The River Cafe

its true to say that humans have shown a great deal of variety in their habits and personal taste, and when it comes to food, there it’s at it greatest.

But yet we have learned to recognize poisoning aliments from nutritional ones, and this seems to be the only limits we know.

The arrogance and pretention of this well established Italian restaurant has to be based on the fact that a relevant and sufficient number of well off regulars, pays their wages and bills but certainly are not concerned, bothered by the superficiality the function of the establishment.

The crowd that this restaurant seems to attract will appreciate more the fuss and pretentious "we are la cream de la cream" then the soggy risotto or the frozen uht milk and butter made ice cream.......I was ashamed to be born in Italy and enjoyed one of the proudest culinary culture we know for so long till the "river cafe" showed me how to be so carelessly and arrogantly successful in serving or pretending to "Italian food"
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alex
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 19, 2012

A long standing favourite of ours, we returned this week as a party of 6. I always enjoy the menu which is varied and seasonal. The service I particularly like as it's friendly, informed and not at all fussy. The wine list is extensive and well researched, offering some great wines at reasonable prices. The space is great being very open and well lit. The acoustics are good and as a table of 6, we maintained cross table conversation with no difficulty. Price wise, I don't think you can knock it. We paid just under £100 per head and had a proper feast. Frankly, I'd rather have a meal of this quality at this price than a couple of mediocre ones at half. I highly recommend the River Cafe and cannot think of a single gripe.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Saturday, May 05, 2012

I guess like a lot of folk The River Cafe, along with The Fat Duck, has been on our "wish list" for what seems like an age. The lovely weather at the end of March, the chance of a cheeky Friday off work and a little cash left in the bank meant that a long awaited pleasure could finally be realised.

The short trek, no more than 15 minutes at an ambling pace, along the Thames Path from the tube station is a nice enough way to arrive at the restaurant although I'm not sure the majority of punters would find this to their taste - we didn't spot many of the walking classes on our visit.

When we arrived around 2pm we found that the gods were really looking after us when we were offered the choice of a table inside or one on the terrace which had a little shade to protect from the early Spring sun which was out in full force. It was a no brainer. If you are lucky enough to turn up on a sunny day and can bag a table on the terrace this is the place to be - the inside space is fine but I found it a bit uninspiring and lacking in "vibe". It put me in mind of a canteen space - not surprising really as that was its original function for the architectural practise next door.

Once we were seated some very fine bread and the good looking paper menu arrived without much delay. We were eating from the set lunch menu, four courses for £39, which had plenty of mouth watering dishes on offer (much better than the choice of  2 starters and 2 mains which is what you often find on the set menu in "high end" places). After a bit  of banter with the young, friendly waiting staff we felt we had enough information to go on and made our orders (when you have been waiting this long to go to a restaurant it can be a bit nerve racking making a choice - the last thing you want is to blow it and find you have a bad case of the dreaded food envy).

Perhaps it was the sunny day and the fine white wine from Sicily that we were drinking but this was a meal to savour from beginning to end. My lovely antipasti of chargrilled squid with chilli and rocket was tasty and perfectly cooked but was put into the shade by B's choice of prosciutto with smashed broad bean bruschetta which was just wonderful. 

Things got even better with the primi plates;  my agnoli with rabbit, bay and pieropan soave was a dish to die for and the risotto con asparagi was simple yet delicately cooked and seasoned. The secondi had been recommended by our lovely waitress and did not fail to deliver: the Cornish monkfish with slow cooked fennel and rocket was perfection and the beef sirloin with salsa verde, cannellini beans and roasted medina tomatoes was a meat lovers paradise. 

Despite being stuffed by this point we took a bit of a breather to finish our wine and soak up the atmosphere - service had almost finished and most of the staff had decamped from the kitchen to sit outside and devour a well earned late lunch. Their energetic and engaging conversations made a nice contrast to the two very well groomed ladies sitting next to us who had spent a couple of hours discussing central London house prices and their next rental investments.

After this short break we pressed on with some tart: pear and almond for me and lemon for B. Both were very tasty and went down well but if you are on a budget or have a small appetite my advice would be to have the antipasti and skip the dolci.

By the time we had finished our coffee it was gone 5pm, the sun was starting to lose its heat and the journey home beckoned. The bill was not cheap but compared to the a la carte menu  it was a bargain. I'm not sure that I would have found this such a delightful meal if I had been dining at full price, inside the restaurant, in the evening but I would recommend this for a lunch date without hesitation to anyone who has a love of good food.
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Nunhead Neil
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, April 08, 2012

I had the displeasure of dining at the River Cafe with one of my very best clients, and I have to say I was left very disappointed after spending over £220 on lunch.

