This is the best restaurant in the world Best location, staff, menu, execution, owner I dont really have much to add - except have the grouse when its around Always order soup in spring and summer Never dont have the bolitto misto They treat everone like rockstars on a red carpet, Always drink grappa at the end, and then one more for the ditch Then go for a walk up the Thames - feeling sorry for everyone who hadnt just eaten there read more

One of my favorite restaurants in London which happens to remind me of one of my favorite restaurants in the US; Al Forno in Providence, RI. Excellent rustic Italian food (think lots of grilled meats, wood-oven roasted mains, excellent pastas and risottos). The food isn't fussy or particularly innovative as at other top London restaurants, but sometimes simplicity works better than sous-videing. Building purpose built by Richard Rogers whose wife happens to own the restaurant; his office is next door so you can check out all the cool architectural models after dinner. We shared some great buffalo mozzarella starter, some courgette fries, and some squid -- all excellent. My main was a grilled leg of lamb which was fantastic. My wife had a great ravioli filled with swiss chard and ricotta. Our deserts were equally good; almond tart, and two different flourless chocolate cakes. Service is fantastic, as is the wine list and cocktails. read more

The River Cafe offers excellent ffod and service, but it comes at a price. I went here with my parents and girlfriend and we all had a lovely evening. Once we'd got over the shock of the prices we settled down and had a lovely meal. The Spanish waiter was charming, professional and knowledgable, the wine was excellent (a Promitivo from Puglia) and the food was very, very good. We all had the lamb, which was slightly overcooked, but a fantastic piece of meat. The starters and pasta were excellent too. I'd recommend a visit here for a special occassion, but be prepared to be stung. read more

Finally summer came and I went to the River Cafe. Hello beautiful garden setting. So here are the outstandings--the setting. Stunning. The chocolate nemesis cake. To die for. Here are the goods. The food. Liked the squid and the fish--very well-executed. Here are the mehs. The service. I was expecting outstanding service. We had to hail down staff at multiple times. The yucks. Who brings kids to a place like this? And of course they have free range to run around--not pleasant for a place of this caliber. And the price--I am all for you get what you pay for but the price is a bit ridiculous. read more

I just adore this place - my favourite Italian in London by far. Not only is the food excellent, fresh, and seasonal - but the ambiance is lovely, service is fantastic (a rare find in London) and prices are (in my opinion) very reasonable. The starter of grilled calamari is absolutely to die for, and the pasta is always cooked to absolute perfection. Desserts are delicious too. Suitable for a romantic meal or lunch/dinner with friends and/or family - everyone I've taken here has been extremely impressed with the vibe, quality and flavours. Definitely not a place to miss. read more

Sigh... What's to say? It's the most wonderful restaurant. The service is delightful, completely professional yet casual. The tables are close together, yet allows for a feeling of intimacy. It's loud and buzzy with lots of staff on the floor, yet you're never rushed and feel as if you're in your own private bubble. There are high flyers and celebrities, yet it feels like a local spot just for you. And the food... WOW! So simple, so elegant, so beautiful. I simply love it. read more

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I went to River Cafe while spending my birthday on vacation in London. Based on reputation, it seemed a great choice for birthday lunch. But reputation and reality did not meet. The "char-grilled calamari" entree was more "burnt" than "charred, and this just set us off on the wrong foot. The main courses were good, but - as another reviewer suggested - just good. Not the exceptional culinary experience one expects from the lashings of praise and hype that are piled on RC. The dessert of blood orange sorbet was actually great, but I am afraid that making a good gelato doesn't justify the price (both the menu price, and the hefty cab ride from London). And my girlfriend's pear and almond tart was just like the one from Premier Inn. Unfortunately, it wasn't the birthday experience I was looking for. read more

This place got a lot of press in US after it's re-furb, so I decided to give it a try during my last jaunt to blighty. It's a quality restaurant, with a very cool looking room and excellent service. BUT I didn't think it matched the hype. For starters, and this is no fault of the establishment, but the dining room was a bit of a "scene". There was a lot of air kissing and flaunting of diamond crusted watches. It was a little much for me. I enjoyed my food for the most part. Personally, I felt the portions were too large - which, while justifying the hefty price tag, made exploring the menu prohibitive. I started with a pasta and shared an entree and I was very full. My husband went for three courses and he couldn't touch the cheese I ordered for dessert. On the menu I'd recommend the pastas and anything from the wood fired oven. The cheese selection is also very nice. Also, the sommelier was great in helping us choose a reasonable but tasty wine, so ask for help in choosing a bottle. All that being said, I think there are better options in central London... read more

