The River Cafe

I could not agree more with the reviews on this restaurant. Have just returned from a very pleasant evening with friends which was only marred by the feeling that we should have booked a table at La Trompette instead. How The River Cafe got it's star I don't know. The food was ok and the service acceptable but we left feeling like we had been fleeced. We are locals not gullible tourists, we know that we can eat a better food for the same price or less in west London and I seriously object to paying 30 odd quid for a main and almost 20 for a starter in a place with paper tablecloths! I won't be returning...
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5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Saturday, June 11, 2011

Seriously disappointing. We went to the River Cafe with friends as we wanted to try this bastion of the London eating scene. I am glad I checked out the reviews on London Eating first so I was prepared for the shock of the prices. Over £30 for mains, £8 for two scoops of icecream. The food was fine - but it is plain, Italian cooking not fine dining - my started or crab with aioli actually tasted unpleasant (like 'easy garlic' had been used rather than fresh), the pigeon was delicious but served on top of a soggy piece of bread which did nothing for me. The restaurant itself is in a big warehouse with a dodgy blue carpet and our waitresss was charmingly underinformed about the dishes. NOT what you;d expect from such an establishement. I can only imagine that it is kept going by one-timers like us who are interested in food and want to try out such a famous name and locals who are so stonkingly rich they are prepared to spend £100 a head on an average meal. (our bill came to just over £100 a head and we only had 2 bottles of wine between 6). Will not be returning.
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4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Thursday, March 31, 2011

This was our second visit since it re-opened after the kitchen fire. I had read less than flattering reviews so was a little apprehensive. We did not have the same experience as others have reported. The front desk staff were very friendly. Our table was not ready so we had a cocktail at the bar. The waiting staff were very pleasant and the sommelier was very helpful. The food is very competent - my main course of scallops was delicious - and the servings are generous. However... it is eye-wateringly expensive - £16 for a starter and £30-£40 for main courses, and for these prices I suppose I want something a little more formal, more space between tables, more smartly dressed waiting staff and maybe a little less of a "cafe" feel. It is on our doorstep and we will definitely come again, but I think it is better suited to Sunday lunch on a summer's day than evening "special occasion" dining.
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7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Monday, March 28, 2011

Difficult to justify the cost and the Michelin star!

I couldn’t fault the quality of the ingredients, but none of the dishes we ordered were particularly flavoursome – it was an underwhelming experience and I felt I could’ve reproduced all the dishes with ease at home.

I was particularly struck by the lack of interest shown by staff: we were served by a succession of different people; very little eye contact was made; nobody asked if we needed any help with the menu/wine list and our food and drink was just plonked in front of us.

Despite much anticipation, eating at the River Café certainly didn’t feel like a special occasion or a treat – we felt unvalued and rushed. There are far better London eateries where the food is much tastier, the prices more realistic and the staff make an effort to make you feel special.
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4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, March 22, 2011

It seems that quite a few people had a pretty dismal time at The River Cafe......I'm pleased to say that when we went it was brilliant.

Yes, it's really, really expensive (I wasn't paying, so the pain was bypassed), however, the food was very, very good.

* Hostesses are not that friendly, but they are professional.

* Went for lunch one rainy Saturday in Feb - packed.

* Lots of people serve you - I didn't mind. They were all good.

* Sommelier was really nice and it was very pleasant to deal with her

* Crab salad, lemon tagliatelli, sea bass - all incredible (especially the sea bass - the nicest fish I can remeber eating)

* Wine - delcious - the menu is full of varied, unusual Italian bottles (as you would expect)

Would love to go again. Marcellous (if expensive).
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Coops
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Thursday, March 03, 2011

The staff were rude and abrupt. We were rushed. And the fish course was cold and overcooked.

The problems started soon after we were shown to our table. We were not given sufficient time to consider the menu. The waiter came to take our order far too soon. And he returned several times before we were ready. The menu was complex and we needed a few minutes to consider it.

A waitress poured white wine into my friend’s cocktail. The waitress laughed it off. Mistakes happen. But I was slightly taken aback that the waitress did not offer my friend a replacement cocktail.

The secondi course was brought to the table within a minute of the previous course being cleared (literally). The monkfish we ordered was overcooked and cold.

For dessert we ordered chocolate sorbet. We were told that it had come out wrong so had been removed from the menu. We ordered something else.

Before we finished eating, the waiter came over to our table and plonked down the bill unprompted. We had the distinct impression that we were unwelcome and that he wanted us to leave immediately.

This restaurant is not cheap and I would expect decent food and service. We received neither.

I wrote to restaurant about my experience. They did not bother to reply even when I wrote a second time asking for a reply.

I would not return and would recommend others not to go to the River Cafe. It used to be good but those times have passed.
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2 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 11, 2011

We came just before Xmas and because of the 2 sittings they have people arrive all at the same time so you are standing in a cold draft trying to hand over your coat to start with.

The place is very very cramped, you almost sit on your neighbour's lap. I was very unpleasantly surprised with the fact they dare to put a paper table cloth on top of the linnen one which you find at a cheap Chinese restaurant in Soho. I even made a comment to the owner about it.

The food was ok, the vongole was far too salty, the pigeon was very nice. Also the wines were excellent although overpiced. Average bill was £100 per person, definitely not worth this overrated place.
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the Nicky''s - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Friday, December 24, 2010

A much hyped establishment, full of pomp and ceremony - but only if you are an important person.

Looking for a treat, my wife and I made our way to the River cafe for Friday dinner. We arrived at the same time as another couple, and our receptions couldn't have been more different, with one of the hosts pushing past my wife to kiss the other guest hello.

Once we were squeezed into our table, it became all the more confusing. We were served by no fewer than 4 different people, so much so, we didn't know who to ask for the bill in the end.

The food was......ok. The polenta looked more like mashed potato - very sloppy. The pasta was well cooked, but for an 'italian' restaurant it was a little underwhelming in terms of flavour.

If you are a vegetarian - there is very little choice. After 2 enquiries, we found out that a Risotto which appeared to be vegetarian actually used chicken stock, leaving only 2 potential options.

The venue is well presented and lively, although exceptionally cramped. If the people behind us got up, we had to move.

If you are not a local or someone they care about, then you are wasting your money. Towards the end of the meal, the manager came out to greet "special" guests - making the few of us who he didn't greet feel distinctly less than special. Not only disrespectful, but unacceptable for a restaurant in this price bracket. If I had to go again, I wouldn't
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Adam Crozier
2 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Saturday, November 20, 2010

We went for dinner on Saturday night and were so disappointed, the whole experience was bad, the food was not up to its usual standard, the staff didn’t seem to care much either and to top off the night they added a bottle of champagne to our bill which we hadn’t had, given the fact that I really think it is overpriced to start with. It has put us off and not sure we’d bother going again. We’ve been there for lunch and dinner a number of times before and always enjoyed it, but never on a Saturday, so that might well have been the problem!
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7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Not worth the money! The food is so-so. Especially if you eat a lot in Italy, don't visit this restaurant. The food is really basic (with good ingredients), but for these prices you can eat a lot better in London.

35 pounds for a secondi, risotto with veal is absolutely not worth it. The service is relaxed, but in my opinion too much. The lady who served the wine, did not know the name of it and had no clue where it was from.

Conclusion, ok, but absolutely not worth the michelin star!
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George
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Monday, November 15, 2010