Arto

Arto

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+44 1306 644844+ Add website
Hours
Sun
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Mon
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tue
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wed
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thu
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
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What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS
Food
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Atmosphere
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Does this restaurant accept bookings?
About
Arto is an independent, family run restaurant that offers a varied menu, inspired by the idea of simple and honest cooking with a Mediterranean twist. Experience classic recipes to new age kitchen adventures, where each dish reflects our passion for the highest quality food using fresh ingredients.
PRICE RANGE
$17.00 – $51.00
CUISINES
Mediterranean
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles372 reviews
Excellent
303
Very good
31
Average
18
Poor
9
Terrible
11

James H
24 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 friends
It's refreshing these days to find an independant restaurant offering great food at realistic prices. Arto was full at 7:30pm on a Saturday and the atmosphere was buzzing ! I would discribe the food as simple but perfectly cooked,which is just what we wanted. I must mention our waitresses who was delightful ( we subsequently found out she is the daughter of the owner ! ) A very pleasant evening all round and we will definitely be going back.
Written 18 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ElmParkRoyal
Reading802 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 couples
A very pleasing and unexpected find on Dorking's High Street. Thought we had gone too far from the town centre to find somewhere decent for lunch but then we happened upon this place. Lured in by a very comprehensive and appealing menu, my main thought was that we might be guilty of over expectation. Once inside we found a rather understated and sparsely populated dining room that was rather devoid of any overwhelming characteristic or identity, although obviously perfectly functional. We found a comfortable window seat at the side and decided to go for the brunch option. My mouth still waters at what I subsequently experienced. My eyes truly lit up when I was presented with two hot crispy waffles covered in peanut butter supporting two deep fried globes of tender chicken breasts, which I then covered in maple syrup and topped off with five extra bacon rashers. Classic self-indulgence and a meal which I will probably fondly remember forever. I didn't feel the need for a dessert afterwards. In parallel, Mrs EPR was devouring a plentiful and varied all-day breakfast. In keeping with the breakfast theme, I had very decent latte, which was actually hot, whilst EPR went for an ample pot of peppermint tea. All this was administered by a very pleasant and capable young lady. There were no long waits for anything, check back was timely and detritus was removed swiftly. The bill was entirely reasonable, and the service chargewas noted; probably very sensible when cash use is diminishing. A really unexpected triumph of a visit and I can't wait to call in again. The variety of the menu is very commendable; I've got my eye on that heritage favourite, beef stroganoff, next time round!
Written 19 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Meri I
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 friends
We visited Arto as a group of 4 last night, on an extremely busy Saturday evening. The atmosphere was great and we were served by a very friendly lady who served our drinks quickly. We all shared a selection of starters (calamari, halloumi fritters and chicken skewers) and I had the seabass which was excellent, my husband the chicken souvlaki, and our 2 friends had the lamb shank and seafood paella - all of whom commented on how much they enjoyed their meal. We found the meal to be reasonably priced and ended up enjoying some wine until around 10:45 as the restaurant was still quite busy. We will definitely be back!
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

suedandy
Camberley23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 couples
My wife and I ate at Arto on Friday 10th May at 5:30pm before we went to see a show at Dorking Halls. The two waitresses on duty were very polite and efficient and showed us to our table straight away. We had a bruschetta and potato skins to start and a lamb shank and coconut chicken spaghetti from the daily specials for mains. Everything arrived piping hot, without a long wait, and was delicious. The portion sizes and pricing was good for all of the dishes we had. We would especially like to thank the waitresses who were very kind and very attentive and took the time to talk with us which was a personal touch. They made the dining experience a real pleasure. Thank you.
Written 11 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Grumpyoldman
114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 friends
This was our first visit to Arto to celebrate a friend's birthday but it will definitely not be our last. The menu offers an exceptionally wide range of choice and everything we had was freshly prepared, beautifully presented and delicious. All of the dishes were reasonably priced and the portion sizes were very generous. We also enjoyed a bottle of locally produced Denbies rose at a bargain price from the "specials" menu. Although the restaurant was quite busy we received excellent service from the friendly and helpful staff. Whilst it was a little noisy (a common problems these days) we enjoyed the welcoming and comfortable surroundings and we look forward to our next visit.
