Restaurants in Weymouth

When it comes to fine-dining choices, what Weymouth lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. Mallams Restaurant is situated in a Grade II-listed building on the quayside. They create simple, elegant and outright delicious dishes from locally sourced ingredients that are as easy on the eyes as they are on the palette. The fish is freshly caught, the meat is sourced from the Jurassic Coast, and a surprising amount of the drinks menu is from the south-west. Mallams may not be the cheapest restaurant in our guide, but you more than get your money’s worth.

Along the Esplanade, Weymouth’s alternative fine-dining option is Al Molo – an art deco, award-winning Italian where the service is absolutely first class. Giuseppe, the owner and chef, has instilled a strong ethos of producing the finest Italian cooking that takes inspiration from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region, but only uses Dorset’s best produce. The seafood linguine and veal meatballs are a couple of our favourites. But, honestly, everything tastes great and no matter what you order, there’s a delectable wine menu – handpicked by head sommelier Andrea – that’ll take your taste buds to the next level.

Another Italian that’s well worth a mention is Manbo’s – a family-run Italian bistro where everything’s made fresh to order from locally sourced ingredients. You can find them next door to St. Mary’s Church, so if you’re out shopping and fancy a spot of lunch at a great little place, then look no further than Manbo’s. The fishcake is a delightful midday snack, while the scallops and steak on the dinner menu are pretty special too.

Sometimes, though, you just can’t beat a good pie, and the ones at the Handmade Pie & Ale House are the best in the business. The guys here actually started out as the ‘Pie Stop’ – a pop-up in the train station – but due to their sheer popularity, they’ve been able to move into a permanent home around the corner. And it’s quite a home, with exposed brick walls, wooden beam work and high ceilings; imagine a culinary, shortcrust cathedral where the menu changes every day in order to facilitate their 32 different pie fillings.

If you like to go against the grain, there’s also the ‘We Don’t Just Do Pies’ menu, which includes some lovely, crunchy chicken wings. To wash it all down, take your pick from the always excellent ale selection. On tap, you’ll find the best of the best, with something new being subbed in whenever the barrel runs dry – check their website to see what’s coming soon.

If you’re on the hunt for fish and chips, Fish ‘n’ Fritz is our favourite in Weymouth. It’s cheap as chips and the portions are massive – seriously, it says ‘cod’ on the menu, but what they serve you is the size of a whale. Fish ‘n’ Fritz’s batter recipe is a trade secret, but when it’s this tasty (and never greasy), would you share it? The service is always friendly, and you can rely on the restaurant being sparkling clean. Of course, you can also take your food away and munch your way through your monstrous meal while walking along the esplanade.

What if we told you that the best curry chef in the country was cooking up a storm in Weymouth? You’d better believe it! Herok, the head chef at Chilli’s was awarded this prestigious title at the 2017 Curry Life Awards – although, it’ll hardly come as a surprise to anyone who’s tried his incredible curries. Everything is freshly prepared every single day, with modern takes on classic recipes that get the mouth watering. If you think you can handle the heat, try the spicier side of the menu but trust us, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

If you like being spoilt for culinary choice, then less than a 15-minute drive from our Weymouth hotel is Brewery Square. It is home to several national restaurant chains, including Nando’s, Pizza Express, Wagamama, Carluccio’s and Côte Brasserie. They’re familiar food options if you like to know exactly what you’re ordering. The thing that sets Brewery Square apart from anywhere else in the country though is the fact that it’s the former site of the Eldridge Pope Brewery in Dorchester that’s continuing to transform, thanks to multi-million-pound investments in its redevelopment.

Explore Brewery Square’s 71,000m² site, which includes designer shops, a cinema, an NHS Health Centre and over 600 apartments, and you’ll have worked up quite an appetite. So, it's good to have some quality, reliable restaurant options for when you want a quick bite to eat. The project is so stunning that you may be planning ahead for a return visit. The good news is that our Dorchester hotel is located on the site, too, so the shopping and dining barely have to end!