The staff were all very lovely, but the Steak and cannellini beans main course was an absolute rip off at over £35, especially when the steak is not even cooked right which was evident by the thick, rubbery texture of the outside of the meat.

I was so unhappy at the quality of the main dish that I actually took time to call the restaurant and pass on my feedback, which is something I never normally have the time or inclination to do.

The manager when returning my call was extremely argumentative and aggressive and continually interrupted me when I was trying to speak, and had the cheek to tell me that because they are a Tuscan style restaurant they are unable to offer side order choices with the main meal.

All in all, I would thoroughly recommend you save your money and find somewhere else to dine to avoid the disappointment.
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pm
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Sunday, March 25, 2012

River Cafe was a spur of the moment idea last Saturday, rang and left our name on the waiting list. Some time later we were called back as there had been cancellation and we had a table from 7 pm to 9 pm. As we live relatively close by the short notice is not a problem. So full marks to the system - it works!

Service was bright, well mannered and courteous by the low key staff who are very friendly and helpful. I like the busy atmosphere, buzz and hum of the restaurant. A selection of Italian wines and a bottle of Vermantino later we felt very comfortable and relaxed indeed.

Food was fresh, tasty and excellent with a number of new and classics dishes on a balanced menu. We squeezed in 3 very enjoyable courses in an unrushed 1.5 hours with tea, coffee and a grappa for the blokes at the table. We then made our way across snowy London streets home.

For those who like to gripe about this restaurant's prices, all I can say is that you get real value for money. There are many other 'modern European' and/or Italian restaurants in the area and they are in no way cheaper and do not generally provide the high quality food and wine provided by the lovely staff at River Cafe.
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moliagul - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, February 06, 2012

Had a tasty lunch here recently. Some of the best olive oil I have ever tried. However I thought it was on the expensive side for Michelin food.

I was also very disappointed with my table and was right by the entrance. I recently came across this site tableguru and recommend using it to find the best table! Next time I will try and get a window seat in the middle of the restaurant!
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- View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, January 04, 2012

I ate at the River Cafe last night. This was my first visitand as I drove through the barrier I was excited to be eating here. I went to the bar first and enjoyed a lovely cocktail. The staff were all friendly and knowledgable. I ordered the crab linguini which was at best pleasant, but just a bowl of pasta on a plate no presentation. Then I had my £39 dover sole, it had a rich buttery taste and was served with black olives making the whole dish really salty. I am very disappointed as were my friends. Our bill was £362.00 for what I consider decent bistro food. Not a resturant I will be returning too.
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Beverley Hennequin - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Friday, December 16, 2011

I visited last night for the first time. I was suitably impressed from the minute the valet lifted the beam for me to drive in to park. I arrived a tad early before the rest of the party arrived. I was made welcome from word go. We were a group of five and although the restaurant was full, the ambience was great and it felt cosy and intimate. The service was attentive but not intrusive. Wine was delicious. Everyone loved the food, shared and tasted each other's dishes etc. We didn't have the best table in the house, close to the door so there was a draft on my back. I will most definitely go back. Portions were generous. Best scallops I have ever tasted. Food was interesting yet unfussy. Fantastic vibe and superb location.

Prices were what I would expect to pay in one of London's most well-known, established restaurants.
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DG
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Thursday, November 24, 2011

After reading some of the reviews I was a little apprehensive before visiting River Cafe last weekend, I need not have worried. We were a party of six and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our visit from the minute we walked through the door. The staff were friendly and efficient and our service was impeccable. The food was just wonderful, we were all trying each others dishes and not one disappointed. The chocolate nemesis deserves a mention - naughty doesnt describe it -in a league of its own! All of my party thoroughly recommend this restaurant and would love to visit again.
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Mrs K T Hughes
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Having just been to River Cafe I am utterly disappointed with the food and value for money. I have always wanted to go, so was very much looking forward to an amazing experience. The menu sounds mouth-watering, but unfortunately that's where it stops. The fish carpaccio starter was so overpowered with pepper that you couldn't taste the fish, the veal main was bland and in all honesty you could cook better at home. The lemon tart was tasty but the top was burnt, and the port was awful. On the plus side the wine was delicious.

At £125 a head I would never go back, nor would I recommend it. Spend the money elsewhere!
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3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 12, 2011