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Dorset

Fish 'n' Fritz 9 Market Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8DD

Fish 'n' Fritz 9 Market Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8DD

9 Market Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8DD

Such a shame! This used to be a super little restaurant, a runner-up in a national competition, and winner in the south-west, but it's been going downhill for aome time now. Last Friday we ate there and it was awful - soggy batter, tired chips, and inefficient staff. We had to ask three times for our drinks, which were clearly in view on a tray behind the counter, the plates weren't cleared when we'd finished - in fact, I called the waitress over and asked for an ice-cream while surrounded by dirty plates. She brought the ice-cream and left the plates! The proprietor used to be in evidence and keeping an eye on things, but she's invisible now and the restaurant seems to be staffed by school leavers, who don't look at you, move at a snail's pace, and chat amongst themselves. We will not be going again, or recommending the place to visitors to the town, as we always used to do. budmouthbabe

By m at 18/07/2008 - 12:02 | 2008 | Cafe/Coffee Shop/Tea Room | Dorset | Rejected | Review | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 72 reads

The Orchid, Portland Spa Southwell Park Portland Dorset DT5 2NA

The Orchid, Portland Spa Southwell Park Portland Dorset DT5 2NA

Portland Spa Southwell Park Portland Dorset DT5 2NA

Absolutely beautiful ambience, attentive staff, delicious food, at this new restaurant attached to a spa and, soon, a new four-star hotel. Sadly, one or two things need sorting - the delicious herb bread (made by the chef from another local restaurant, who now works here) was spoiled by keeping warm under lamps. When we complained, we were told in no uncertain terms that it was meant to be like that. I don't think so, dry and inedible doesn't seem a good idea... Also there was no hot pudding on the menu, but on asking we were offered (the ubiquitous) sticky toffee pudding - which was, like all the other food, delicious. I had the Orchid Rossini, a twist on the classic Tournedos Rossini involving bacon and pate which was perfect, and served with the most delicious fat chips ever. My companions had scallops, which they described as 'succulent'! budmouthbabe

By m at 18/07/2008 - 11:55 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | Dorset | Review | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 110 reads

The Priory, Wareham, Dorset


Wareham, Dorset

From the moment you're greeted by the slightly pompous French Maitre D, and walk through the traditional wooden dining hall, you know you're out for a good old-fashioned country dinner. We had a shared Beef Wellington at forty-five pounds. It was HUGE. It was also delicious. You retire for cigars and brandy into the bar after the meal, which is something of a novelty for me but the atmosphere made it feel perfectly normal.
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2001 | Approved | Dorset | England | Review | UK | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 128 reads

Abbotsbury Oyster and Seafood Bar, Ferrybridge Weymouth Dorset DT4 9BD


Ferrybridge Weymouth Dorset DT4 9BD

On the start of the Ferrybridge to Portland, on right just before Ferrybridge pub/hotel. Smallish wooden building, with plenty of tables outside as well. Today’s fish and seafood catch, plus their own raised oysters from water tens of yards away. Mixed seafood platters as well. Can buy produce from them and take it home. The best oysters that I’ve had in years (even better than Loch Fyne, because they’re totally fresh).
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2004 | Approved | Dorset | England | Review | UK | £/$ | add new comment | read more | 599 reads

