Connaught Brasserie

El Murrino

➤ 154 Old Christchurch Rd, BH1 1NL, Bournemouth, United Kingdom

Pizza • Pasta • Mexican • Italian

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"Went here randomly and did not regret it. It was empty when we arrived but started filling up when we were in there. We were initially apprehensive but it did not disappoint. I had the garlic mushrooms to start and they are probably the best garlic mushrooms I have even had!!! Our server was lovely (her name escapes me! but Ronnie, the manager, is a top guy. These guys deserve every success. Highly recommended."

El Murrino

➤ 154 Old Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, BH11NL, United Kingdom

Pizza • Mexican • Seafood • European

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"The best pizza and customer service in town. We are regular customer and this Friday we had the wrong pizza given to us. Upon calling the restaurant and explain the situation, they were happy to rectify this. Not only did they deliver the correct pizza, they send both of the pizza that were originally ordered without accepting the other ones back. Excellent customer service, I definitely recommend this place for the best pizza in town."

Renoufs Cheese and Wine Restaurant

➤ 48a Poole Road Bournemouth, Dorset BH4 9DZ, United Kingdom

Wine • Beer • Tapas • Gourmet

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"We had called-here for drinks during a previous visit to Bournemouth. We were impressed with the wine we drank, and the food that we saw served to other customers. So, today was the realisation of a promise that we made-to-ourselves to revisit and, this time, dine! We were a few-minutes early for our 19:30 reservation having allowed too-much time for our half-a-mile walk from our hotel. The restaurant was not busy, and there were scant customers during our 2½ hour stay. There was only one, very pleasant, member of staff in the bar/dining area. We had assumed he was the Manager, and he did everything: menus, drinks, food orders, food service, and payment. He did this pleasantly with good humour, plus impressive efficiency and knowledge. The food here is principally ‘Sharing Boards’ but also available were smaller (snack) servings of Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie and other “Nibbles”. We chose an ‘Ultimate Board’ (intended for two people sharing and costing £36.95 in total). Within this price you select four types of charcuterie plus four types of cheese to complete the board. Drinks: we started with a 175ml glass of “Martin Codax Albariño” for each of us. The extensive and impressive wine list offers a good selection available by the 175 or 250ml glass: 6 white wines, 3 rosé wines, 9 red wines, 3 sparkling wines and 9 aperitif/digestif wines. The Albariño was very much enjoyed, whist we decided which bottle of wine we would have with our meal. After much thought we chose a bottle of Bin 31 ‘Laibach (Sur Lie) Stellenbosch’; a white wine from what is a great wine-producing region in South Africa. This was superbly delicate and gently flavoured; with the very slight effervescence from the ‘Sur Lie’ fermentation method (fermentation on the lees). We know this method well from Sur Lie Muscadet wines, from the Sèvre-et-Maine region in France. With our wine chosen, we concentrated on the charcuterie and fromage that we would like with our ‘Ultimate Board’. There was much debate between us, but eventually: Our choices of charcuterie were: Salami Milano: with a perfumed scent that was such a delight. Pâté: quite fine but rich and flavoursome. Venison Salami: surprising and just superb. Smoked Pancetta: we loved this delicately smoked pork belly which was served in the thinnest slices imaginable. The cheese was far more difficult to choose: A Cheddar was a no-brainer and it was good; however we have ‘Vintage’ Cheddar at home (aged for 36-60 months); so the Cheddar here was a bit tame for our tastes. Oak Smoked Lincolnshire Poacher: this was very disappointing as half of the piece was totally inedible rind, and the rest was almost impossible to cut with the cheese-knife provided. I brought this to the attention of the Manager this was exchanged with more of the Cheddar. Northern Blue: good and creamy and appreciably tangy. We had another cheese which was firm and good eating, but we cannot recall it’s name (that’s our fail then). To be honest, and sadly, we found the cheese to be not anywhere as good as the charcuterie, we like mostly hard, or at least firm cheese, with strong flavours. Brie, Camembert and other soft cheeses rarely feature at our home (the somewhat explains our choices). The board was loaded with extra ingredients: a good selection of salad and fruit: cream cheese stuffed cherry tomatoes, lovely crunchy astringent cornichon, fresh grapes and pitted olives. There was also a pot of hummus, onion relish, cheese crackers, and a basket of bread (the latter of which we ordered a second). The meal was still a very favourable experience; made better by the extra cornichon provided. Just because I said how much I loved the texture and flavour of these wonderful ‘little gherkins’. After our board we were quite replete and there was no-way we could have managed a dessert, but an extra glass of Viognier for my Partner, and a wonderful 10-year-old Tawny Port for myself, finished-off the meal splendidly."

Twelve Eatery

➤ 12 The Triangle, BH2 5RY, Bournemouth, United Kingdom

Juice • Vegan • Vegetarian • Gluten Free

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"Twelve was recommend to me by a number of local vegans for somewhere to eat rather than the hotel I was staying in. This is probably not only the best vegan restaurant I’ve eaten in, but probably in the top handful of restaurants I’ve ever used over the past 30 years. The ethos and care that has clearly gone into the menu is evident and the place has a nice laid back, refined feel. The menu choices is great with something for everyone with reasonable sized portions. The fact that nearly everything is home made and not bought in processed food is clear this is a really good restaurant. Full marks to the staff at Twelve for an innovative restaurant that’s serves damn good food."

Westbourne Grill House

➤ 127 Poole Road, Bournemouth BH4 9BG, United Kingdom, Northbourne United Kingdom

Grill • British • European • Fast Food

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"One of the best steak houses I've ever been to! I highly recommend this restaurant. I made a booking for one last minute and they accommodated me quickly. Unfortunately, when I arrived and was shown to my table it was laid up for two and the waitress even put down a second menu. I chose what I wanted and was seen to quite quickly. Despite ordering a glass of wine, one starter and one main, the waitress then asked if I was waiting for anyone. As a single dinner this repeated assumption that I must be with someone else made me feel quite saddened, especially as I had pre-booked for one. The wine was very good, and the starter came out in a flash. I had ordered whitebait but what I was presented with was surprising small considering it's £8 (roughly) price tag. The fish was good and the batter was done well. The accompanying sauce/dip and salad were both good as well. The main issue was portion size for me, especially as I see whitebait as a cheap option in normal restaurants. I had the rib-eye steak at £30 (roughly) and ordered it blue. Something that is always risky in my experience, but the chef did it to perfection. I think it is the best blue steak I have had in all of the Bournemouth area. The garlic butter was divine and the chips and onion rings were well prepared. The grilled tomatoes were very good, I must say. Over all, the food was absolutely exceptional and the service was absolutely on point! Except for the price and size of the whitebait and the service making me feel a tiny bit awkward for being alone, I would have given 5* across the board. The place is quite pricey, for me alone with just a starter, main and two drinks plus the tip came to £70. However, the steak was so good that I would still recommend it if you are able to afford it. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: £60–70 Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 5"