Written 15 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mobile820590
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 couples
We had brunch here today, and what a disappointment. We had an 11.00am booking as did quite a few others. We were shown our table, we sat down and we waited..... 10 minutes later, we asked for menus, and a coffee each. If we hadn't, I really don't know how long we'd have been sitting there, it was like we were invisble. My coffee was lukewarm, but I wasn't too fussed about that. But it took 45 minutes for our meals to turn up, and when they did this was the disappointment. My partner's pancakes with bacon, banana and maple syrup was cold. The plate was cold, and when we told the manager he shrugged it off with the comment that the maple syrup had cooled it all down!....then promptly walked off. My partner decided that she wasn't enjoying it and stopped eating it, the waitress came over and was far more sympathetic...and apologetic, something the "manager" decidedly wasn't. On top of that my Shakshuka was overcooked, the eggs were like bullets! But after waiting 45 minutes for our food, I couldn't wait all over again, so I just got on with it! The pancakes were taken off the bill, but we would have much preferred decently cooked food. I don't think we'll be rushing back anytime soon.
Written 18 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bucklander
80 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 friends
Four of us had dinner at 5.30pm pre-Dorking Halls event. I’ve been about 4 times and always has an enjoyable meal. Lovely service, good ambiance and great menu all really well priced. Tonight the Portuguese white wine at £24 was really good value and all four meals hit the spot. Really recommend for great value and a good dining option in Dorking. Great, charming service by Lauren. Thanks for a perfect start to our evening!
Written 3 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda H
210 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 couples
We have been to Arto many times previously & it is our favourite local restaurant but tonight was disappointing. The prawns in my starter were overcooked & the amount of mayo swamped them. My husband’s steak came without any butter & the waitress didn’t ask if he wanted one of the advertised sauces with it. Also service was rather sporadic despite a quiet restaurant after 8pm. We waited quite a while to be asked for drinks yet the mains came out immediately after our starters meaning I struggled to eat my main course. A great shame but i did notice that the owner wasn’t there tonight so maybe staff just need some more training? Bad grammar on the sign too which may be a little thing to most but i find incredibly irksome - sorry!
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arto Restaurant
AmandamH - thank you for your feedback. We are sorry that you were disappointed this evening and felt the urge to rush back home and post your review immediately. I do remember you visiting once before and in fact you made a point of letting me know how great things were at the time and you also emphasised that a member of your group had been a restaurateur and informed me how finickity he was. You mention about your prawn starter being overcooked and being swamped in mayonnaise. The only cooked prawn starter that we offer on the menu is served with a chilli mayo on the side in a pot. With regard to your husband's steak - we do not and have never served our steaks with butter so do not know why you would assume that it came this way. We leave it to the customer to request a sauce at the point of ordering, as this is an additional extra charge. We are again sorry that you had to wait to be asked about your drinks. All our staff are trained, and one of the points that stands out in all our reviews is our great service. As I'm sure you are aware, there is, at this present time, an acute shortage of staff in hospitality and many other industries in the UK. Tonight, is Guy Fawkes Night with the largest firework display in the country taking place just down the road in Brockham this evening (with thousands of people attending) which is why the restaurant was quieter than usual and not at full capacity. However had you been seated between 4.30pm - 6.30pm you will have seen how busy the restaurant was earlier as customers made their way to Firework displays in the area. Once again, we are sorry we did not meet your expectations.
Written 5 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Barbaara C
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 family
I took a brother and sister-in-law to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. It was the right choice of venue. The food was all very tasty and we enjoyed the variety on the menu. The staff were attentive but not fussing and the whole experience has mad us want to visit again soon.
Written 27 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve F
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 none
This was my 2nd visit to Artos in a month and once again the team delivered. We were warmly greeted on arrival and shown to our comfy seats. The table setting was immaculate and drinks were swiftly delivered to us whilst we browsed the menu. The mouth watering selection of mains to choose from is incredible and doesn’t disappoint. Our party chose a variety of dishes and each one was beautifully presented and just so delicious we were blown away by the high quality on offer at very reasonable prices too. Our table service was so brilliant and so professional we were extremely well looked after. The whole experience of Artos is a joy and we cannot wait to return for another exquisite family feast. This restaurant is head n shoulders above any other in town and has easily become our favourite haunt.
