http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe <b>The River Cafe</b><br />London, Thames Wharf Studio, W6 9HA, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/167m57
Review by foodexplorer

Rating: 1.00
Tags:
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/167m571411897755 foodexplorer 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1717j8
Review by ProfMagellan

Rating: 1.00
Tags:
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/1717j81418830190 ProfMagellan 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1k46y8
Review by MartyDiBergi

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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/1k46y81241461841 MartyDiBergi 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1745h7
Review by FluffyRona

Rating: 1.00
Tags:
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/1745h71621327779 FluffyRona 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1i64f7
Review by caffeinehit

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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/1i64f7793931222 caffeinehit 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/198438
Review by DanWilkinson

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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/198438792336274 DanWilkinson 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/1223s7850993076 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/1163f72017795696 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/1083c8137551653 psychovamp 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1n42y8
Review by Niamheen

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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/1n42y82127234685 Niamheen 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1j11r9
Review by sue

Rating: 0.00
Tags:
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/1j11r91799930233 sue 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1c70v8
Review by herrylaw

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
The River Cafe never fails - superb atmosphere - the 'mise en scene' is perfect, wonderful lighting - making women look beautiful and the men ok too.. the freshest of fresh ingredients used in deceptively simple dishes, charming and attractive staff (I tried to get my son to ask one of the waitresses out) and the constant presence of one of the founders (see pic) to ensure its standards never drop. The tables are bit close together and the hubub almost engulfs the room in the late evening (it's never less than totally full), and if you are seated too close to the open fire in the wall under the clock, it can be a bit warm....but these are quibbles. Take your fullest wallet, your prettiest friends and a taxi (because you won't find it if you drive there and you want those additional glasses of Pinot Bianco and a grappa to finish off with)
]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:02:15 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1w78v8/the-river-cafe/1c70v8113673854 herrylaw 51.482947205514 -0.2242518891912