Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Dorset

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best service in Dorset? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

GAJA

4.9

4.9 (47)

£25 and under

Indian

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Welcome to Gaja, Charminster's newest destination for Indian cuisine and bar experiences, where the rich flavors of India meet modern elegance.
Inspired by the sanskrit word for "elephant," Gaja symbolises strength, wisdom, and royalty - qualities reflected in every dish we serve.
Our menu offers a diverse selection of authentic Indian cuisine, crafted with fresh ingredients and traditional spices.

Experience the perfect blend of cultural charm and contemporary ambiance, with warm lighting and attentive service ensuring a memorable visit.
We prioritize hygiene and hospitality, making Gaja the ideal spot to savor India's vibrant culinary heritage in the heart of Charminster.

Top review

Donald

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food and service on our 5th visit. Prices reasonable,good choice of menu and drinks,looking forward to visit No.6.

TWELVE EATERY

4.8

4.8 (1016)

£26 to £40

Vegan

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Sustainability and nutritional is at the core of Twelve. There are no obvious vegan cues and most of our guests don’t even make the connection that the menus is plant-based.

Twelve is defined not by what’s missing but by what it is.

Twelve Eatery is where vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians, flexitarians, omnivores and meat eaters meet to try creative dishes in a good atmosphere with stylish interiors.

We believe great food and good music should be enjoyed by everyone!

Top review

Joy

Dined 7 days ago

Fabulous service, amazingly delicious food that surpassed expectations with every mouthful - great atmosphere and surroundings- highly recommended and beyond!

Lulworth Lodge

4.6

4.6 (432)

£25 and under

Bistro

West Lulworth

About the restaurant

Set a pebble's skim from the iconic Lulworth Cove, our all-day ground floor bistro serves contemporary food sourced from the local ingredients.

For lunch service we offer our seasonal ‘a la carte’ menu and a nibbles / sandwich menu, so please drop by for a crab sandwich or cream tea on the terrace. Dogs are welcome on the terrace as well as in the restaurant.

We are sorry to say we are unable to take reservations for the outside seating area, however you can always just walk in !

Top review

Rachel

Dined 2 days ago

Delicious food, super speedy service, Very children friendly, waiting staff excellent

Quay Inn, Wareham

4.5

4.5 (98)

£25 and under

British

Wareham

About the restaurant

The Quay Inn is set right on the the quay at Wareham overlooking the river Frome, and has been welcoming patrons since it was built in 1747.

In addition to a fantastic array of high-quality local ales, beers, and refreshments, we offer mouth-watering food menus featuring the unique Black Rock grill, along with a variety of traditional snacks and meals. Enjoy top-notch entertainment throughout the year and a warm welcome every day of the week.

Top review

Carol

Dined 2 days ago

Lovely friendly team doing a great job. Good varied menu and knowledgeable when it comes to Allergies. Our regular go to Inn reasonably priced and with a good bar

Pho Bournemouth

4.7

4.7 (359)

£25 and under

Vietnamese

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Pho Bournemouth is a healthy Vietnamese restaurant with loads of vegan and gluten free options.

We specialise in phở, the Vietnamese noodle soup and also serve delicious curries, rice dishes, wok-fried noodles, and fresh salads too. Our starters such as summer rolls and spring rolls are perfect for sharing with friends and family. We also offer an entirely gluten free dessert menu with dishes like Pandan waffles, condensed milk ice cream and a Vietnamese affogato.

Over a third of our menu is vegan, and nearly all of it is gluten-free, so we are a great destination for people who follow those particular dietary restrictions. We are also accredited by Coeliac UK.

Aside from our lovely food we offer a brilliant range of healthy juices, as well as delicious wine and beer, and a fantastic cocktail menu too.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Ps, we are dog friendly so your 4-legged friends are always welcome.

Top review

Lynnette

Dined 5 days ago

Went with work colleagues for a birthday. Beautiful Food, beautifully presented and well priced. Service was attentive and friendly. Would Definitely recommend

La Trattoria

4.7

4.7 (1054)

£26 to £40

Italian

Swanage

About the restaurant

La Trattoria is a family run Italian restaurant specialising in seafood. Gerry and Louise Forte opened La Trattoria in 1970 and since then, it has been run by the family.

During the current Coronavirus outbreak there are restrictions in place, please read them on our website and make yourself aware of them.

Despite the current situation, we are now open again and hope to welcome you soon.

