Down House Farm garden cafe

I'm going to start with a review of the delightful garden cafe at Down House Farm in Lower Eype, near Bridport in Dorset.

Set on the edge of Eype Down, and just a short walk from the coast path, this cafe is a haven for walkers, and provides a quiet retreat for those who wish to escape the town. It also offers the best selection of vegetarian dishes that I have found in the area.

At least half of the main courses on the menu are suitable for vegetarians, are home cooked to order, and most of the ingredients used are sourced either from the farm, or obtained locally if possible. The farm, and the surrounding Golden Cap Estate, is owned by the National Trust, and run by dedicated tenants who specialise in organic produce.

On my recent visit (July 2012) I had a mediterranean vegetable frittata served with salad, while my companion had a greek salad. Both were prepared beautifully, and my frittata was delicious. We could tell it was all freshly made with good quality fresh ingredients. Main courses averaged at around £10.

The setting is very beautiful but, with most of the seating outdoors, is best visited on a nice sunny day. Although not open for evening meals they do still take orders for dinner up to 6 pm.

Contact details: www.downhousefarm.org, tel: 01308 421232

Star rating: *****

NB: the star rating is the opinion of “The Dorset Vegetarian”, with a maximum score of 5 stars, and is based on quality of food, choice for vegetarians and overall impression.