Things To Do in Bournemouth: Eating Out

Bournemouth is home to a diverse set of international cuisine, from Moorish, Turkish and Korean to the more established Thai, Chinese and Indian. Also, as in most towns with a significant student population, there are the usual assortment of takeaways to grab a quick bite or in some cases, to sober up.

On my jaunts around the Bournemouth restaurant scene, I've had the pleasure of dining in ambient atmospheres with friendly service. Some of the food was fantastic and some of it could perhaps be described as slightly bland however thankfully, no experience has been awful.

Here is a brief summary of some of the places I've eaten with a mini-review. Please note, I can't necessarily remember what I'd eaten in each one as some of the visits were a long time ago!

-Barolo, Wimborne Road, Winton

Barolo is a popular Italian restaurant, close to the hub of Winton and within an easy 15 minute bus journey from town. I remember it being quite a large restaurant however the dimmed lights afforded it an intimate quality. Patrons seemed happy enough to wile away a few hours just sitting at the well-stocked bar, chatting with the barmaids, waitresses and owners. Our waiter was very keen to make sure everything was satisfactory, albeit sometimes too keen and bordering on intrusive but never crossing the line. Good service, smart restuarant, fairly good food.

-Bedouin, Charminster Road, Charminster

Ah yes. "We came to Bournemouth and moored in Charminster. It's Moorish, very Moorish" reads the banner at the front of the restaurant. If this slightly bizarre headline doesn't catch your attention, then the throng of Arab gentlemen who often stand outside chatting away will, symbolising Bedouin as a focal point in their community. Inside, there is a smallish restaurant where it can feel a bit cramped however this could be merely because it always seems to be full. In another room, young men smoke shisha pipes and do some more socialising. Good, flavoursome Tunisian and Moorish food with lots of new tastes, unfamiliar to the British pallete. Try a Moorish coffee. Hint: It's nothing like traditional coffee but give it a go.

-Nippon Inn, Charminster Road, Charminster

If you haven't tried Japanese cuisine, there's no better place to sample it then the Nippon Inn, Charminster. I'm not particularly a great seafood or fish eater myself but even I enjoyed the maki sushi, washed down with the Japanese wine, sake. We had one of the specials too which I must confess I can't remember the full name of. Yellow-tail something? I'm sorry. Alas, it went down well and the tiny pieces were also served with ginger and the customary wasabi sauce (very hot!) to give a distinctive taste. The waitresses were extremely friendly and even taught us some Japanese and wished to see us soon. They also had green-tea ice cream, a taste sensation! Try something different if you haven't already and give this very reasonably priced, quality eatery a go.

-Dragon Inn, Wimborne Road, Winton

OK, so I've never had a sit-down meal here but they've long been our preferred Chinese takeaway. For personal service from some of the friendliest staff around, who will offer the odd freebie depending on how much you spend, make this your choice for Chinese. Oh and the food isn't bad either. In fact, my girlfriend assures me that the Singapore rice noodles are a particular favourite.

-Aruba, Pier Approach

I'll be honest here. For a night out, I wouldn't recommend Aruba, it's just not my thing but that is a personal preference. In daytime though, their tasty fusion food, though on the pricey side, is worth sampling. If you're lucky, you can also get a view looking out to sea. Do they still have that parrot at the entrance too?

-Tuk Tuk Thai, Charminster Road, Charminster

I took my girlfriend out here for one of our anniversaries as she loves Thai food. Tuk Tuk Thai is another one of those intimate restaurants, with complementary decor and an authentically traditional menu. The beef strips that I had that night were particularly good. If you want to try something different, have the hot Fisherman's Soup.

-La Tasca, the Square, town centre

La Tasca is the only chain restaurant on this list, tucked away on the edge of the Square. I've never visited its neighbour, Tapas Plus so can't comment there on whether it being an independent merits it being a more authentic experience. Still, La Tasca, a Spanish tapas bar, though not cheap, is cheerful. I'm a big fan of the decor and mood lighting and they do a pretty good paella too. There's lots to choose from so you won't go home hungry.


-Places that have been recommended to me

Eye of the Tiger, Baan Thai (both Old Christchurch Road, town centre)