Very delicious dishes. the Pigeon is very juicy and tender, and Scallops is very fresh and tasty. I forget to bring my camera to take photos, so use your imagination, lol. The interior design is very unique, open kitchen, so we can see the Chiefs cook our food on the other side of serving tables. Upscale restaurant, so be prepare for the bill. Service is excellent! read more

The River Cafe - Dinner for a person - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Ms. Chocoholic raves about the chocolate nemesis and would describe in detail, its loveliness and the pleasure that she experienced when she had it the first time. She said that we should try it where it originally came from and It didn't take much convincing after where we found ourselves heading to The River Cafe. With the sun shining and kids and people enjoying the al fresco seating outside, you couldn't help but be in a jolly mood. Exuding an antipodean cafe vibe, we were relaxed and in a good mood. Overall, each dish was tasty and the flavours were clean and balanced though it wasn't brilliant. For the prices charged, I would expect it to be justified by either the ingredients to be of really good quality that simplicity cooking is used to allow the natural flavours to sing through or cooking techniques and flavours were paired for something delicious. It was neither for me. We now arrived at desserts and the infamous chocolate nemesis was ordered amongst others. I have to say that Ms. Chocoholic's description sounded better than it tasted. read more

Incredible italian food! Unfortunately, I was too jet-lagged to completely enjoy the experience. :( Very nice place, though, and I would definitely recommend it for a romantic italian dinner. read more

The River Cafe never fails. Superb atmosphere - the 'mise en scene' is perfect - wonderful lighting, making women look more beautiful, the freshest of fresh ingredients used in deceptively simple dishes, charming and attractive staff and - until recent illness - the constant presence of one of the founders 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 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 try and drive there and you want more of that delicious Pinot Bianco and a grappa to finish off with). read more

For a more detailed review and pictures please refer to http://hungryinlondon.com/2010/09/the-river-cafe/ River Cafe in Hammersmith has been opened in 1987, received a Michelin star in 1988 and has been an institution of the London restaurant scene ever since. A place every serious London foodie should visit at least once I finally made it there for a delightful Sunday lunch on a perfect sunny autumn day. The restaurant is difficult to find with a rather inconspicuous sign which is easy to overlook. If it hadn't been for Ed Miliband standing in front and welcoming guests for his luncheon (NB: not me) I would probably still be searching. It is good to know that our politicians appreciate good food, I wonder if this should influence my decision who to vote for? Back to the River Cafe. As the name promises, it is located close to the shore of the River Thames, overlooking a greener than green lovely garden. I very much liked the atmosphere. It does have a Michelin star yes, but it is devoid of the pretentiousness that is often associated with fine dining restaurants. It is stylish but not over the top and I liked the busy, open kitchen and the big oven. This concept seems to attract a rather mixed crowed young and elderly couples, families and groups of friends. In addition it needs to be pointed out that they get my award (that I have just introduced) for the most sexy and best dressed waiters and waitresses. Ladies, go their nicely made up otherwise you might not have your partners full attention ( believe me, I speak from my own experience). Unfortunately the presentation of the food was not half as convincing. Don't get me wrong, it all tasted very good, it just could have looked a bit prettier. Considering their prices you would expect distilled beauty on your plate actually. I really liked the food but I was not blown away by any of the dishes. But maybe this was this is what River Cafe stands for solid quality without major experiments and I actually left River Cafe perfectly content. We started with Insalata di Polpo (13). Perfectly soft and well seasoned octopus generously drizzled with flavoursome high-quality olive oil and potatoes. I really enjoyed it but- you might agree with me it was just not a very good looking plate of food. The Insalata con Bortolotti (12) was absolutely delicious. The green salad consisted of a myriad of different kinds of fresh leaves and herbs interspersed with the warm beans and tasted heavenly. For the mains we went for one primi and one secondi: The Tagliarini con Granchio (15) were cooked perfectly al dente. The sauce hat a pleasant spiciness to it which worked well with the sweetness of the crab. Fresh dill nicely complemented this flawless dish. The Branzino al Cartoccio (35) however was horrendously overpriced. It was really nice, but I don't know how nice food must be to make you feel it is worth 35 pounds? The fish was of very good quality and cooked to perfection, it came on a bed of well-seasoned Swiss chard and fresh porcini. I would have happily paid, let's say 22 pounds for it. I struggle with the 35 though. And if you say why do you choose such an expensive main, then I have to tell you that there was not a single secondi under 30 pounds! We could not resist ordering the cheese platter (12) with a choice of 3 cheeses (sorry Chocolate Nemesis, next time!). Each of the three cheeses was utterly delicious and the serving was generous, more than enough for 2 people. In summary I should point out that the green light for River Cafe was a tough decision. It is too expensive for what they offer in my opinion. What tipped it in the end was that you CAN get away with a decently prized meal of very good quality: the starters and primi even though not cheap were not outrageous and they have a choice of wines under 20 pounds available. read more

