The Pantry - West Dorset

Only my second visit to Dorchester in ten years and you can see a change due to Covid. However, as you might expect a number of eateries/cafes are still open but how many were welcoming? Well as it happens very few until I discovered The Pantry. I felt very at ease even with restrictions and even though hot food had been finished for the day they said they would serve us. Simple food is sometimes the best so a jacket potato with a lovely side salad and homemade soup and a brie and cranberry toasty, was perfect!

Covid measures are hit and miss. Female staff are much better at following them than the male staff. Track and trace details are taken but weren’t previously. Details though can be overheard by other customers and are left so they can be viewed by all. Felt uncomfortable around the entrance area as too busy and too much happening here. Friendly staff. Cakes look tempting but found to be dry. Menu sadly limited due to Covid. As a result a fairly average menu so good for a quick sandwich or jacket potato.

Went here today with my son after realising munchkins is now closed. Never even knew it was there and was trying to just quickly find somewhere. just have to say that they were amazing.let us sit upstairs because my son wanted to even though it was closed. Made a lovely lunch for him that wasn't on the menu. and i had a great lunch too.even brought him some colours and books over. Even got him some crisps when they noticed he wanted some of mine. Great value for money too. Thankyou for the effort and will definitely visit again. Very friendly and welcoming.

I had a chicken and mushroom pie, it was big and full of chicken, veg was lovely couldn't fault the food. My wife had a vegetarian option and she also said that it was delicious. Coffee is the best I've tasted in a long while, staff are very pleasant and welcoming spoke to us and made us very welcome. Will definitely go back.

We had morning coffee with scones here. The service was excellent and the home made scones even better. The Pantry is well located in the Dorchester main shopping precinct.