http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe The River Cafe - London, Thames Wharf Studio, W6 9HA, United Kingdom en http://cdn.trustedplaces.com/i/uploads/placepics/ldc_1w78v8.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/118106e
Review by sillytash

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
This is my favourite place in london for dinner. The food is great. Truly elegant ambience. The service is sublime. Highly recommend it.
]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:33:28 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/118106e1521430816 sillytash 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1a7se7
Review by gastro1

Rating: 3.00
Tags: italian, pretentious, expensive
I have never really seen what the fuss is about with the River Cafe.

The food is a sort of pastiche of Tuscan/Umbrian cooking - way over priced.

A publication actually voted this the best Italian restaurant in the world which is of course a total disgrace.

The food here is not bad and ingredients are generally well chosen .

I guess because in general Italian restaurants in London or the UK are average to poor the River Cafe has thrived. Also a good PR machine and famous clientele helps.

The food is not a patch on the recently opened L'Anima in the City or Locanda Locatelli and Enonteca Tui.

And if you are looking for top notch pastiche I recommend Petersham Nurseries !]]> Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:52:24 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1a7se755389312 gastro1 italian pretentious expensive 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1n6qx7
Review by up_shiraz

Rating: 5.00
Tags: italian, crowded, expensive, lively
I've now calculated that if I use all my annual leave in the form of Friday half days I could come and eat here 45 times next year....which would be nice. Might cost me a few quid or the same as a trip to the Bahamas if I decided to spend those days differently. Because on this form you'll need the whole afternoon off just to prolong this delightful experience as long as possible.

We arrived to sit down at 2.15 and didn't leave until close to 6 o'clock. Which was the perfect way to see what a joyful operation this is. It was a my first visit so i'm not sure if the refit, with open kitchen and long bar, is responsible for all the frivolity. As we were having our dessert, the whole restaurant crew was sitting down to their lunch, which was a selection of what we'd just eaten. After that they took up their positions at the long bar and everyone starting veg prep for dinner. Waiters, porters, front of house, whoever! They all got stuck into cavalo nero stalks and a good chat. Great to watch.

Anyway back to the food. As guests of a Richard Rogers employee (thanks again Jen!) we were able to get access to a shortened set menu which made the whole thing distinctly affordable. 3 courses for £24 or 4 for £30. We started with mixed antipasti of delicious cured ham and chickpea pancakes, hot, garlicky and straight from the pan.

On my pasta dish sat 3 plump ravioli with spinach and cheese and a delicious, subtly buttery sauce. The delicacy of the ingredients really allowed the quality of the pasta to come through. Risotto with cabbage pancetta and Fontina was legendary and spaghetti with mullet sauce was also excellent.

By this time we'd moved from a Planeta Cerasuolo - "stupid fruit on the nose" exclaimed Gareth - which I learnt is just an expression for really fresh starburst-like flavours, on to a Dolcetto from Vajra. Perfect with braised veal shin with chard. In fact just braise me and we'll call it quits. Braise the Lord. Braise be. Should I braise of should I go? Braise-aways. Braise Anatomy. Etc. Etc. Let's just braise everything basically - brilliant. Calves liver on another plate was tender and juicy and the wild mushroom and gooey cheese frittata that the young lady had was also good...but probably not quite as exciting as the other mains.

Cheese, vanilla ice cream and espresso, and lemon tart did the trick and hastened us into a Chianti from Sepulviana which turned out to be the most serious red so far. Lots of chewy tannins and structure after the lighter bottles before. As the hoover zipped round other parts of the restaurant, we checked all the breadcrumbs under our table and realised they were probably going to need to work on it for a while so we got the bill (which after Prosecco cocktails and 4 bottles of wine was predictable mostly of the liquid variety). In fact the food seemed verry good value in a place where the a la carte option is undeniably expensive. As we got up I wanted to say goodbye to all the veg-preppers but i was reminded that they weren't actually my friends yet. But they will be one day.