Top review

Jason

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent service and food simple but delicious would recommend

The Anchor Inn

4.7

4.7 (852)

£25 and under

British

Bridport

About the restaurant

You'll find us nestled snugly right on Seatown Beach, hidden along one of the many coves that litter Dorset's famous Jurassic coastline. Once a smugglers haunt, the pub now serves a seasonal menu with a focus on seafood and fresh local produce.

Complete with wood fires and Palmers award winning ales, the pub is the perfect location to refuel after a day on the coastal path or for a special evening meal with friends or family.

Top review

Chris

Dined on Jul 21, 2025

Good food and service but you certainly pay a high price for the excellent location

Al Molo Dorchester

4.7

4.7 (552)

£26 to £40

Contemporary Italian

Dorchester

About the restaurant

Al Molo is an award-winning Italian restaurant launched in 2015 and transformed Weymouth’s Pier Bandstand into a destination for wonderful Italian food. Co-owners Giuseppe Vannucci & Tim Newton achieved national recognition from the Italian Chamber of Commerce with the “Marchio Ospitalità Italiana“ seal of quality award and won Gold for ‘Restaurant Of The Year’ at the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards.

Building on that success, this new restaurant, their second, Al Molo Dorchester, is traditional Italian cuisine and seafood Restaurant focus to bring fresh, locally caught fish to the forefront of the menu.

Situated in one of Dorchester’s oldest buildings, Judge Jeffreys on High West Street, one of the few surviving timber-framed buildings in Dorchester.

Using fresh, locally caught fish and produce, coupled with the finest Italian ingredients, the restaurant will pride itself on quality food in a venue which provides a unique historical setting.

Top review

JulieVIP

Dined 4 days ago

A really lovely evening. The service was outstanding and the wonderful choices of food was delicious and beautifully presented, complimented by starched white linen. Good atmosphere and dogs most welcome.

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8 Course Tasting menu £68

The Old Inn

4.7

4.7 (3030)

£26 to £40

British

Wimborne

About the restaurant

The Old Inn is a traditional country pub in the heart of the idyllic village of Holt. Situated close to the historic town of Wimborne Minster, The Old Inn is the perfect destination when you fancy a homemade, traditional pub meal. With real fires, a beautiful garden and fantastic service, this pub is definitely worth a visit. We have worked hard to put together a menu that offers something for everyone. Everything is freshly prepared at the Old Inn, from our Chicken Liver paté, to children’s chicken nuggets. We pride ourselves that all of our meals are traditionally cooked using largely locally sourced ingredients and our seasonal specials are definitely worth looking at too, as well as our delicious desserts! We aim to provide a prompt, efficient and friendly service and we can cater for all types of parties.

Top review

Barbara

Dined 7 days ago

Good food and service in nice surroundings, very pleasant staff.

Art Sushi

4.9

4.9 (517)

£26 to £40

Japanese Speciality

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Art Sushi was named on The Good Food Guide top 100 restaurants also the OpenTable top 100 restaurants in the UK and included in both the MICHELIN Guide and Good Food Guide. Chef Kamil Skalczynski - a finalist of the World’s major and most prestigious tournaments for Sushi Masters.
WORLD SUSHI CUP 2016 IN JAPAN and also GLOBAL SUSHI CHALLENGE 2015.
Adviser World Sushi Skills Institute and also He won the Certificate of International Sushi Kuro-Obi and International Proficiency, the Only accepted In the World, awarded by the Japanese Government under the Leadership of the Japanese Association „SUSHI WSSI ALL JAPAN ASSOCIATIONS AND NORWEGIAN COUNCIL SUSHI AND SEAFOOD”.
Co-founder of Japanese Restaurants, awarded by ‘AWARDS OF EXELLENCE BY POLAND 100 BEST RESTAURANTS”. Chef in Chef Academy & Cookery School.
He gained his experience working and completing internships in well known restaurants in Poland, the Michelin Star Atelier Amaro and also he graduated the Academy of Jean Bos.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 3 days ago

Sat at the sushi counter and had a wonderful meal. The food was excellent and chef makes it look so easy. Sake was great. Services was quick and friendly. Our only feedback was Having been to sushi counters in Japan and Vancouver it would have been nice if chef was a bit chatty and had a bit of banter to those at the counter. We definitely recommend and will return!!

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Experience

Futomaki Sushi Selection

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