Written 6 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leigh local
20 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 family
We were a group of 5 adults who had pre booked a table for a pre dorking halls show early dinner. The table we had specifically booked had been given to another party, despite us being on time. The alternative table was squished in the middle and was unprepared. Service was flustered & not particularly attentive - perhaps this was due to us complaining on point of arrival? Meals were hit and miss. One special of monk fish at nearly £20 was definitely quality over quantity, which would be more acceptable if the quality was there. Instead all 5 greens beans were stone cold over 50% length, the solo broccoli floret was cold, 5 carrot batons, 3 segments of parsnip and potato were hot. Monkfish was chewy and tough. Spare ribs & burger were nice; steak was chewy. Accompanying sides of chips were mixed with 50%being soggy and other 50% crispy. None of the waiting staff came over after the meal was served to check if all ok. If they had, we would have given feedback. They did not ask at point of requesting the bill either. It’s a shame as we’ve seen other good reviews but I don’t think we’ll be rushing back.
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D M
Dear Paula, I am delighted that you have posted a trip advisor review, as it gives me the opportunity to respond to your comments and actions whilst in the restaurant. Firstly, I took a call from you earlier in the week whereby you requested a table for 5 people at 4pm on Sunday. You then proceeded to tell me that you had a shell fish allergy and that you were coeliac and asked if we would be able to accommodate you. I explained all of our dishes are prepared and cooked on the premises and that on the day we could meet your request. I also asked you to mention your allergies again to the server at the time of placing your order. You claim in your post that you requested a particular table in the restaurant. This is simply not true - as I spoke to you in person and I would not have been able to guarantee any particular table as we were fully booked. (However, you intimate that you had never been to the restaurant before by stating that you had seen other good reviews, so you wouldn’t have known the layout of the restaurant, so how could you request a particular table…?) At the time of your arrival, we had one table free (in the window) which was suitable for up to 6 persons, which was held for you. In fact it was the only table free out of 18 tables. At this point, you accosted my excellent long term member of waiting staff and spent about 10 minutes trying to re-arrange the restaurant. You told her that you wanted to make sure that there were no other customers near you eating shell fish. The waitress in question also explained to you that the particular table we were giving you experiences the least amount of foot fall and she confirmed that all tables around yours had already been served their mains. You also requested when you came in, that you were away from the speaker (which you were), as your mother was hard of hearing. It goes without saying, that we have no idea what other customers will be ordering when they sit down and look at the menu, but you seemed to think it was out duty to make sure that no-one ordered any shell fish. The waitress actually, contrary to your claims, came over to your table several times after you had eaten to ask about desserts, which you were considering. You requested the bill, and when the waitress came to take payment - she found that you had left cash on the table, which she then discovered was £15 short as you all scurried out of the door. With regards to the meals – as you quote they were hit and miss. I was rather concerned that you think the Monk Fish meal inclusive of all vegetables at £19.50 is expensive. Yes we are about quality and no-one ever complains about the quantity either, as can be seen on all our google and trip advisor reviews. In fact, Monk fish priced at £19.50 is extremely cheap. You might want to check out the fish counter at Waitrose for an accurate price per kg. You also state that the minute steak was chewy, but the waitress claims that your daughter woofed it down. It is often said that the way someone treats staff in the service industry is a true indicator of their character. You were rude, unpleasant and entitled, and having read some of your previous trip advisor reviews it says it all! For a woman of your senior years you should know better than to humiliate and belittle our staff and feel entitled to do so. We will not tolerate abuse of our waiting staff. I have the right to accept any customers or not….and unfortunately we will not be taking you back.
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

winstonsurrey2018
Surrey72 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 none
I was really looking forward to going here with its excellent reviews. It was very quiet when we arrived at 1pm (only 1 other table occupied). My friend's chicken souvlaki was a bit tough so disappointing. What we found annoying was the waitress (or person in charge) kept coming back to ask us after our main course had been cleared if we were ok and did we want anything else. We were happy to just sit and chat. The place wasn't busy and so they definitely didn't need the table. I don't mind being asked once but we were asked 3 times and felt under pressure to either order something else or leave. I ordered a coffee (which was good) but didn't really want it. I just ordered it to extend our time together. If we had wanted to order a desert or coffee then we would have quite easily have been able to grab the attention of a waitress. I am very hot on good customer service but this went to the other extreme and was annoying. I won't rush back
Written 3 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Colin C
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 friends
10 of us visited on Sunday 6 adults 4 children. We were all blown away with the menu and all could have chosen and been happy with any options on it. I think we ordered most of the starters a benefit to there a few of us. We shared them around and all were beyond tasty (potato skins n stuffed mushrooms were the stand outs for me). The staff were attentive, helpful and very pleasant alway serving with a smile ( Which is regrettably becoming less common)… The food was fantastic and very reasonably priced(again less common) We will definitely be returning very shortly to try and work our way through the rest of the menu. I would highly recommend a visit.