VERY RUDE STAFF - OVERPRICED - NOT MICHELIN-STAR I recently had lunch today at the River Café. I didn't know it was required to book the Winter Menu in advance and the person over the phone didn't ask me anything as well. It turned up to be a "BIG" issue: 1. the waitress got pissed off when i asked for the menu (she didn't try to hide it) 2. the restaurant Manager came to our table to say: "You booked for A-la-carte menu and the Chef will not be happy that you want to take the menu" He did this in front of my friends, that was really RUDE. It's not the first time I have lunch at The River Café, but it's certainly the last one. They don't deserve their Michelin-star, the service is sub-par to non-existent. AVOID read more

Ok, everyone knows the story that Jamie Oliver used to be an apprentice here. Of course the food is great. The environment is modern, the service perfect. What you probably don't know is that there are some quite reasonably priced lunch deals available. read more

Everything has probably been written about this great restaurantvery expensive, yes; but it delivers consistently excellent and imaginative Italian food with unbeatable ingredients. I have had fantastic soups, perfect pasta (especially filled pasta), risotto to die for and beautiful fish. Chocolate Nemesis is a must for all chocoholics. More suited to business lunches and dinners than a romantic date; a bit out of town in Hammersmith. But still a good place for celebrity watching... And yes, you will need to re-mortgage - which is why it only gets 4 stars - unless you bag yourself a lunch menu deal. read more

Please note that I dined at the River Café prior to the fire so I'm not sure how much of this review will be relevant after the refurb. The Financial Times ran a promotion that allowed you to dine for £20 for a 2-course lunch. Considering that dishes at The River Cafe average about £11-£12 for antipasti and primi meals and £27-£30 for secondi meals and even factoring in that we were likely to get a reduced fixed set meal the offer was a very good bargain. The ingredients in our meals were obviously of high quality but I felt that it was a little over-valued for very simple dishes. I couldn't complain at all about the service we received at The River Cafe - it was impeccable from start to finish. They have more than enough staff to cover staff who are otherwise occupied - from what seemed like more than ten chefs and assorted helpers in the kitchen, to the multitude of waiters in the restaurant to the multiple staff at the front desks so no diner was ever left out on a limb. The attention we received at lunch was perfect. The restaurant ambience was very buzzy - the high roof top meant that it was very noisy from the chatter in the restaurant and therefore surrounded us with a pulsing atmosphere. The restaurant is long with the kitchen/bar running down one side which allows the diners to have some sort of involvement in their meal. In all honesty this is exactly the type of restaurant that food critics live for - simple food with complicated descriptions and sky-high prices. Almost the opposite of what I prefer. read more

Absolutely delicious - had the squid followed by hare pasta and then the chocolate nemesis, all of which were delicious, particularly the squid. We went for lunch on a Monday a few weeks ago and the ambience seemed like it'd be better suited to lunch than dinner. Service was a little slow as well, but as we'd allowed a few hours to eat and then walk back along the river that wasn't a problem. The meal for two came in at £55 each without wine (3 courses each), which was about what I was expecting - not something I'd do every week but will definitely be returning as soon as I get the chance. read more