So main piece of advice here - go to the Richard Rogers building and make a friend in the office there so you can get the set menu too. Well worth the loitering...]]> Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:20:33 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1n6qx7397493180 up_shiraz italian crowded expensive lively 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1w7pw7
Review by Food_Snob

Rating: 4.00
Tags: italian
Illustrated Critique:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/the-river-cafe-london/

Text-only Critique:

Asked to name Londonâ¬"s top Italian restaurant and general consensus would suggest either Locanda Locatelli, Zafferano or the River Café. Regular readers might have already read my reviews of the first two and have probably been waiting some time, as have I, for that inevitable visit to the River Café. Well, after many months - six to be certain - I am able to finally fulfil my gastronomic responsibility and complete my Grand Tour of Londonâ¬"s la Santissima Trinità.

Why the wait? A fatty steak. During dinner service on Saturday, 5 April, when cooking bistecca alla Fiorentina, â¬Üsome flaring vapours got caught in the flue,â¬" causing the open grill to â¬Üexplode like a jet plane.â¬" The forced shutting required for repair was viewed a good excuse for a refit and thus the River Café remained closed until a couple of weeks ago when, like a phoenix, it arose from its own ashes. The owners decided to take advantage of the interval and insurance money - used to cover staff salaries - spending the summer in Italy with their chefs, mastering new recipes, and sending people to work with suppliers and other restaurants - some, for example, worked at La Fromagerie, being taught how to look after cheese; others went to Specogna, a family-run winery in Northern Italy; whilst a few were sent to San Daniele near Venice to learn about prosciutto. A series of charitable projects were undertaken too: disabled kids helped build a vegetable garden in the former-dining-room-cum-greenhouse, later cooking with the very legumes of their labours; while a group of female chefs visited a womenâ¬"s refuge.

The Caféâ¬"s closure was a big deal. Many see the iconic Italian, first opened in 1987 by New Yorker Ruth Rogers (Lady Rogers of Riverside) and English Rose Gray, as revolutionary to British culinary culture. The two women, both without professional experience and first friends through Richard Rogers, well actually, Richardâ¬"s first wife, learnt their love of cucina rustica from Richardâ¬"s mother, Dada, who fed Rose when at art college with Richard in Guildford and Ruth, whilst living with her husband in Paris. London, before the advent of these girls, was bereft of such staples as extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, bruschetta and polenta and the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients, as rudimentary as it may be now, was radical twenty years ago. Menus that changed with the seasons, let alone twice a day, were unheard of; in Roseâ¬"s own words, â¬ÜI know itâ¬"s become very fashionable now, but to us, it just made sense.â¬"

The restaurant, which has spawned ten cookbooks and numerous TV shows, is also a breeding ground for some of Britainâ¬"s most recognisable chefs: Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - the first and last person to be fired from here (having filled the kitchen with chocolate mess) - Theo Randall, Samantha and Samuel Clark (Moro), Ed Baines (Randall & Aubin) plus April Bloomfield (of NYCâ¬"s Spotted Pig). The eatery also earned notoriety as the â¬Ügovernment canteenâ¬" of the Blair years, with the former PM, Brown and Mandelson all regulars. This deep-rooted relationship even saw Blair courier lunch from the Café to No. 10 on the day of Labourâ¬"s 1997 victory and Peter Lilley to complain at the following Tory conference that Britain was â¬Ünow all about Britpop and the River Café.â¬" A year before, the New Yorker hailed it as the best Italian in Europe, Italy included, and a year later, Michelin awarded it its first star⬦Times have changed, but the restaurantâ¬"s reputation for quality or popularity has not - it still rakes in over £10,000 a day, no doubt helped by the famously premium prices paid for the ironically peasant-style provender at this ironically christened café.