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travel597636
London4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 family
I took my son, daughter and her boyfriend for brunch last Saturday after being for a meal the previous weekend (steak was beautiful) . I had the all day breakfast which was ok, the beans were reheated - the more they are reheated the darker they become but apparently they weren’t reheated ( you can hear the microwave pinging in the restaurant) The others enjoyed their meal so much so my daughter and her boyfriend returned on Monday (Bank Holiday 2ndJan ) for brunch before returning to Belfast where he is a Manager of a restaurant in theCity Centre. They said, they both experienced the most embarrassing, humiliating experience as customers, on behalf of another customer that they wanted to get up and walk out! The other customer complained that his scrambled eggs were re cooked/ not cooked to his liking. The manager bald man with glasses completely humiliated him in a raised voice whereby other customers could hear the conversation. Without going into the whole conversation, from a customer service perspective, the manager was completely out of order and in the days of fighting for your business, he lost many customers. I won’t go if he is working (Jennai is great) , the couple next to my daughter said they wouldn’t go back, their lunch was ruined by the confrontation which didn’t need to happen because of a 50p egg, which the manager told the customer he was over reacting about!
Written 7 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arto Restaurant
I am surprised that you are writing a 1 star review based on an experience that you were not present for and did not encounter first hand? In addition to this, you described a member of your party having a ‘beautiful steak’ and that your daughter and boyfriend enjoyed their meal so much, that they rushed back. Nevertheless, to address the negative points you mentioned, we first and foremost do not employ ANY “bald’ staff, so not sure where this description has come from - factually incorrect yet again. This was Monday 2nd January and the restaurant was at full capacity - 96 customers for breakfast/lunch. May I correct the experience that your daughter and boyfriend had. At approx 1pm I encountered a man stood by the till speaking to the waitress with a plate in his hand. He had just been served a full English Breakfast and his choice of egg was scrambled. Rather than calling a member of waiting staff to his table, he decided to carry his plate around the restaurant (not something you would do in a restaurant). The customer was asked what the problem was and we were informed that the scramble egg was over-cooked. With that, we responded that it was not a problem and we would ask the kitchen to cook another scramble egg. The egg was made in the pan and the breakfast was returned to him within minutes. The customer then shouted in a loud voice “this is not scramble eggs, I’ve been eating eggs for 53 years”!!! I then asked if you would like fried or poached eggs instead. His response was “I will eat the breakfast, but I am not paying for the eggs”. Incidentally, the same chef who cooked the steak (which was beautiful) cooked the scramble egg. By the way, we do not reheat beans. Obviously we can only do so much as I’m sure your daughters boyfriend (who you say is in the hospitality business) will be all too aware. You cannot please all the customers all the time - we are not a chain and do our best as an independent business. It is concerning that some customers think they can shout at a restaurant worker, police officer, hospital worker etc. (or indeed anyone serving the public). When they respond back in what would be deemed a wholly entitled way, they are suddenly ‘out of order’ and should be ‘fighting for their business’. What a shame you didn’t feel compelled to write a 5 star review of your experience on Saturday lunch.
Written 8 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Philip I
Reigate21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 family
Great first visit to Arto. We went as a family on a Friday evening and the place was really buzzing with a very pleasant atmosphere - people were being turned away. Interesting menu - probably best described as Mediterranean with a good choice of dishes from Italy, Spain, Greece etc. All well cooked and very promptly served. Prices were also pretty reasonable. What sets this place apart though is the service. It’s a family run restaurant and you feel that the people serving you really care - very friendly and nothing too much trouble. Will definitely go back.
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Arto, Dorking - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

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