Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Dorset

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants 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 favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Art Sushi

4.9

4.9 (470)

£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

Richard

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Amazing experience at art sushi. It was my fiancés birthday and they gave her complimentary sake. The food was incredible. The best sushi we’ve ever had. So fresh and flavoursome and the staff were brilliant.

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Experience

Chirashi Sushi Selection!

TWELVE EATERY

4.8

4.8 (962)

£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

Dined on Dec 24, 2024

Always a lovely experience in Twelve! Our favourite spot for birthday meals as it’s always a special experience with beautiful, delicious food and outstanding service! Thank you ❤️

Shalims Balti House

4.7

4.7 (947)

£25 and under

Indian

Weymouth

About the restaurant

Shalims Balti House is a national and regional award winning Indian restaurant. Come in and enjoy the best in Indian dining Weymouth has to offer. The mouthwatering food and warm comfortable surroundings all add to the experience that you'll find hard to beat when it comes to Indian food in the area. For the best food, service and comfort dine at Shalims Balti House.

Top review

Julie

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Fabulous. We are regulars and it never fails to please . Excellent

Al Molo Dorchester

4.7

4.7 (467)

£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

Nigel

Dined 2 days ago

This is the best dining experience I have had in a very long time. It was made really good by the consummate professional that was our server. It was so nice to have a bottle of wine properly presented, to have a good discussion about the menu with knowledgeable recommendations. He was excellent. The food was very nice. The menu is varied and interesting. The prices are very reasonable. An absolute gem of a restaurant.

TIIEN THAI

4.6

4.6 (1590)

£26 to £40

Thai

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

*** Tiien Thai has won Best Thai Restaurant in the UK 2023 ***
For more information about the award, please visit our website at: https://www.tiienthairestaurant.co.uk/reviews.
At Tiien Thai Restaurant Bournemouth, we are proud to create exceptional food that is carefully prepared and beautifully presented.
Here you will experience joy and harmony in a serene yet contemporary environment where the most exciting Thai food will be served. Also available for take away.
Our head chef, Pong Pan, sources only the finest authentic Thai ingredients to produce the most sublime flavours. His team at Tiien will guide you on a magical adventure of tastes, aromas and textures.

Top review

Andrew

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

A lovely meal as always. Great attentive staff and tasty food. Highly recommend

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Popular dish

Massaman Chicken Curry

The Old Inn

4.6

4.6 (2897)

£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

Tina

Dined 4 days ago

This was our second visit, we were not disappointed, warm friendly welcome, good selection of food,even for us being pescatarians.The vegetables served were not over cooked, lovely salad according to my husband was very fresh. Standards within the pub were excellent, service was very friendly and professional even, the way the tables were cleaned, the washrooms were very clean. We will be going back and have already told family and friends how great our experience was. Well done The Old Inn

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Popular dish

Garlic Pizza

Tom's Lyme Regis

4.6

4.6 (801)

£26 to £40

British

Lyme Regis

About the restaurant

Tom's Lyme Regis is a multi award winning restaurant situated on the Lyme Regis seafront offering exceptional views over Lyme Bay. We are dedicated to serving stunning food and delivering outstanding service.
Each dish on our menu has been created using fresh local produce that changes with the seasons providing you with an exciting varied menu focused on bold flavours. Since opening in 2020 we have received several accolades including an AA Rosette in culinary excellence, Jurassic Business Award winners for Best Restaurant and Best Business, & finalists in the prestigious Trencherman's Awards for Best Front of House Team and Best Newcomer.

Top review

Jane

Dined on Dec 23, 2024

Fabulous breakfast overlooking the beach Service and food were great

The Italian Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (66)

£25 and under

Italian

Wareham

About the restaurant

A delightful fusion of Italian & British Cuisine by Head Chef Shannon Richards. Contemporary and relaxed atmosphere with superb views across the Purbeck Hills in Dorset. Situated on the picturesque Wareham Quay.

Shannon leads our dedicated team of chefs to bring you a modern style Italian menu using only the finest seasonal produce, our dishes are lovingly and freshly prepared, combining locally landed seafood, premium quality meats and New Forest vegetables along with the finest Mediterranean ingredients.

Top review

Richard

Dined 4 days ago

New Year's Day lunch with friends, oh my goodness I had the white crab linguine starter and it was stunning, for the main course I had steak fritts fabulous!

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Experience

Bottomless Brunch

Oliveto

4.5

4.5 (2482)

£26 to £40

Italian

Weymouth

About the restaurant

Oliveto brings Italian cuisine from the heart of the owners and Italian Chefs. Using local produce with the finest Italian ingredients the restaurant prides itself on quality food with a difference in a venue which provides an amazing setting. Whilst dining on excellent cuisine you can enjoy panoramic views of Weymouth Bay and the Jurassic coastline in a relaxed and grand setting. Respecting the building's origins as part of the piers bandstand the restaurant's decor nods to the past incorporating art deco features together with modern design. You sense a feeling of luxury as you walk through the doors.

Top review

Rachel

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Lovely meal in great atmosphere. Delicious food. Service was excellent. Quick food production. Great views even at night.

The Crab at Bournemouth

4.4

4.4 (1611)

£26 to £40

Seafood

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

The Crab at Bournemouth is one of Dorset's finest, AA rated 2 rosette seafood restaurant.
Situated directly opposite the Bournemouth International Center and just moments from Bournemouth Pier.
Our passionate chefs create an array of delicious dishes sourced from fresh, local produce. Our contemporary surroundings have friendly and personable staff that will make you feel most welcome.
A lovely, relaxing atmosphere with an open balcony when weather permits.

A £5 per person deposit fee is required to make a restaurant booking to confirm and secure the reservation.

Dress Code of Smart Casual (No sportswear, fleeces, sliders, flip flops or beachwear) enforced from 5:30pm. You will be refused entry if not dressed in smart casual attire.

Children aged 8 and under may dine in the restaurant on tables booked with adults between 5:30pm-7:30pm, children's menu is also available. If you are more than 15 minutes late to a booking, there is a possibility your table my no longer be available.

Top review

Nick

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

A great location for a Christmas lunch. Tasty three-course meal, relaxed service and piano accompaniment.

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