The River Café almost does not want to be found, hidden in a former Duckhams Oil storage facility on an industrial estate off the A219 in Hammersmith - probably part of the attraction for celebs keen to avoid the paparazzi. Though to be fair, location (location, location) was not a key consideration in 1987, as the Café was initially an informal venture, created as a canteen for Lord Rogerâ¬"s architectural practice, RSH+P, sited on the same estate.

Arriving via the riverside promenade, this piece of Tuscany-on-the-Thames is housed in a brown-brick, what-was-warehouse. A large green terrace - the to-be-seen spot each summer - and small garden separate it from the river; this garden, Roseâ¬"s baby, though nowhere near sufficiently fruitful to feed the restaurant, serves to top up supplies when especially busy and as a testing ground for new seeds brought back from the ownersâ¬" adventures abroad. Originally, obviously designed by the Lord himself and since updated in conjunction with Stuart Forbes Associates, the interior is understated, unassuming and structured simply: the space is a bright, vast, modern mixture of glass and metal, blue and white. The post-blaze redesign involved only minor modification: the same long room now has a new colourful, yellow reception, whilst the opposite end has had its wall pushed back behind the now open-plan kitchen, whose custom-built wood-fired oven complete with attention-grabbing, flaming maw is its most eye-catching aspect. That old clock is still there, projected upon a baby blue, back-lit plane. The deli-like counter, with its reflective mirror face, also still runs across the restaurant and staff still lay out cakes, tarts, cheeses and breads along its top. New additions, however, include an 18-person private dining room, fully equipped with walk-in cheese cupboard plus conference facilities for the more business-inclined clientele.

The floor is carpeted in royal blue, whilst the ceiling is composed of concave, perforated white steel; one wall is laced with large, latticed French windows, the other with overhanging, semi-transparent, turquoise panelling; the rest of the restaurant is clean alabaster. Squared tables are close together, but not disturbingly so. They are bounded with bouncy, meshed chrome chairs and plainly decked with tissue-paper tablecloth whose austerity raised an eyebrow. The tabletops are similarly stark: two, tiny bowls of salt and pepper; a practical glass; Georg Jensen stainless steel cutlery; and paper-printed menu and laminated wine-list. There are nice cloth napkins, at least. The crockery that comes later is Churchill.

The whole place has a nice and comforting vibrancy: there is a pleasing hustle bustle from the restaurant and clitter clatter from the kitchen. The active, young, mostly female staff hover and float gracefully between tables, emanating energy and enthusiasm. The glowing roar from the beehive furnace, steam from the stove and sizzle from the saucepans all add to the atmosphere.

I was warmly welcomed and seated by my ever-smiling, charming cameriera. However, I was unsure what to order - the menu is dynamic yet full - so the manager, Lolo, offered to show me around whilst I thought it over. After a thorough nose about, I enlisted her help, together deciding on an appetising assortment of the Caféâ¬"s finest fare.

Il Pane: Ciabatta and Sourdough. Il granaio was a rustic offering of only two types, both brought in. Of equally good quality, the ciabatta was open, light with a crisp floury crust and subtle olive oil savour while the sourdough, wholesome, thick and with a tearable exterior. If one is disappointed that the bread is not homemade (a tragedy given that grand oven), they should feel more than compensated by the olive oil, which the River Café does produce itself. This Felsina 2006, made with olives from a single Tuscan estate, had a mild, ripe, peppery flavour.

Antipasto: Carne Crudo. Finely chopped fillet of raw beef was purely presented with parmigiano reggiano shards, mâche leaves and gentle dressing of 12 year old aged balsamic vinegar. The soft manzo melted in the mouth leaving a surprisingly clean, fresh finish: the mild meat had none of the crudeness common to uncooked carne improperly prepared. The tender mâche - lambsâ¬" lettuce - added a crunch and mild nuttiness that matched well with the parmesan, itself adding creamy consistency. Together with a little lemon, the vinegar, slightly syrupy and sweetly sour, cut through the flavours on the plate. In an unpretentious twist to conventional carpaccio, these basic accompaniments served to simply showcase the quality meat.

