Visited for Sunday lunch which was superb ? would highly recommend. Front of house & waitress service was exceptional, a real hidden gem. Look forward to returning very soon. Thank you.
janet Trent
Came for Sunday lunch , I had belly pork and husband had the beef. Large portions and veg sides. Food delicious as always, service great , a lovely lady on her first shift was so nice. I asked her name then I forgot it .
Matt Rulten
Our first time dining here, what an amazing place! Beautifully styled, spacious (I hate overly cramped restaurants), INCREDIBLE food, drinks & service! A real gem with a hidden cocktail lounge upstairs! Will definitely be returning.
Eleanor Spry
What a gem! Perfect for an elegant dinner or cocktails with friends. The bar staff were so lovely and the drinks even better. Will be back soon!
Stuart Fisk
I have many fond memories of this restaurant. The former owners, Frederic and Serevine, were brilliant - they created a wonderful atmosphere and served truly special food which justified the price tag.The restaurant is under new ownership and I walked away disappointed. The standard of food has dipped markedly (more like a good 'home cook' standard), but prices remain high. It no longer feels like a special French restaurant - to me it felt more like visiting a branch of Cote.Don't get me wrong. My food was nice, the staff were fine, but it is nowhere near what Severine and Frederic delivered.Saturday lunchtime on a sunny day and it was virtually empty. I can't say I'm surprised.I used to go on about this restaurant and always looked forward to going back. Now I'll be heading to the St Tropez Lounge which Frederic and Severine now own. I wish I'd follow my gut feeling and not taken a chance when I knew the place had changed hands.Disappointed.*Edit* the new owners left a snotty, dismissive response to this review which they've now removed. Says a lot about their attitude. Real pity as I used to love this place and used to recommend to anyone who would listen.
Sarah Cockwill
Had the set lunch menu today which was absolutely gorgeous. We had pate to start and then fish and chips!That haddock was probably one of the nicest pieces of fish I've ever eaten (and that's coming from someone who is spoilt with having some amazing fish/seafood, with a husband who ran a fishmongers for over 20 years)Dietary restrictions: Our 5 year old has a cows milk allergy and all staff were made aware on arrival.Kid-friendliness: Very child friendly even though it is a finer dining restaurant.
Robert Attridge
Before our meal we had some cocktails in the cocktail bar. The cocktails were excellent and refreshing. We were able to order our food before we were shown to our table for dinner.The staff were very attentive and the service was what you'd expect from a high end restaurant.The menu wasn't too big which is always a good sign. We decided to share some "whilst you wait" as starters and loved them all. The tempura prawns were exquisite. The mains were delicious too.
Krystie P
Hostess was lovely. The interior is decorated very nicely and in keeping with the nautical menu.The food was nice and I would definitely come again.
Lenny Rothstein
Best Sunday lunch I've eaten. A classy restaurant at very fair prices. Thank goodness the new owners know what they are doing. Much better than it was. Quite superb.
