The Curlew

One of the Best Places To Visits in Parley Cross Frequently mentioned in reviews: Top-rated.online cuts through the clutter, highlighting only the reviews that are most helpful, earn the most likes, or come from the most active contributors. The Curlews - West Parley (October 2025) - 2 visits ! Table for 2 on both occasions Sunday Lunch after a busy week..... Week day evening out..... Both occasions very good, excellent from Emily 5* too. Sunday Lunch (Turkey and Pork) and our absolute favourite Chicken Skewers with Feta Salad....Great flavours! Thanks Julian & Amanda This week, a lunchtime visit to The Curlew and it didn't disappoint. A welcome when we arrived and we found a dog seating area for Mr Ted. The was and efficient. We liked the varied menu opting for Prawn skewers , Thai chicken & coconut curry, fruit crumble and banana choux bun. With , 2 courses came to £65. We will definitely return. A atmosphere, quality food and staff. We went out for a family birthday meal with the grandparents as we received a 40% off mains voucher, which made it more value for money; I personally would not go at full price. Because of the promotion it was very busy in the restaurant and food was a little slow in coming out as expected, but they communicated with us when our food was due. One of the plates had to be sent back because elements of the dish was cold, but they sorted this ASAP. I would recommend going here for dinner, but perhaps the usual price is a little more than I'd like to pay for the food. Plenty of choice on the menu and a lovely to be in. Dinner at The Curlew, Dorset – A Pleasant Surprise! We turned up at The Curlew as a hungry family of five, and although we hadn’t booked, the were very accommodating and let us know they could fit us in for an hour before their next reservation. That was more than enough for what we needed – and we really appreciated the warm welcome. We kept things simple and went straight for and mains. Between us, we had the buttermilk chicken burger, the signature burger, a chicken, bacon and avocado salad, and a kids’ meal of chicken nuggets with chips. Everything came out promptly and piping hot – perfect after a long day exploring. Because we ate efficiently, we were kindly offered dessert too, which was a lovely touch. We went for the sticky toffee and date pudding with custard, a sharp and refreshing lemon tart, and a kids’ brownie with ice cream – all of which went down an absolute treat. The pub itself has a modern, welcoming feel – stylish without trying too hard – and it’s clearly well looked after. All in all, a little spot with food, attentive staff, and a relaxed vibe. Would happily return (next with a booking!). & Fantastic Food for Family Birthday Our mixed party of 9 enjoyed a wonderful lunch - the menu catered for kids and adults alike. Emily's made for a wonderful afternoon. We ate inside, but were able to enjoy in the garden. The Sunday roast was plentiful and tasty. Their house special skewers were fantastic, and the sharing plates perfectly proportioned. Made to feel welcome from moment we went in. Very dog friendly, there was a lot of fussing over our 2 labradors. We had some little plates of what they called bar snacks, a bit like tapas which were really nice. Some beers on tap and cocktails. A atmosphere, we would definitely go in again of in the area. we came here for Father’s Day lunch. they were offering a set menu for just under £30 for 3 courses. food was lovely, I had the 3-meat roast dinner with extras, my brother has the veggie roast and our dad had the fish’n’chips. HIGHLY recommend the lemon tart for dessert 🍋🥧 lovely service, they managed an obviously busy Father’s Day very well. PLUS 🐶 which is always a plus. Lovely welcome for our party and the dogs, the waitress asked the names of each of our dogs, and remembered them throughout our meal. We mainly had the Sunday Roast, i myself had the turkey. The quality and quantity of our meal fabulous, we all really enjoyed the food. by Sharon, our waitress, was second to none, attentive but not at all rushed. Desserts were scrummy, I had The Honeypot and it was delicious. All in all, well worth a visit! This was my second visit to the Curlew. I was very impressed that the waitress remembered not only me but our dogs and who we came with the first time. We were all made to feel very welcome. The roast was very tasty. I shall be going back next I'm camping at Back of Beyond campsite. We booked this place for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. Allowed dogs, and and communicative staff. They have been brilliant as I needed a few wicked things for my meal. They helped me in choosing and altering without a fuss. Front garden, parking for many cars. Had a table booked for the lads to chat over old times . We were put on a large table , in the corner . No stress no problems . Our waitress Yasmin was very helpful and supplied beers and food .. Would recommend outside or inside . Sharing platters were top`s. Enjoyable night . Thank you Heard things about the roast dinner but unfortunately the beef was chewy and the roast potatoes had clearly been sat under a heat lamp for some as they had lost their crispiness. Ordered pigs in blankets as an extra and they were