The Engine Room in West Dorset

Stopped off for quick lunch and coffee. Staff were friendly, smartly dressed and helpful, asked about allergies for food order. Good range of snack lunches including kids menu, good range of cakes including GF range. Restaurant was bright and airy and clean. Easy disabled access and parking available. Would go here again.

The food was very good but much as I hate to say it, the service was poor. Initially shown to a table with some poorly muttered instructions, from which we gleaned we were at table 3, after twice asking for a repeat. 1 menu between two. Then sitting for 10 minutes waiting and finally realising that the instructions were order at the counter. Sigh. Ordered, paid. Drinks came... full sugar instead of diet, although did come several minutes later with diet one...too late. Food was generous, although I question the chips which looked as though they were cut using a coarer... so probably quite high fat, and were served already highly salted. 🤔 so a little disappointed really. But will try again at some point.

First visit today as a family of 4. Average food and experience. I personally only had an Egg & sandwich which came with a side salad. The bread was dense with particularly chewy crust, butter layer way too thick and had no Cress in the sandwich itself. Side salad consisted of half a plate of salad leaves, 1 slice cucumber, tomato, red onion and pepper. Personally I think a side salad should include more than literally 1 slice of salad produce but perhaps that's just me! Despite this it tasted okay. Disappointed that all drinks were served without Ice on a warm day (when asked a couple of cubes were sourced for us however) and seats definitely require covers, after a considerable wait all of us including both elderly guests found it very uncomfortable.Won't be in a hurry to return again and appears I wasn't the only disappointed customer as during our short visit I happen to overhear the manager dealing with 2 separate complaints (wasn't ease dropping but the location in which the manager decided to discuss was on a public table just next to us! - perhaps a more subtle place is required in future Engine Room

Food is really nice, I wouldn't drink to much it's pretty much impossible to find the toilets it needs to be signed better

Excellent service and excellent meals. Staff are attentive and nothing is too much trouble.

As an infrequent regular, just an update ... level of service great as usual, food just lovely as usual, but what have they done with the bacon? .... absolutely delicious! Don't know if they have changed suppliers and didn't have time to ask... unfortunately.... has gone from 'That's nice bacon' to 'Damn, that's good bacon!'

Would recommend a visit for breakfast. The large breakfast £11.50 including a hot drink came with loads of bacon 2 sausages 2 eggs, beans, tomato, mushrooms and toast, what more could you ask for ? Service and staff were great too and were cleaning thoroughly after guests. A range of other breakfast options were available which all looked good too.

Had a luxury hot chocolate and a toasted baguette with chips and salad. Chips were honestly the best I’ve had in years, and the hot chocolate was delicious, and at the perfect temperature. Would give more than 5 stars if possible.

Great range of food from snacks to full meals, my wife had the club sandwich and that was really good as well as my bun, and even better the bacon was not smoked - I cannot understand why some places use smoked bacon as it puts off half the possible consumers!The staff were attentive and polite, fixed our rocking table before we asked, loads of space and good value.There is also a covered outside area but you need sun!

Food was good. Much better value in comparison to other places. Portion sizes were great for the price. Covid restrictions meant the meal was placed on a table away from us, then we would have to collect it ourselves. Cetainly not the worst system for protecting staff. The place itself was clean and furnishings were nice and modern. Worth a visit if you're in the area and in need of a meal. Visited 23/10/2020