The South Restaurants

In summer, and especially on summer weekends, visitors can overrun the restaurants in small villages, so either book a table in advance or prepare to wait. The more popular or upscale the restaurant, the more critical a reservation is. For local specialties, try fresh-grilled river trout or sea bass poached in brine, or dine like a king on New Forest's renowned venison. Hampshire is noted for its pig and sheep farming, and you might zero in on pork and lamb dishes on local restaurant menus. The region places a strong emphasis on seasonal produce, so venison, for example, is best between September and February.

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  • 21. The Ship Inn

    $

    Whether you're in the mood for a traditional Sunday roast or a steak pie with beer gravy and a puff pastry top, this welcoming pub-restaurant with great views over the harbor specializes in a well-executed, modern approach to classic British pub fare. Service is attentive and friendly, and there's an excellent selection of beers and ales.

    Custom House Quay, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8BE, England
    01305-773879

    Known For

    • Outdoor seating overlooking harbor
    • Several vegetarian options
    • Sunday roast lunch
  • 22. Verveine

    $$$$

    This small but acclaimed seafood restaurant attached to a fishmongers' specializes in innovative fish cuisine using the freshest ingredients. Options change daily but might include dishes like roast Devon hake with chorizo, parsnip, and wild garlic or sea-cured mackerel with puffed rice, kombu, and ponzu sauce. There are three set-price dinner menus, ranging from four-course (£55) to 8-course (£95), and three at lunch, starting at £23 for two courses. There are only 10 tables so reservations are recommended.

    98 High St., Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO41 0QE, England
    01540-642176

    Known For

    • Creative seafood dishes using the freshest ingredients
    • Excellent wine list
    • Multicourse tasting menus

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 23. Waggon and Horses

    $$

    A 17th-century thatched-roof building with foundations made from sarsen stones, this traditional inn and pub (Dickens mentions the building in the Pickwick Papers) is a two-minute drive from the Avebury stone circles. With a beer garden that has views of Silbury Hill, it's something of a tourist hub in high season, but lunches and dinners are still excellent. Dishes include whole pan-fried sole with crayfish and coriander butter and a baked Mediterranean tart. Recent innovations include meatless burgers.

    Beckhampton, Wiltshire, SN8 1QJ, England
    01672-539418

    Known For

    • Cozy atmosphere with open fire
    • Housemade food using locally sourced ingredients
    • Crowds in high season

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun.
  • 24. WestBeach

    $$

    Superbly positioned right on the beach close to Bournemouth Pier, this fish restaurant serves the best seafood in town, whether grilled, baked, or in fish pies and stews. The menu usually includes a crayfish roll, a soft-shell crab burger, and wild locally caught fish and shellfish (including local oysters, crab, mussels, clams, and lobster). There are also a few non-fish dishes such as a crispy duck and blood orange salad. Simple wooden tables and a large glass front lend a modern, minimalist feel, and there's a narrow deck and terrace for open-air dining and excellent views over the sea and sand. But be warned: if you turn up for lunch one minute after service finishes, you won't be served. In summer, pick up ice cream and snacks from the adjacent stand.

    Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Bournemouth, BH2 5AA, England
    01202-587785

    Known For

    • Fresh fish and shellfish
    • Sea views from right on beach
    • Minimalist decor
  • 25. Yalbury Cottage

    $$$$

    Oak-beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls, and inglenook fireplaces add to the charm of this restaurant in a 300-year-old former shepherd's cottage across the road from where Thomas Hardy went to school. It specializes in set menus featuring superior modern French cooking using locally sourced produce, with dishes like Portland crab salad, sticky braised beef brisket, and beetroot Wellington with eggplant caviar. Sunday lunch and afternoon tea are also available. Eight comfortable bedrooms are available in an extension overlooking gardens or fields. Lower Bockhampton is signposted off the A35, 1½ miles east of Dorchester.

    Bockhampton La., Lower Bockhampton, Dorset, DT2 8PZ, England
    01305-262382

    Known For

    • French cuisine with an English twist
    • Good-value fixed-price two- or three-course dinner menus
    • Booking up quickly so making reservations is a good idea

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun. No lunch Tues.–Sat.
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