Jamie Higgs-Dey
I booked my husband and I in to the Guildhall Tavern for his Birthday, the booking process was quick and easy with extra confirmation requests too. I was called by Whitney a few hours before the booking and she advised that we were welcome to arrive early and enjoy a glass of bubbles in the drinks lounge upstairs before dinner, this was an unexpected touch so we made sure to finish work early for this.Upon arrival Whitney greeted us warmly and offered to take our jackets before guiding us up to the drinks lounge, advising us of the nights specials and catch of the day before leaving us to relax.The glass of bubbles each were lovely and we decided to order a half dozen Oysters (from Jersey) with Sauvignon vinegar and shallot dressing along with the recommended Sea Salt & Rosemary Focaccia with sun blushed tomato & olive tapenade and beetroot & caraway hummus - the oysters were large, full of flavour and shucked without leaving any pieces of shell, the focaccia was wonderfully warm and light.The ladies upstairs were all friendly and attentive, nothing was any trouble.We then decided to order a bottle of the local Sparkling Dorset Cremant to have with dinner, it’s beautifully crisp with fine bubbles leaving a smoothness as it goes down.We ordered our food whilst up in the drinks lounge, we were then guided downstairs to our table as the starters arrived… Grilled Scallops in the shell with Garlic & Herb Butter and Korean Fried Cod Cheeks with winter kimchi and miso BBQ sauce, both delicious were flavoursome, well portioned and with a variety of textures and flavours on the palette, a great start.For main my husband ordered the Roasted Hake Supreme with herb crushed potatoes, samphire, steamed mussels, chive and caviar beurre blanc and I decided to go for the Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bream with fregola & prawn pasta, shellfish bisque, charred tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel included additional sides of Creamed Leek & Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar Gratin and Koffman’s Skin on Fries - everything was cooked perfectly, the fish had crispy skin, fine delicate flakes of flesh, plenty of sauce, the pasta on my dish wasn’t stodgy or dense and the flavours of both complemented one another perfectly, the mains were, unexpectedly, rather large so we didn’t actually need the additional sides, we were so full already but the fries were so crisp and hot that I just kept shovelling them in to my mouth, I didn’t want them to go to waste!Of course we had to have a dessert, no matter how full we were… Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding for me and the Dark Chocolate Delice for my husband, both truly delicious, full of rich flavour and a great way to finish off a meal. To help wash the desserts down my husband had a St Clements Martini and I had the Summertini - well mixed and balanced - fantastic.Between dishes we were chatting with our waitress (I’m so sorry we didn’t catch your name, you are Italian I believe) as well as Whitney, sharing wedding stories and experiences of where we came from and where we were going in life re. moving, along with Whitney’s heritage, we had such a great laugh with her and the chat really made our evening and was something that you don’t get to experience in many restaurants these days.As ‘front of house’ Whitney is absolutely spectacular, thank you for making our evening and my husband’s Birthday meal extra special, we can’t wait to return soon!(I forgot to take pictures of the desserts!)
Another excellent evening . The added cocktail lounge is also a great way to start the evening .. GT expresso martini is a must on my book. The food as always was superb and the service excellent. Personal feel and friendly .. well done see you again soon .
adamf920
We went for lunch on a Saturday and went for the great value lunch menu! Salmon to start with fantastic pork belly for main. By far the best restaurant around. Service was great as always and the food couldn’t be faulted! Will be back again soon!
Tour14057187994
Excellent food, welcome and service. Enjoyed the cocktail bar upstairs and will come again. Our new favourite place for a special celebration.
Pr1nc31
I booked my husband and I in to the Guildhall Tavern for his Birthday, the booking process was quick and easy with extra confirmation requests too. I was called by Whitney a few hours before the booking and she advised that we were welcome to arrive early and enjoy a glass of bubbles in the drinks lounge upstairs before dinner, this was an unexpected touch so we made sure to finish work early for this. Upon arrival Whitney greeted us warmly and offered to take our jackets before guiding us up to the drinks lounge, advising us of the nights specials and catch of the day before leaving us to relax. The glass of bubbles each were lovely and we decided to order a half dozen Oysters (from Jersey) with Sauvignon vinegar and shallot dressing along with the recommended Sea Salt & Rosemary Focaccia with sun blushed tomato & olive tapenade and beetroot & caraway hummus - the oysters were large, full of flavour and shucked without leaving any pieces of shell, the focaccia was wonderfully warm and light. The ladies upstairs were all friendly and attentive, nothing was any trouble. We then decided to order a bottle of the local Sparkling Dorset Cremant to have with dinner, it’s beautifully crisp with fine bubbles leaving a smoothness as it goes down. We ordered our food whilst up in the drinks lounge, we were then guided downstairs to our table as the starters arrived… Grilled Scallops in the shell with Garlic & Herb Butter and Korean Fried Cod Cheeks with winter kimchi and miso BBQ sauce, both delicious were flavoursome, well portioned and with a variety of textures and flavours on the palette, a great start. For main my husband ordered the Roasted Hake Supreme with herb crushed potatoes, samphire, steamed mussels, chive and caviar beurre blanc and I decided to go for the Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bream with fregola & prawn pasta, shellfish bisque, charred tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel included additional sides of Creamed Leek & Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar Gratin and Koffman’s Skin on Fries - everything was cooked perfectly, the fish had crispy skin, fine delicate flakes of flesh, plenty of sauce, the pasta on my dish wasn’t stodgy or dense and the flavours of both complemented one another perfectly, the mains were, unexpectedly, rather large so we didn’t actually need the additional sides, we were so full already but the fries were so crisp and hot that I just kept shovelling them in to my mouth, I didn’t want them to go to waste! Of course we had to have a dessert, no matter how full we were… Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding for me and the Dark Chocolate Delice for my husband, both truly delicious, full of rich flavour and a great way to finish off a meal. To help wash the desserts down my husband had a St Clements Martini and I had the Summertini - well mixed and balanced - fantastic. Between dishes we were chatting with our waitress (I’m so sorry we didn’t catch your name, you are Italian I believe) as well as Whitney, sharing wedding stories and experiences of where we came from and where we were going in life re. moving, along with Whitney’s heritage, we had such a great laugh with her and the chat really made our evening and was something that you don’t get to experience in many restaurants these days. As ‘front of house’ Whitney is absolutely spectacular, thank you for making our evening and my husband’s Birthday meal extra special, we can’t wait to return soon! (I forgot to take pictures of the desserts!)
David C
Just a heartfelt thankyou to Whitney and Sam and all their team for putting on such a wonderful 70th birthday lunch for me and my close friends and family, last week. All 14 of us had a wonderful time, and without exception all enjoyed every last morsel of our three course lunch, canapes, cremant and wine. Living in Weymouth we will certainly be visiting again and singing your praises in this part of West Dorset. David Clark.
Visited for Sunday lunch which was superb ? would highly recommend. Front of house & waitress service was exceptional, a real hidden gem. Look forward to returning very soon. Thank you.
Came for Sunday lunch , I had belly pork and husband had the beef. Large portions and veg sides. Food delicious as always, service great , a lovely lady on her first shift was so nice. I asked her name then I forgot it .
Our first time dining here, what an amazing place! Beautifully styled, spacious (I hate overly cramped restaurants), INCREDIBLE food, drinks & service! A real gem with a hidden cocktail lounge upstairs! Will definitely be returning.
What a gem! Perfect for an elegant dinner or cocktails with friends. The bar staff were so lovely and the drinks even better. Will be back soon!
I have many fond memories of this restaurant. The former owners, Frederic and Serevine, were brilliant - they created a wonderful atmosphere and served truly special food which justified the price tag.The restaurant is under new ownership and I walked away disappointed. The standard of food has dipped markedly (more like a good 'home cook' standard), but prices remain high. It no longer feels like a special French restaurant - to me it felt more like visiting a branch of Cote.Don't get me wrong. My food was nice, the staff were fine, but it is nowhere near what Severine and Frederic delivered.Saturday lunchtime on a sunny day and it was virtually empty. I can't say I'm surprised.I used to go on about this restaurant and always looked forward to going back. Now I'll be heading to the St Tropez Lounge which Frederic and Severine now own. I wish I'd follow my gut feeling and not taken a chance when I knew the place had changed hands.Disappointed.*Edit* the new owners left a snotty, dismissive response to this review which they've now removed. Says a lot about their attitude. Real pity as I used to love this place and used to recommend to anyone who would listen.