Full review on http://www.thehappinessprojectlondon.wordpress.com If I had money, I'd go here every week as it definitely had the best atmosphere. Filled with interesting, media types, and celebrities (saw Jade Jagger having a ciggie outside); and with a buzzing atmosphere even on a quiet Tuesday night, we were treated like kings and ate a wonderfully simple, fresh, seasonal, Tuscan feast. Perhaps not as delicate or intricate as Chez Bruce or Pied a Terre, this is great Italian dining. You are given a choice of antipasti, primi, and/or secondi, followed by amazing organic cheese or dessert. I chose as primi the risotto with langoustines, mint, peas and pinot bianco which was simple and delicious. For secondi I had the anjou pigeon which was delicious and heavy, but next time I'd go for the great-sounding fish chargrilled cornish monkfish, turbot tranche, dorset blue lobster. My friend's boss treated us to a bottle of champers as he had to work late so the rest of the bill was good value about £75 each for 3 courses and a glass of wine with our cheese. read more

Came here for a friends birthday dinner while traveling in the London. The menu changes seasonally and varies slightly day by day. They have a menu that has some really interesting and creative items, but I must say that nothing was fantastic. I would say that for the premium they're charging, you could find a much better dinner! The service was not good. I won't be back. read more

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. The food is not a patch or the recently opened L'Anima in the City or Locanda Locatelli and Enonteca Tui. And if you are looking for pastiche I recommend Petersham Nurseries ! read more

I grew up in Italy so my standards for Italian food are pretty high. This place is awesome. I'd resisted going for the longest time because, well, I was sceptical (Ok, the truth is that I find Jamie Oliver kind of annoying and I associate this restaurant with him... Unacceptable reason, I know...) Went on Sat night a few weeks back. Tricky place to find. Luckily we don't live too far away so despite getting properly lost in the bowels of deepest, darkest Fulham we were not too late for our seating). In any case the service was pleasing -- from maitresse d' to server to busboys -- so they probably would have kept our table. The menu is simple and simply prepared, almost rustic, Italian fare. I started with wood-roasted Scottish langoustines which arrived in a tangled oregano-fragranced heap. Presentation is not high on the list here. However, I spent a happy half-hour digging out the sweet flesh from the carapaces and claws -- it was awesome. My dining partner had a simple seafood risotto which came 'in bianco', i.e. white with no tomato. It was very well-executed and the seafood bits were cooked to perfection but I found it a little bland. In Rome, where I grew up, risotto ai frutti di mare is always 'red' with a bite of chili. Mains were fine if a little 'meh'. I had the stinco di vitello (veal shank) with polenta. Again, very well-executed but a little unexciting. My companion ordered the tagliata. Ditto. It was just a steak, afterall. The desserts were lovely. The Chocolate Nemesis lived up to expectations: deeply unctuous and chocolately. The lemon tart was everything a lemon tart should be: sharp, sweet and soft, with pastry that's not too short. All in all a very good meal. I'd love to make it my local but I'm afraid that my financial advisor may balk at the idea. No matter what people say about paying for good food, River Cafe is very expensive for what you get. read more

I visited the River Cafe twice before the fire, but gather it's now open again. It's not easy to get a table, it does required some planning but lunch is a better bet than evenings or weekends. It's a good place for a business lunch or if you want a good natter with friends. The location isn't particularly good for central London - you'll need a cab otherwise it's a hike from the nearest tube and parking around the place is rubbish as it's all residential. However, once you're there you won't be disappointed. River Cafe is famous for its fresh, seasonal, organic ingredients. The menu changes regularly and offers beautiful pastas and interesting dishes. The bread and olive oil served complimentary was wonderful - we ordered several baskets! I've never been here in Summer, but the large glass doors and patio area overlooking the Thames would be lovely on a warm day. read more