grey and only just cooked :-( Waitress and was however We have been regulars at The Curlew for years, and the consistency is the reason we keep going back. The daytime know our exact order, and it is a very specific one, yet they still get it right every single time, thanks to the waitresses and chefs, they know the order off by heart, and just read it out to us when we’re seated. The welcome is always warm and energetic from all the staff, and especially Emily, Kate and Sharon who usually look after us are easily 10/10 every time! The chefs deserve the same credit. Our previous regular chef was brilliant, and we genuinely did not think the food could improve any further. He even came out on his last day to say goodbye and told us he always made sure our order was done exactly how we liked it, and was sad to leave. We do not see the kitchen team, so we do not always know who is cooking or how many chefs there are, but the 2 times we have mentioned how incredible the food was, it was Noah. All the chefs are also excellent. We have had lunch here 60-70 times without a single issue. Food, service, timing, everything is consistently spot on. The lads working the floor deserve credit too; they are friendly, welcoming, and do their best to memorise our order when they are serving. They keep everything running smoothly. We bring family here after work and often end up coming twice in the same day because the experience is always so good. For comparison, Poole and Three Legged Cross are not close. The there is slower, dishes aren’t available and the overall experience is hit and miss with the odd poor visit. I even had a waitress in the Poole restaurant bring the wrong dish and insist it was what I ordered, which it wasn’t, as my order never changes. The Curlew is in a different league. Please change nothing and stay incredible. We ate at the Curlew on Sunday lunchtime with 2-friends. Emily was our server and gave excellent through our meal. Drinks, main course then dessert were all very good. Emily was there when we wanted her and looked after us really well. Absolutely shocking place. I’ve been to The Curlew before and it’s definitely not the same since the old manager left — the difference is night and day. We went in for just one drink and were met with some of the rudest I’ve ever come across. Instead of a polite explanation, we were basically snapped at and told “this is a restaurant, not a pub” in the most condescending way imaginable. There was no courtesy, no basic manners, and certainly no sense of customer service. I’ve eaten and drunk in plenty of places and never once have I been spoken to like that. The made us feel completely unwelcome from the second we walked in. It’s one thing to have rules about drinks, it’s another to be downright rude and unpleasant to people who are just trying to enjoy themselves. If this is how they treat potential customers, I dread to think how they treat people who actually sit down to eat. Horrible attitude, zero respect, and an ruined instantly. Save your money and go somewhere that actually values customers — because The Curlew certainly doesn’t. We will never be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. 5/5 we went on August Bank Holiday for lunch. We had a lovely waitress, Sharon and she set the scene for the next 2 hours. Didn’t have to wait too long for food, especially as they were really busy, it was hot and well presented. Will definitely be going back. We really enjoyed everything about our visit. The Curlew is a place to visit - Sharon made us feel most welcome and was able to advise on the menu with cheer and grace. The food was delicious. Many different seating areas to accomodate every situation. Thoroughly recommend - oh and dog - a definite plus point! The Curlew kindly hosted a wake for my family last week. Alisdair (manager) was so and helpful getting everything prepared. Due to the relatively small (30 people) gathering, we were able to use the conservatory area to keep our party slightly separate from the patron’s of the pub. We opted for the sandwich menu with chips and the tea/coffee package. The food was delicious and everyone complemented the quality!! Alisdair set us up with a station so everyone could just help themselves to hot as and when they wanted. It was to have the option that people could buy alcoholic or order full meals, should they so wish, whilst we were there too. The pub was decorated beautifully and on a chilly winters day, it was lovely having the fires going adding a too. Even under the circumstances, we had a wonderful at The Curlew thanks to Alisdair and his team. Thank you very much!! Went out for a family meal with 8 of us Saturday 13th December. We have eaten here many times and food and has always been first class. This experience was not good, food was cold and sent some back but not much better upon return. Our waitress Lauren was very but will not be returning as basic standards were not met. Came in for lunch on Monday, it was my first time visiting the Curlew. The and food were both great. Sharon was our server and she couldn't do enough for us and was very friendly and welcoming. Food was all really yummy and lovely atmosphere. 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