Primo: Ravioli di Ricotta. Another straightforward serving, this of three thin, handmade pasta parcels packed with ricotta and cima di rape with I Cannonici extra virgin olive oil and aged pecorino stagionato. The ravioli were very well made, dissolving on the tongue to reveal a pleasantly grainy and coarse, moist middle of rich ricotta and barely bitter rape that balanced each other nicely. Decorating the dish were more rape and shavings of pecorino with just a dribble of house, I Cannonici, olive oil, sufficient to grease the dainty packagesâ¬" effortless glide down oneâ¬"s gullet. The whole dish, though unexpectedly light and delicate, I did think needed a little more salt, but I was easily able to remedy this myself with the salt already at the table.

Tartufo: Taglierini alla Piemontese con Tartufi Bianchi. Freshly made taglierini came with 2.5 grand grams of the first of the seasonâ¬"s Tuscan white truffles. The treasured tartufi were the deserving centrepiece, delivering a woody, mildly earthy, garlic aroma and taste, which delightfully dominated the dish. The Piedmontese pasta was the ideal transport for its paesano fungiâ¬"s flavour, absorbing the light butter and parmesan sauce until nicely tender. Apparently, this recipe is a speciality of Al Moro, a small restaurant in Tuscany, where regular, Ruth, often finds creative stimulation.

Pesce: Sogliola al Forno. A dazzling dish of Dover Sole, whole, wood-roasted on the bone with rosemary branches was teamed with fresh borlotti beans and large leaf rocket. The brown-grey speckled Sole was superbly cooked and simply dressed in light lemon and olive oil while seasoned with well-matching and strikingly strong infusions of lemony-pine rosemary and deft woodiness from the oven. The buttery sweet, bouncy, firm flesh of the fish fell off the bone in succulent, steaky slivers. Peppery, crunchy rocket - the perfect piscine partner - and warm, creamy borlotti completed the course. A good fillet of fish, rocket, a big squeeze of lemon (and some onion wedges) is enough to have me as happy as Larry, so this was right up my road - and a Wow!

Carne: Gallo Cedrone al Forno. An autumnal special of Yorkshire grouse stuffed with sage and thyme, wood-roasted in Cortegiaga Amarone, and roasted Violini pumpkin and fennel (Speck della Val dâ¬"Aosta is also normally included) was next. Initial surprise at being served an entire gallo was soon replaced by greedy delight. That fierce furnace had once again been put to good effect: crispy skin wrapped moist and juicy flesh. The bird was buzzing with flavour and flushed with deep purple amarone. This wine, spicy, fruity, but noted especially for its bitterness - Italians call it â¬Üthe big bitterâ¬" - imparted an intense, almighty alcoholic wallop that enhanced the gaminess already inherent. Pungent, robust sage and thyme complemented the soused grouse whilst the seductively caramelised vegetables almost stole the show themselves; their subtle sweetness helping balance the dish.

Dolci e Gelati: Pear & Almond Tart; Polenta Cake with Lemon Sorbet; Lemon Tart; Chocolate Nemeis; and Caramel Ice Cream. So far, Loloâ¬"s suggestions had proved spot-on, so for dessert, I left it to her. She did not disappoint. A selezione of four cakes/tarts, a sorbet and ice cream, which would have made any over-nosy, fellow diner green with envy, arrived. I took my time, slowly savouring a bite of each, trying to decide on a favourite. Once more I was surprised: I had been sure I wouldnâ¬"t, couldnâ¬"t like each, that a dud was surely there. I was wrong. All were great. Melt-in-the-mouth almond and pear was sweet, soft and covered in a delightful macaron crust. The polenta cake, an authentic Sicilian delicacy, was dense, moist and super-crumbly with a lemony-nut finish, accentuated by the intense lemon sorbet, dotted with lime zest. A well-judged, cleansing lemon tart had thick, sour, creamy crème and crunchy biscuit base. The chocolate nemesis, a River Café classic, lived up to its reputation: made, for the record, with eight different cocoa beans and no flour, this treat had the softness of a soufflé, but full, gorgeous hit of cocoa - Yum. Caramel ice cream was toffee-rich and almost bitter with slightly burnt sugar flavour. Ribadisco, dolci erano deliziosi!