Taj Mahal, 38 High St, Poole, Dorset BH15 1BT


38 High St, Poole, Dorset BH15 1BT

When looking for an evening meal in an unfamiliar town many of us will pick the local Indian, probably because menu and food quality will be predictable. We’re unlikely to have a bad experience, but how often do we have a really good one? Indian (or more likely Bangladeshi) restaurants usually offer a wide menu (enabled by a supplier network of pre-prepared sauces) that will suit every taste and always provide the staple favourites. While this marketing strategy has its advantages, the results can be a little too predictable. It is therefore refreshing when we find a restaurant that differentiates, either through location, some new ideas on the menu or that little bit of extra care in the preparation or presentation of the food. The Taj Mahal does the lot. My friend and I enjoyed some live music on Poole Quay one Saturday night and then strolled a couple of hundred yards to the High Street. It was a little late to enjoy a Bangla on the terrace, so we ordered our mains, a Sashlik Ush (tandoori duck) and Sardine Buna. So delighted were we with the tender, succulent duck and deeply flavoured buna that we summoned our waiter to compliment him. Perhaps I had been a little optimistic to expect the sardines to be fresh from the harbour catch (they were tinned) but a great idea, all the same. Marinading the duck for 24 hours may have been the winning formula for the Sashlik, so tender, moist and delightfully spiced was the result. If you go, try the lemon rice. It isn’t on the menu, but these guys are eager to please and they are very good at it.
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2005 | Approved | Dorset | England | Indian | Review | UK | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 125 reads

The Brasshouse, 8-9 Westover Road Bournemouth


8-9 Westover Road Bournemouth

I have been in large pubs but this place is ENORMOUS. Fine if you want some space but not for the passing agrophobe. The menu looked pretty bog standard pub fare but the mixed grill I had was surprisingly good. Decent quality steak and gammon and huge amounts of it. Very filling, worth it at lunch time if you're looking for something functional rather than delicate. OK King Mob
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2002 | £££££/$$$$$ | Dorset | England | Large Groups | OK | Pub | Review | UK | add new comment | read more | 100 reads

The Ship, 23a High Street Swanage Dorset


23a High Street Swanage Dorset

"Drawing on 3000 years of fast food vendor experience, our team of highly trained Ninja Wok Masters have perfected the art of weaving the noodle. Practising Noodle Kung Fu, the art of cooking each dish to perfection ensuring ingredients are in the wok long enough to release flavours without destroying the vitamins and nutrients, your meal goes straight from the wok, to the bowl to your table." I'm not making this up.
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2002 | Dorset | England | Pub | Rejected | Review | UK | ££/$$ | add new comment | read more | 124 reads

La Trattoria, 12, High St Swanage Dorset BH19 2NT


12, High St Swanage Dorset BH19 2NT

What is it about provincial or resort restaurants that allow them to hike up prices mercilessly for generally poorer quality food? Competition I suppose, or lack of it. As it turned out La Trattoria was not too bad, although their outside seating with "some bay views" was stretching it a bit. We could see the bay if we stood on top of our tables. Food was of the over-fussy type - spag bol at nearly eight quid sent me to the chef's specialities and I had a passable chicken in spicy red wine sauce.
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2001 | Dorset | England | Italian | OK | Review | UK | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 355 reads

The New Inn, Church Knowle, Dorset


Church Knowle, Dorset

A barn of a pub with seating to the front and the back serves the freshest and yummiest local fish at realistic prices. Q's cod in batter not only had huge flaky white shards of cod but was coated in a tasty not too crisp/not too floppy batter. Chips were good too. Service behind the bar was very much of the jokey London matey type, good humoured and very efficient. Loved it. M
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2001 | Approved | Dorset | England | Pub | Review | UK | ££/$$ | add new comment | read more | 346 reads

The Royal Oak, 23 Long Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorset DT2 7JG


23 Long Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorset DT2 7JG

The Independent newspaper rated this as the third-best village pub in the UK. It has Awards in the Good Pub Guide, AA seafood, Golden Jubilee Heritage, and is les Routiers' South-West Host of the Year, 2003. Superbly cooked food concentrates on first-class local produce, and ranges from Light Bites and Walkers' Favorites to very sophisticated English dishes. So, you might have things like ham, egg and chips, or fish and chips, honey-roast Dorset ham and mustard open sandwich, or specials like steak and Blue Vinney (local cheese) pie with shortcrust pastry, local game pie, local venison sausages with onion gravy and mash, Magret duck, Dorset lamb shank with apricot cranberry and raspberry sauce, fish pie, fish plate.
By m at 04/04/2006 - 08:43 | 2004 | Approved | £££££/$$$$$ | Dorset | England | Pub | Review | UK | add new comment | read more | 409 reads
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