South Rising Guest House

The impressive open kitchen acts almost like a stage at this passionately run restaurant, with all six tables positioned to face the chefs and a couple of front-row counter seats for those wanting the full experience. It's a family affair, with Chef Alex Naik joined by his parents and sister, who run the service. The tasting menu is filled with terse dish descriptions that underplay the ambitious and detailed creations, whose greatest strength is the high-quality ingredients, which are often local and seasonal, including some foraged elements.

You can sit at individual oak-topped tables, but it’s at the counter where you can best appreciate the humble and determined approach of chef-owner Kamil. His dream of opening a bright, busy sushi restaurant became a reality here in the suburbs of Bournemouth. The seafood and vegetarian preparations are undertaken with care, understanding and respect; remove the stress of decision making by going for the omakase menu.

Brownsea Island and Poole Harbour can be seen from many of the tables at this superbly located bistro on the water's edge. Unsurprisingly in a place like this, fish and shellfish dominate the menu. Sometimes the produce is treated with international influences, as with the Kerala seafood curry, but the majority of mains involve whole fish cooked over fire, imparting a gentle smokiness while keeping the flesh succulent and adding a crispy skin.