I must admit, the first few dishes, though well-prepared and pleasant enough, did not wow me, but with the arrival of the Dover Sole, the meal tore straight through first into fifth gear and never slowed down. I left thinking the cooking a master-class in â¬Ühow to leave things aloneâ¬", keep plates simple and uncluttered and flavours clean. In classic Mediterranean tradition, ingredients are the focus and the chefâ¬"s role is to help emphasise these, not to complicate them - foams, pastes, rich sauces, emulsions are not in the kitchenâ¬"s repertoire. This takes skill, but it is a job made easier by having the best raw materials to work with - something the Café properly prides itself on: â¬Üsourcing, sourcing, sourcingâ¬" is Ruth and Roseâ¬"s motto. Head Chef, Joseph, who very kindly took the time to have a few words with me, on his day off no less, summed their supplier strategy succinctly: â¬Üwhere ever itâ¬"s fresh, where ever itâ¬"s best, thatâ¬"s where we get it.â¬" So expect to find, this time of year, Yorkshire grouse, Welsh lamb, Italian tomatoes (sicuramente), Tuscan olive oil, French fennel, herbs from, umm, the garden outside, and more. Indeed, the menu is so responsive to the market, it is amended twice a day - something unmatched by any other Michelin starred restaurant in London.

Service is very lovely too; this was my first visit to the River Café, but I felt right at home. My waitress took diligent care of me, refilling my glass with chilled tap water, replenishing my bread, replying to my many questions with a constant patience and smile. She was great, but mademoiselle-manager, Lolo was la star; her menu choices were spot on; dessert selection pressed all the right buttons; she showed off the new interior; took me on a guided tour of the exterior; and even organised a one-to-one between Chef Joseph and myself. I repeat, elle était lâ¬"étoile. Such considerable care seems only natural and so it should given that everyone looks like they are enjoying their work; are clearly taken care of by Ruth and Rose; and the restaurant is essentially a family operation - Roseâ¬"s daughter is a chef, her husband, Charles Pullan, the manager (and a winning one, well almost, according to Michael Winner), Lucyâ¬"s daughter waitresses and Roseâ¬"s son, Ossian, runs the finances. Actually, I even noticed on my way out a couple of the staff lunching at one of the tables: something extraordinary considering that even McDonaldâ¬"s employees must enjoy their meals out of sight.

A final note on those spine-stiffening tissue-paper tablecloths is warranted. It was only after tiffin that their use and necessity were appreciated: puddles of olive oil, bloody bits of grouse carcass, drips of the red stuff, fish bones and breadcrumbs were all evidence of my embarrassingly messy eating (or of me thoroughly enjoying my meal maybe?).

â¬ÜItâ¬"s Mecca, basically. I really think the Café laid the foundation for sexy, simple, cool food in this country,â¬" lisps old boy Jamie Oliver. He has a point, the quality of produce and preparation makes the food here easy to eat: dishes like Dover Sole can be devoured thoughtlessly; grouse, relished; and chocolate nemesis, indolently indulged in. The cooking cheers. The River Café comforts.]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:37:11 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1w7pw7980379469 Food_Snob italian 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/167m57
Review by foodexplorer

Rating: 1.00
Tags: italian, business, pretentious, crowded, expensive
I have to admit i was drawn into the hype and took the plunge of going to the River Cafe. Unfortunately as with most things, the real thing never lives up to the hype. This is the case with this restaurant as well. There is a not too bad selection of meals and specials, but clearly the emphasis is on quality and not quantity. And thats to say the least. I think the staff have also got caught up in the hype as i found them a little obnoxious and snooty. It must be such a shame for them to have to deal with the customers! Thats how i was made to feel anyway. The food is very expensive and i won't be going back!]]> Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:37:02 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/167m571199506295 foodexplorer italian business pretentious crowded expensive 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1717j8
Review by ProfMagellan