The River Cafe is unlike anything I've ever been to (decor wise) and filled with bright crazy colors, lots of white and looks like modern 80s. The food was good, though not the best I've had. I can imagine in the summer, the outdoor dining experience must be pretty spot on,with gorgeous views of the Thames (especially at sunset!). The staff was accommodating of my gluten intolerance (I had warned them ahead of time, but it did take a few extra minutes for the chefs to discuss among themselves). They were willing to make anything on the menu for me with the exception of pasta dishes. For an appetizer I ordered a buffalo mozzarella salad. Usually these salads are layers of tomato, basil and mozzarella. Instead, I received a bean, tomato and olive salad with grilled pumpkin and a one pound ball of mozzarella. My husband ordered a crab salad with polenta and tomatoes. He used some of my massive ball of mozzarella to eat his tomatoes because I had plenty to share. For dinner I ordered a whole Dover sole and my husband had ravioli with ricotta and mushrooms. Our dessert consisted of some awesome gelato. read more

Look, great atmosphere. Great food. Place was packed. Things went sideways quick. New to town, I didn't know they shut down service at 11. After dropping nearly a thousand pounds, we were promptly escorted out. I work in the industry where I live. I know that liquor laws stipulate service requirements. Where I come from you make patrons aware of these laws, instead of strong-arming them out of the restaurant. With no last call proclamation, our wonderful experience was dashed by a sudden end. Simple training of your GM would say that around 10-10:30 they should make tables aware that last call is coming and they are required by law to clear the place out. Fucking simple. Instead of having regulars (family is here) for perpetuity they've lost that. They were packed on a Monday. They'll be fine. But if that lack of customer perspective persists, the positive experiences will be overshadowed by being pushed out of there after spending over a thousand pounds. And if that happens enough, it doesn't take a genius to realize that treating customers like a burden is a shit business model. read more

This was truly an amazing meal in a spectacular setting. It was a bit dicey getting there from central London, walking from the Hammersmith Underground station through the park with heroin addicts sprawled about. But the food was delightful, the wine list was expansive and well-crafted, and I would gladly brave it all again for a meal this memorable. First-rate, highly-recommended read more

Why is iit expensive ? ...................Because they buy really top produce, best cuts and serve it with imagination in an authentic Italian style. Their wood-fired oven is something to behold............. We (6) lunched last Sat, started off with their signature char-grilled Italo bread drizzled with green olive oil. I could eat a plate of this on its own ! But, their char grilled squid with chilli + rocket has to have its place, its a cornerstone Dover sole on the bone, very good, one of my fellow diners had the Turbot, a fine door stop tranche, beautiful,l and I was lucky she eats small............ So we shared. This is premium Turbot, we are lucky to enjoy such produce........it won't be around indefinitely. Deserts.were good, pink rhubarb, delicately baked with what looked like a breast implant pannacotta !!! I rotated my plate for a laugh or two and it remind me of Jordan ( well known author ) but it couldn't compete with the b + butter pudding Which was the home run of deserts on this particular day........ Well done River Cafe - you don't normally do it but you've done it again !!!!!! My favourite restaurant in London. read more

I have been to the River Cafe a number of times and although it is extremely expensive the food is worth it and the servive is usually outstanding. This particular visit was unfortunate because the waitress got my order wrong, bought everyones food (including a wrong meal for me) and then told me the meal I had actually ordered was finished. Everyones food then had to be re-cooked but once the new pasta dish I ordered came it was amazing, one of the best I've ever had. On a nice warm evening lunch/the outside seating is really lovely. Would definitely recommend if you want to blow the budget! read more

Without a doubt, one of the best dining experiences of my life. I ordered a chicory salad, Dover sole, and chocolate cake. We shared some pumpkin ravioli for the table. Everything was memorably delicious. The restaurant is modern, but not overly noisy. The staff is professional and accommodating. The River Cafe is Five Star Plus!!! read more

