whitefish / whitebait, served by super friendly staff who also love dogs! Came back the next week on a quiet wet night with my son, this time focus was the food, we weren't disappointed. 3 starters for £12.95 (popcorn chicken, whitebait, prawn tempura) followed by fish cutlets and spicy fries - definitely my favorite 'fish & chips' We only tried fried dishes this visit, but all were really well cooked, nothing greasy (or mullered either!). Can't wait to come back and try the curry's, hear the Sunday buffet is excellent. Chefs Samantha & Yohan with a great bar team headed by lovely Jane, but credit to the enthusiast Ellen who won us over the first visit to have more than just a few beers to resume our 'crawl' We'll be back!

Great bar - the drinks were a reasonable price. Best part was the food. I ordered the chicken pasta and you could taste how fresh the ingredients were. My friend's pizza also looked good with a crispy thin base. We ordered the calamari which was also good. All in all a great night out.

So happy to have found this gem. Welcoming, beautiful venue, with easy parking and space to enjoy a peaceful meal with a friend or have fun in the bar area. Wonderful food, and not too spicy, just delicious. The staff were extremely helpful and kind, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the prices. Impressive menu options and a good vegan selection too. They've obviously put a lot of thought and care into all the details.

Thank you for that wonderful meal and service! Absolutely recommended! Brilliant, tasty food, funny and polite waiter! 5 stars place!😍

An outstanding evening meal for a family birthday. This is the second time I have eaten here and it really is superb. Beautifully decorated, with luxury touches. The menu is detailed so needs to be studied. The food is cooked and presented to perfection. Even the salad leaf, tossed in oil tastes amazing! We were a party of 5 and ate starters, mains, just 1 dessert and coffees. Everything we had was exceptional. The owner greets you like family and really makes the experience a special one. We visited on a Tuesday evening and the restaurant was busy.. this isn’t surprising considering the quality of food, service and ambience. One of the nicest local restaurants I have been to. Highly recommended.

Best restaurant in Dorking! Another great evening and amazing food at Rooster Kitchen. Always friendly and good service. Food portions very large and tasty. Thank you for the great service and food. Shame we will be away from Dorking soon but will definitely be back again when we are in the area.

Absolutely amazing restaurant. Food is beautifully served with large portion sizes at a reasonable price. I would recommend either having lots mezze or having a main as having both can easily lead to ordering too much food. The service very efficient and friendly and they were kind enough to put our excess food in boxes to take away, rather than have us do it ourselves.

Pub 2 of our mini Dorking pub crawl. An absolutely fantastic pub. The barman even let us into the 'Narnia' room (Last Pic) which is closed currently but will be open once they refurbish it. Another dog friendly pub.

A few weeks late in writing, but as promised here’s our review.. After a long walk around the Dorking countryside we ended up here .. amazing food, we all had the roast chicken and all throughly enjoyed it, large portions and crispy potatoes. I would recommend a visit maybe book before .. we were lucky and they had a free table but it was very busy.. the pub had a good vibe and really friendly staff.

Great little cosy pub with great selection of beers and friendly staff

Been to this lovely pub many many times and plan on going there many more! Good prices and as lovely as it is inside the outside area with the little booths takes the cake for me! Tried one of their hot dogs on my most recent visit and it was huge as you can see from the pictures and absolutely delicious! Messy to eat but it was honestly so good I didn't mind one bit!

An excellent dining experience with superlative food but let down by the service. The pub is lovely. Really nicely decorated, feels welcoming and warm but still a sense of modernism. Great for smaller and bigger groups. The food is fantastic. Really really excellent. Had the Sunday lunch - superb. Probably one of the best I’ve had. Everything was done very well. Giving a 4 stars as the service let it down. Service was friendly and good when we had it. Otherwise it was quite inattentive and slightly frustrating. I think they just need more servers. Otherwise, highly recommend

The Queen’s Head did an excellent job of accommodating our choir’s party of 25 people (under a time deadline as we were due to be performing in the nearby St Paul’s Church). The service was friendly and the food good - most of us had the fish and chips which was super-tasty. Most impressive of all was the way they successfully dealt with the bill, with each person paying separately!

Great roast. Tender beef, rich gravy, perfect pudding. We also got crumble for dessert and it was one of the best I’ve had. I ate it before I could take a picture, but it had a perfect balance of fruit and custard. It wasn’t too sweet, which is perfect for me.