Rating: 1.00
Tags: italian, pretentious, expensive
I have eaten here several times and have to say
that it is an absurdity. Mediocre Italian food at astronomical prices. It is designed for hedge fund managers,
non doms and punters with more money than sense. It has the charm of a school canteen and the service level of a prison refrectory.
If you want great Italian food, go to Zefferanos or the Randall place in the InterContinental Hotel - the long trek out to the "River Cafe" (housed in a non-descript industrial estate)is not worth the effort.]]> Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:16:14 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1717j8734821218 ProfMagellan italian pretentious expensive 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1k46y8
Review by MartyDiBergi

Rating: 5.00
Tags: italian, good value, crowded, expensive, romantic, lively
Just a brilliant restaurant - albeit verging on the breathtakingly expensive at times.

Fabulous ingredients and beautifully judged cooking. A seat on the terrace in summer is as close to perfect as you can get for a meal out in London. As long as the sun is shining that is...

Very suprised by the negative review below, i've never found a fault with the place and nor has anyone i know who has been.

The pasta is sublime - velvety perfection. Lamb is phenomenal. Chocolate nemesis is all it's cracked up to be. In the summer they do a great prosecco mixed with crushed fruit aperitif - different fruit each day. I've had the strawberry and the white peach: both were delicious.

Service very friendly and knowledgable once you're there - although on the phone they can be a bit surly at times. All in all it is a fantastic italian restaurant and absolutely ideal for a special occasion.

I just wish it wasn't so expensive :-(

]]> Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:25:03 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1k46y8554319888 MartyDiBergi italian good value crowded expensive romantic lively 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1745h7
Review by FluffyRona

Rating: 1.00
Tags: italian, pretentious, crowded, expensive
Overrated, overpriced and a total rip off - a real case of the Emperor's new clothes. On the day we went, one main course was a plate of butter beans - for £20! Where is the value in that? And yes, that's all there was on the plate.

Lord knows how Jamie Oliver emerged from this one - packed with suits, really arrogant and obnoxious service and just a ghastly experience.]]> Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:47:46 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1745h776104199 FluffyRona italian pretentious crowded expensive 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1i64f7
Review by caffeinehit

Rating: 5.00
Tags: Expensive, River View
Whatever you do double check who it is you're calling to reserve a table, you could end up 'enjoying' a sausage sandwich at the other River Cafe, a little greasy spoon outside Putney Bridge tube.

If, however you played it safe and got the phone number from the website you'll find yourself at the real River Cafe.

I must admit, I've been to some of the best restaurants in London and this (without doubt) is in the top two for food. I should really be working my way through the menu when I go there but I always find myself eating the lamb, I just can't get enough of it! (Oh, and of course the Chocolate Nemesis).

If you're looking for a restaurant with decor to match the food then this might not be your best bet, if you're able to see past that you're in for a treat!]]> Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:20:00 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1i64f71543364256 caffeinehit Expensive River View 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/198438
Review by DanWilkinson

Rating: 5.00
Tags: Italian, treat yourself, hammersmith, wine, london, expensive
I've been wanting to go to the River Cafe for years, but haven't got it together, despite living a short walk away. Lunch there on my birthday didn't disappoint one bit - service, atmosphere, food and wine all living up to the reputation.

The staff were brilliant - friendly, professional and attentive, despite us being tucked away in one corner of the outside area. The wine list shone with reasonably priced bottles (by which I mean not cheap, but excellent wines well priced) and the sommelier was helpful and chose well. Food was tremendous, even the post-prandial grappa wasn't quite as rough as usual (why do I do that to myself every time?).

