THE Good Food Guide has highlighted how rich in top class restaurants West Dorset is.

Arthur Watson’s Riverside restaurant in West Bay has again been selected as one of the best restaurants in the area in The Good Food Guide 2012.

He said: “We are delighted once again to receive such a glowing appraisal from the Good Food Guide.

“It really is the result of lots of hard work by the team.

“It is pleasing to see over time more and more local restaurants joining us in the guide.”

The Riverside is described as the ‘ever popular seafood veteran’. The review continues: “The Watsons have now lost count of how long their abidingly popular coastal restaurant, not far from Bridport, has been in the guide, which is testimony to the formidable levels of consistency they have set.

“Chefs may come and go but the commitment to fresh fish from sustainable sources never waver.”

Masterchef winner Mat Follas said he was delighted his Wild Garlic restaurant in Beaminster is included.

He said: “I really like the Good Food Guide because they are totally anonymous and they act on customer feedback and you can’t buy your way in.

“Some of the other local awards you have to pay fees for them to come and inspect you and we’ve withdrawn from a couple of those.”

Although he has not been inspected this year by either AA or Michelin he is still in their guides for this year.

He added: “Michelin inspected us last year and loved what we did.

“I don’t think we are ever going to get a star.

“There is a certain style and a level of consistency that goes against what we do.

“We very much react to what comes out of West Bay on the day and adjust our cooking accordingly.

“We certainly won’t get to the upper levels of either guide because that is not what we are about doing.

“I want families in here with kids running around.

“There’s an element of casualness that I am very comfortable with us doing and I am determined not to change.”

Other restaurants that have been mentioned and graded by The Good Food Guide are Sienna in Dorchester, Hix’s Oyster and Seafood House in Lyme Regis and the Mill Tea Rooms in Lyme Regis.

Those that have not been graded but recommended include The Hive Beach Cafe at Burton Bradstock and The Crab House Cafe, Wyke Regis, Weymouth.