This was our first time visiting the Queens Head, me and my mum are moving to the area soon so we thought we'd check out the local pubs. We were so glad to come across this one, not only was it accommodating for our dog, the tipi where we were situated was perfect! Cozy, warm, festive and friendly. A special mention has to go to our waiter Zeke, who was brilliant! Super attentive, ever so helpful, and friendly, when you come across someone like this it makes all the difference! And definitely makes us want to visit again which we will be doing once we move. Thanks Zeke for being so great at your job, we hope there's a Xmas bonus coming your way! And what a great pub, I forgot to mention the food was amazing! I will be recommending this place to everyone.

The menu features a wide variety of delicious Indian dishes, from curries to flavourful tandoori specials. What sets this restaurant apart is the exceptionally friendly staff, who provide attentive and personalised service, making your visit enjoyable. Whether you’re a fan of Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, Tikka Nation ensures a memorable meal with its great food and welcoming hospitality.

Me and my friend had an occasion to try some food here. Must say people working there were really nice and helpful. We order quiet a lot of food, dished were served quiet quickly, All the starters were delicious, mains piping hot, the only down hill was a lamb curry which I would of expect to taste bit difrent. But other than that I would recommend this place to everyone.

A Family-Friendly Spot with Flavorful Fare Tikka Nation offers a great option for a quick, family-friendly meal. The diverse menu, including unique street food options, caters to a wide range of tastes. The staff was friendly and helpful in explaining the menu. We enjoyed a delicious meal, with highlights being the butter chicken curry, chicken tikka loaded fries, and chaat platter. The chaat platter was particularly impressive, featuring a combination of flavorful dishes like samosas, chickpeas, and puri-based treats. Our daughter's chicken tikka nan wrap also looked appetizing. While the parathas decent, the naan breads were a bit disappointing, being flatter than expected, the overall meal was tasty and reasonably priced. I would rate this restaurant 4 stars.

Despite arriving 40 minutes before closing, the staff warmly accommodated us. The friendly and welcoming service added to the charm of the place. The food was delightful, and I was particularly impressed by the fair pricing. A truly pleasant dining spot with a welcoming ambiance, delicious food, and reasonable prices.

Very pleasant, bright restaurant! I loved the art on the walls and the friendly local atmosphere. It was Sunday afternoon and quite a few people ordered the roast but apparently it was so popular they'd run out before I got there! Personally, I ordered the mushroom burger. Very flavorful and everything nicely cooked. I found the side salad refreshing, that's a great addition. Would definitely return if in Dorking again!

Stunning roast chicken dinner the chicken melted in your mouth the veg was fresh gravy was delicious potato perfect honestly this is the best roast dinner I've ever had from any cafe also £9.95 a bargain They also do nice omelettes :)

What a fantastic country pub! I have been here a couple of times now and the food, service and atmosphere is really great. The Sunday roasts are good, we made sure we booked a table though as it gets busy. Inside there are many restaurant tables and a cosy bar area with a fireplace. The toilets were clean. There is also outdoor seating for the summer months, plus free parking available at the back. The staff are very friendly and polite, and the service is good. If you're looking for traditional pub food I would highly recommend The Wotton Hatch. If I lived more local I would be eating here every weekend!

A great find, and a must-do if you’re staying at Wotton House or exploring the Surrey Hills. The manager was great in particular, conversational and funny. The staff were polite and attentive, food came out quickly and overall food was great too. The vibe is good. Cosy, but not sleepy. Modern and quality feel all round. Highly recommended!

It is always a pleasure to visit this pub. The staff are fabulous, the food excellent, good variety of beers, open fire in winter, huge garden for sunny days and dog friendly.

Very good Sunday lunch. Vegetables with the various roasts were cooked well. Nothing felt tired. Fresh and plentiful. Between the four of us we had lamb, beef, pork and a vegetarian option that satisfied us all respectively. Lots of space between tables so it didn't feel over crowded. An open fireplace near the bar.

Lovely pub, great food. We popped in for Sunday lunch before a trip to a nearby winery. They are running a really slick operation, service was on point, and food was delivered very quickly. We had one of the Sunday roasts which was very nice although my personal preference is for the veg to be a little more cooked (a minor complaint). After lunch we went out to the lower terrace to enjoy a drink in the sun. Can't fault the place, good food in an excellent location with fast attentive service. Everything was great!