The only thing I have to add to this rather predictable review was that whatever you've heard about their famous chocolate nemesis, it is the most incredible dessert around. It's worth coming here just for that - brilliant stuff. ]]> Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:54:38 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1984381953788773 DanWilkinson Italian treat yourself hammersmith wine london expensive 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1223s7
Review by tessaderry

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
unfortunately this restaurant is next door to my office - so it is sheer torture to watch everyone sitting out in the sun enjoying all the amazingly delicious food!! on the upside, working for the husband of the owner we get a substantial discount, but i would be prepared to pay the full prices any day of the week. Spectacular italin food and the desserts are to die for!]]> Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:35:10 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1223s71896099430 tessaderry 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1163f7
Review by Lemonpie

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
Beautiful food! and a relaxed and informal atmosphere, which might surprise you given the prices. Service was friendly but not unctuous.

Don't be caught out with a late reservation though - it's a residential street so licensing laws mean they will kick you out before 11.30 on a Saturday.

Great for a stroll down the river to walk off a beautiful lunch; don't forget to peer in the window at Richard Rogers next door to look at the architectural models.]]> Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:19:52 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1163f71336546599 Lemonpie 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1083c8
Review by psychovamp

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
the river cafe never fails,i have been to many restaurants but this is definetley one of the best,
extremely beautiful food,but expensive.]]> Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:43:08 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1083c81468190344 psychovamp 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1n42y8
Review by Niamheen

Rating: 5.00
Tags: italian, family & home feel, crowded, expensive, lively
Wonderful restaurant! We were there over a year ago so please forgive my lack of detail when it comes to the meal.

It does attract the wealthier portion of London society and I am not surprised with the prices. However, we have all the cookbooks and wanted to try it for a while so we treated ourselves and went for Sunday lunch.

I liked the layout, it's quite relaxed and bright and airy. Service was friendly and efficient. The food was very good. Solid Italian cooking with top quality ingredients. I started the meal with an aperetif of prosecco with blood orange juice. I can only remember one of our starters, it really was the dish of the meal - Dartmouth crab with salad was spectacular. The crab was so light and fluffy, I haven't had it like that since. We still talk about it! For mains we had the lamb and (I think) Dover Sole with winter greens and capers. Both very good. The fish was delicately cooked and the greens complimented it perfectly. For dessert we shared the panacotta with valrhona chocolate sauce. We had a bottle of prosecco with the meal which was very reasonably priced.

I would highly recommend River Café but it is expensive. We will definitely go back. ]]> Thu, 17 May 2007 16:48:32 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1n42y8493467613 Niamheen italian family & home feel crowded expensive lively 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1j11r9
Review by sue

Rating: 0.00
Tags: italian, michelin star, seafood, romantic
Located by the Thames in an unlikely location in Hammersmith, the River Cafe has been around since 1987 and has been a spawning ground for some great chefs, such as Jamie Oliver. I went there for lunch in summer, and we opted to sit in the pretty terrace area at the front of the restaurant as it was such a lovely day.

It was a great afternoon - fabulous company, good food and a beautiful setting. The only thing that let it down was the service - it was a bit aloof....perhaps if I had worn my giant 'celebrity look' sunglasses we would have been treated better!

To start, we had the Risotto nero di Sepia (squid ink risotto with cuttlefish) and the Agnoli di Coniglio (pasta parcels stuffed with roast rabbit). Both were pretty tasty, though very rich in flavour.

Main courses were the Aragosta al Forno (wood roasted whole Dorset Blue Lobster) and the Cape sante in Padella (Scottish Scallops). The lobster was really excellent - the best lobster I have ever eaten, and was also great value. The scallops were also good, but the serve was a bit stingy for the price.

For dessert we had the Lemon Tart and the Pannacotta with Grappa & Raspberries. A coffee rounded off the meal. Needless to say we were full by the end of the meal, so a leisurely stroll along the river was the perfect end to a lovely afternoon.
]]> Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:06:51 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1j11r9245504177 sue italian michelin star seafood romantic 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912