Had the set lunch menu today which was absolutely gorgeous. We had pate to start and then fish and chips!That haddock was probably one of the nicest pieces of fish I've ever eaten (and that's coming from someone who is spoilt with having some amazing fish/seafood, with a husband who ran a fishmongers for over 20 years)Dietary restrictions: Our 5 year old has a cows milk allergy and all staff were made aware on arrival.Kid-friendliness: Very child friendly even though it is a finer dining restaurant.
Before our meal we had some cocktails in the cocktail bar. The cocktails were excellent and refreshing. We were able to order our food before we were shown to our table for dinner.The staff were very attentive and the service was what you'd expect from a high end restaurant.The menu wasn't too big which is always a good sign. We decided to share some "whilst you wait" as starters and loved them all. The tempura prawns were exquisite. The mains were delicious too.
Hostess was lovely. The interior is decorated very nicely and in keeping with the nautical menu.The food was nice and I would definitely come again.
Best Sunday lunch I've eaten. A classy restaurant at very fair prices. Thank goodness the new owners know what they are doing. Much better than it was. Quite superb.
I booked my husband and I in to the Guildhall Tavern for his Birthday, the booking process was quick and easy with extra confirmation requests too. I was called by Whitney a few hours before the booking and she advised that we were welcome to arrive early and enjoy a glass of bubbles in the drinks lounge upstairs before dinner, this was an unexpected touch so we made sure to finish work early for this.Upon arrival Whitney greeted us warmly and offered to take our jackets before guiding us up to the drinks lounge, advising us of the nights specials and catch of the day before leaving us to relax.The glass of bubbles each were lovely and we decided to order a half dozen Oysters (from Jersey) with Sauvignon vinegar and shallot dressing along with the recommended Sea Salt & Rosemary Focaccia with sun blushed tomato & olive tapenade and beetroot & caraway hummus - the oysters were large, full of flavour and shucked without leaving any pieces of shell, the focaccia was wonderfully warm and light.The ladies upstairs were all friendly and attentive, nothing was any trouble.We then decided to order a bottle of the local Sparkling Dorset Cremant to have with dinner, it’s beautifully crisp with fine bubbles leaving a smoothness as it goes down.We ordered our food whilst up in the drinks lounge, we were then guided downstairs to our table as the starters arrived… Grilled Scallops in the shell with Garlic & Herb Butter and Korean Fried Cod Cheeks with winter kimchi and miso BBQ sauce, both delicious were flavoursome, well portioned and with a variety of textures and flavours on the palette, a great start.For main my husband ordered the Roasted Hake Supreme with herb crushed potatoes, samphire, steamed mussels, chive and caviar beurre blanc and I decided to go for the Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bream with fregola & prawn pasta, shellfish bisque, charred tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel included additional sides of Creamed Leek & Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar Gratin and Koffman’s Skin on Fries - everything was cooked perfectly, the fish had crispy skin, fine delicate flakes of flesh, plenty of sauce, the pasta on my dish wasn’t stodgy or dense and the flavours of both complemented one another perfectly, the mains were, unexpectedly, rather large so we didn’t actually need the additional sides, we were so full already but the fries were so crisp and hot that I just kept shovelling them in to my mouth, I didn’t want them to go to waste!Of course we had to have a dessert, no matter how full we were… Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding for me and the Dark Chocolate Delice for my husband, both truly delicious, full of rich flavour and a great way to finish off a meal. To help wash the desserts down my husband had a St Clements Martini and I had the Summertini - well mixed and balanced - fantastic.Between dishes we were chatting with our waitress (I’m so sorry we didn’t catch your name, you are Italian I believe) as well as Whitney, sharing wedding stories and experiences of where we came from and where we were going in life re. moving, along with Whitney’s heritage, we had such a great laugh with her and the chat really made our evening and was something that you don’t get to experience in many restaurants these days.As ‘front of house’ Whitney is absolutely spectacular, thank you for making our evening and my husband’s Birthday meal extra special, we can’t wait to return soon!(I forgot to take pictures of the desserts!)