The Watermill has always been my go-to pub in the summer, but this was my first time visiting during winter, and I’m so glad I did! I booked a Christmas brunch with friends, and the entire experience was fantastic. From the start, Daniel made us feel incredibly welcome. He had thoughtfully booked us a lovely table, keeping in mind that we had three toddlers with us. His friendly demeanor instantly put us at ease. Peter, who served us, was equally amazing—so kind, patient, and attentive, even amidst the inevitable chaos of having little ones at the table. He went above and beyond to make sure we were all comfortable and enjoying ourselves. Offered to click our pictures as well. The food quality was great as always, and the staff’s warmth and attentiveness really stood out. To top it off, they had a charming Christmas market in the outdoor area, with lots of cute things to browse and buy. Overall, it was a delightful experience, and I can’t wait to come back again—whether in summer or winter! Highly recommend The Watermill for its great food, friendly staff, and cozy ambiance.

Make sure you book a table outside, the views of box hill are incredible. If you are here in the evening, they have blankets for outside and the fire, so it’s feels very cosy and romantic. The food here is brilliant, I recommend the lamb, the hake (sometimes on the specials board), the roast dinners! Portions are large, and great value for money. Staff here are really friendly, and sometimes they have live music on a Friday night.

What a wonderful dinner at The Watermill, It's well worth a visit, I would fully recommend it. The food was delicious. I had Venison Pie with mash and gravy, which was sublime. I was also particularly pleased because it was a full pie rather than just with a pastry top. The pie itself was delicious, and the mash, cabbage and gravy were also excellent. The portion was a good size too, and reasonably priced. I had an Elderflower Spritz mocktail to drink which was also excellent. For dessert, I found it incredibly difficult to choose as they all sounded great, but in the end had the Toffee Apple Arctic Roll, which was very nice and not too heavy. The service was excellent also, the staff are very friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back, if only to work my way through the dessert menu, as there were so many delicious sounding dishes to choose from. I would definitely recommend The Watermill.

A fantastic pub and hotel. Staff are lovely, drinks very nice, the room was stunning and loved the decor. Breakfast was also extremely tasty. Would definitely visit again.

A great place to relax, a beautiful building inside and out, built around 1400s. A place full of charm and character. And the mould wine is really tasty. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to relax and enjoy a nice evening with friends and family 🫶🫶🫶

Cosiest pub I’ve been to and the ambience there gives a comforting feeling. Sat by the fireplace and that lifted the feeling even more. Not a big menu, but the food was tasty. The loo’s were clean, maybe a bit small. I found it nice that the women’s loo had a basket with practical things such as hairspray. Staff were friendly and the pub was located right on the street so it was easy to find.

Fantastic meal - so tasty Had half jerk chicken with coleslaw and chips as well as burger and chips Was great value Good choice of beer and wine too Staff attentive and friendly

Really lovely tour. The train car ride was my favourite bit. The views were STUNNING. The only reason I’m not giving full 5 stars is because I did not enjoy the wine tasting. It felt incredibly rushed and we only tasted 3 wines, all of which were similar, I would have liked a bit more variety. As well as it felt like everything EXCEPT wine was being promoted. Really beautiful place though Lunch was AMAZING

We recently visited the Denbies Wine Estate and had a lovely time! The vineyard was beautifully decorated, creating a festive atmosphere that our kids absolutely loved. They especially enjoyed the train ride and meeting Santa Claus and Elves.

Booking can be done online and thank you to the staff who remembered that it was my friend’s bday (i placed a note during online booking which i forgot lol) - they gave him a glass of wine upon arrival. Food wise- it’s reasonably priced. Huge serving and delicious. We got pork cutlet for main and lentil soup for appetizer. Dessert is just okay the brownie bite was kinda hard but overall it was an amazing lunch experience. Theres an art gallery within the estate and gift shop worth visiting. We werent able to do a vineyard tour coz it rained but we will definitely come back. Shout out to Kai- she’s very accommodating and warm to the gallery restaurant customers. She’s the one who took our order and served the food. All staff were lovely.

Stunning place and views! We’ve done the wine tour twice now, with the fizz glass included and I highly recommend it. We’re so lucky to have this just 30min drive from us. Love the little organic food shop and always get cheese and bread to bring home. Delicious!