River Cafe

Went in March and it was utterly fantastic. The food is incredible, very fresh, seasonal and perfectly cooked. Best pasta ever - Crab, fennel, chilli and lemon. Certainly not cheap but worth it for this quality. The interesting thing is wine is very refreshingly priced - Prosecco for £3 a glass is not what you'd expect at Michelin star level.

One downside my wife had the vegetarian main course - this was billed as a selection of the latest market fresh veg. In reality it was all the sides from the mains, so lentils, beans and potatoes. Very depressing - especially when started was amazing antipasto of fresh broad beans, asparagus, tomatoes etc.

But they were very gracious when we said we weren;t happy and gave us free deserts. Even better the manager seemed genuinely interested in our feedback.
Comment on this reader review

foodlover
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, May 21, 2007

Ate at the River Cafe on Friday. Whilst waiting for my fellow diners, I ordered a drink which took five minutes to arrive (despite there being more staff than diners at this point of the evening). I wasn't very impressed by the choice available on the menu although what i did choose was nice. Note I only said 'nice'. At nearly £92 per head (2 courses, wine, coffee and liquer), I felt like I had been well and truly mugged!! Some staff were very polite, some very helpful but some were snooty and full of attitude. Overall, a very poor dining experience. I will never return.
Comment on this reader review

Johnny
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, April 16, 2007

This restaurant is more famous for its cookbooks than for its cooking. Nice atmosphere and a good setting but that is far as it goes. I can pay far less for same quality food at my local Italian (no need to travel to the edge of London).
Comment on this reader review

JTL
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 4
Sunday, April 01, 2007

We had dinner at this place on Friday 16th March and i must say what a BIG let down it was, the food was far too fussy and extremely over priced.

The staff were very poor except for the stunning blonde lady who greets you when you arrive.

The other good point was the car parking !!
Comment on this reader review

john
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, March 17, 2007

My husband & I had lunch at the River Cafe today & it was absolutely excellent. The food (insalata mista, lamb, chocolate nemesis) was delicious & it rates as one of the nicest meals we've had in quite some time (& we eat out regularly). The service was impeccable (thanks to the lovely waitress serving on the terrace earlier today) and, whilst pricey, it was worth every penny. We'll definitely return!

Susie B
Comment on this reader review

Susie B
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

I travelled from Bristol to meet a friend at the River Cafe for lunch on Tuesday 6th March - somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time. We had 3 courses a GLASS of wine and a coffee each and it was a breathtaking £147.00!!!

The food was high quality in a Tuscan peasant sort of way with tons of oil and beans but nothing that you could not prepare at home with one of their cook books. For this sort of money you would expect decent glasses - no scratched duralex ones like we had a school, or nice table linen - no paper covers, or fine cutlery - no again unattractive school standard stuff. Unlike most of the other reviews the waiter was pleasant and no cause for complaint. This is a CAFE charging outrageous and unjustifiable prices, perhaps the rest of the restaurant was full of the Guardian special offers at £20 a head, more like it. Dont waste your money.
Comment on this reader review

Z Tomison
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

I was protmpted to write by the review below by 'Paul'. I thought we had caught a bad night, but our experience with supercillious service was identical. Asking if there are any tables outside obviously marks you out as a pleb for the entire evening. Having dropped this clanger, we were unwelcome peasants. We too were in an awkward position, because we were repaying a favour to our guests, and The River Cafe was their particular request. Thje staff should dine at the namesake restaurant in Brooklyn, NYC to see how it should be done. I resented paying, but couldn't embarrass

our guests.
Comment on this reader review

Helen Harbut
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, February 14, 2007

I nearly didn't go because of all the negative reviews but the Guardian 3 course for £20 seemed a bargain so we kept our 2.15pm table and I can only highly recommend it. The food was fantastic, the service brilliant (we told them we were on a budget and they were super helpful in suggesting an affordable wine) and the atmosphere just right for a special lunch. 3 courses, a bottle of wine and service came to £65 and I would certainly go back.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 06, 2007

The food is beautiful – up to its reputation. However, the service is vile. The staff think the diners are an inconvenience. One of our guests is diabetic, and had injected insulin. Only that individual's need to eat soon prvented us from walking out. A horrible evening and a wate of money.
Comment on this reader review

Paul
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Though the food here is great, I find it hard to see how the restaurant can justify charging these prices. While we all understand that quality costs, oh boy does it cost here! When compared to other one-star locations in London (eg Locatelli, Ledbury, Ramsay at Claridges), I personally feel it doesn't match up, especially in terms of service. I can't help thinking that they charge what they can get away with.
Comment on this reader review

Edward Wilks
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, January 02, 2007