Restaurantji Recommends
Another excellent evening . The added cocktail lounge is also a great way to start the evening .. GT expresso martini is a must on my book. The food as always was superb and the service excellent. Personal feel and friendly .. well done see you again soon .
We went for lunch on a Saturday and went for the great value lunch menu! Salmon to start with fantastic pork belly for main. By far the best restaurant around. Service was great as always and the food couldn’t be faulted! Will be back again soon!
Excellent food, welcome and service. Enjoyed the cocktail bar upstairs and will come again. Our new favourite place for a special celebration.
I booked my husband and I in to the Guildhall Tavern for his Birthday, the booking process was quick and easy with extra confirmation requests too. I was called by Whitney a few hours before the booking and she advised that we were welcome to arrive early and enjoy a glass of bubbles in the drinks lounge upstairs before dinner, this was an unexpected touch so we made sure to finish work early for this. Upon arrival Whitney greeted us warmly and offered to take our jackets before guiding us up to the drinks lounge, advising us of the nights specials and catch of the day before leaving us to relax. The glass of bubbles each were lovely and we decided to order a half dozen Oysters (from Jersey) with Sauvignon vinegar and shallot dressing along with the recommended Sea Salt & Rosemary Focaccia with sun blushed tomato & olive tapenade and beetroot & caraway hummus - the oysters were large, full of flavour and shucked without leaving any pieces of shell, the focaccia was wonderfully warm and light. The ladies upstairs were all friendly and attentive, nothing was any trouble. We then decided to order a bottle of the local Sparkling Dorset Cremant to have with dinner, it’s beautifully crisp with fine bubbles leaving a smoothness as it goes down. We ordered our food whilst up in the drinks lounge, we were then guided downstairs to our table as the starters arrived… Grilled Scallops in the shell with Garlic & Herb Butter and Korean Fried Cod Cheeks with winter kimchi and miso BBQ sauce, both delicious were flavoursome, well portioned and with a variety of textures and flavours on the palette, a great start. For main my husband ordered the Roasted Hake Supreme with herb crushed potatoes, samphire, steamed mussels, chive and caviar beurre blanc and I decided to go for the Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bream with fregola & prawn pasta, shellfish bisque, charred tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel included additional sides of Creamed Leek & Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar Gratin and Koffman’s Skin on Fries - everything was cooked perfectly, the fish had crispy skin, fine delicate flakes of flesh, plenty of sauce, the pasta on my dish wasn’t stodgy or dense and the flavours of both complemented one another perfectly, the mains were, unexpectedly, rather large so we didn’t actually need the additional sides, we were so full already but the fries were so crisp and hot that I just kept shovelling them in to my mouth, I didn’t want them to go to waste! Of course we had to have a dessert, no matter how full we were… Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding for me and the Dark Chocolate Delice for my husband, both truly delicious, full of rich flavour and a great way to finish off a meal. To help wash the desserts down my husband had a St Clements Martini and I had the Summertini - well mixed and balanced - fantastic. Between dishes we were chatting with our waitress (I’m so sorry we didn’t catch your name, you are Italian I believe) as well as Whitney, sharing wedding stories and experiences of where we came from and where we were going in life re. moving, along with Whitney’s heritage, we had such a great laugh with her and the chat really made our evening and was something that you don’t get to experience in many restaurants these days. As ‘front of house’ Whitney is absolutely spectacular, thank you for making our evening and my husband’s Birthday meal extra special, we can’t wait to return soon! (I forgot to take pictures of the desserts!)
Just a heartfelt thankyou to Whitney and Sam and all their team for putting on such a wonderful 70th birthday lunch for me and my close friends and family, last week. All 14 of us had a wonderful time, and without exception all enjoyed every last morsel of our three course lunch, canapes, cremant and wine. Living in Weymouth we will certainly be visiting again and singing your praises in this part of West Dorset. David Clark.