A friend visiting London wanted to eat at a Michelin starred place and I took advantage of his request to look for one that I hadn't visited before and soon zeroed in on the River Cafe. However as we walked towards the restaurant from Hammersmith station one bright Sunday afternoon, I almost began to regret my choice as the locality turned progressively shabbier. However the last turn to the restaurant was a big surprise. It was a huge place with as much seating outside as inside. The front opened into a garden, which had tables and a playing area for the younger guests, and which was right on the bank of the Thames. It looked beautiful. The lunch became very enjoyable just because of the ambience. We were in a good mood already and my friend decided to experiment with his food (I typically don't experiment with new meats at high end restaurants, but only with new dishes). For starters we shared an antipasti that was prepared with figs. It seemed an odd accompaniment for ham, but we enjoyed it nevertheless. We went for two dishes for our main course ... A small one from the "primi" section and a larger one from the "secondi" section of the menu. The penne pasta was fabulous. One of the better ones that I have had. However my friend made an error of judgment when he ordered the full grouse. It was quite ok ... But since it came with bones, it was somewhat difficult to handle. Besides it had a very heavy flavour ... and was cooked quite rare. Also my friend expected it to be a white meat dish which it wasn't. So he was unable to enjoy this dish as much as it should have been enjoyed. River Cafe, like most establishments in its class, had a somewhat limited choice of wines by the glass. But our waiter made some good suggestions and we liked out drinks. The disappointment of the main course was more than made up for by the desserts. I had a conventional dish ... Vanilla ice cream with whiskey. It cost ~£9. However the amount of whiskey they served (it was provided in a separate glass) was more than a standard double. The price was worth it just because of this. My friend ordered our favourite item of the afternoon ... Zabaglione custard. This was my first taste of this Italian dessert that is made with eggs and wine. It was divine. The taste has stuck to my mouth. I shall return just for having this dessert again :) It's an expensive restaurant (as we expected it to be). We paid around £70 per person for our meal. But it's awesome ambience and service makes it preferable to a number of other restaurants in its league. read more

River Café is a London gem that has withstood the test of time, but it took news of its plans to open a sister restaurant in Mayfair that spurred me to visit the original. We came for dinner on a weekday evening, and unsurprisingly for a place of its calibre and price tag, it was predominantly full of work dinners. I don't get the sense this is a place many 20-somethings frequent. It's located in a residential area about 15 minutes' walk from Hammersmith station, and to get there I had to walk down quite a few dark and deserted roads. It's not necessarily the trendiest place in London to open a restaurant, but for this people are willing to make the trek. There were many taxis and Ubers dropping people off, given the long walk, but on a narrow street without any real room to navigate so there was a bit of a traffic jam. The restaurant is located along the river, but there is an awkward courtyard space between the restaurant and the water so you are not overlooking the water. The entrance is also not located on the street, so you have to walk into the courtyard and turn around before your see the signage for the restaurant. If you were walking down the street, you might not know that it was a restaurant. I also found the décor of the restaurant a bit strange. There is a long bar when you first enter, which seems like a place to wait for the rest of your party, and not actually used as a bar. If I were them, I would get rid of it and put in more tables. There was a projection of a working clock on the wall, and a brightly coloured artistic looking pizza oven, none of which really did it for me. There is also an abundance of staff, all rushing around looking very stressed, though that made it easy whenever I wanted to get their attention. As for the food, we ordered the chargrilled squid and the buffalo mozzarella to share for the table. There were 3 pieces of each, which was not an abundance of food, and I'd struggle to say that it was worth £20 for a starter. For the mains, my friends all got the roast beef, and I got the slow roasted veal. I was tempted to get the veal sweetbreads, but paying over £35 for sweetbreads that cost next to nothing didn't seem worth it. The server actually recommended not getting pasta as a main, which is something I do quite regularly when eating out at Italian restaurants when I can't finish both a pasta course and a meat course, and I found that interesting (maybe they are very traditional). The mains were delicious and I think more understandably worth the splurge. The predominant feeling I got from the food was that it was remarkably similar to what I had a Spring at Somerset House, which is Italian inspired without claiming to be through and through Italian, whereas River Café (though you wouldn't guess by the name) is known for being one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The menu is full of Italian ingredients, but what really struck me here was that the choice of wine was also entirely Italian regions. I feel like the food from both River Café and Spring are equal calibre, but at Spring I had a large window booth, plenty of room, a beautiful ambience and a relaxed dining atmosphere, whereas River Café we were at a cramped table next to a lot of other diners and with stressed out servers running back and forth. The price tag is also equally steep. For now, River Café has a Michelin star and Spring is a closely guarded secret, but I'd definitely prefer Spring. Perhaps the gap will narrow once River Café gets a new location in central London! read more

The River Cafe is a favorite of mine in London. I try to go every time I visit, assuming I can get a reservation. It's a hot spot for sure, and it doesn't seem to be cooling down anytime soon. The modern interiors by Richard Rogers, are sleek and clean, with a holographic clock, ticking away on one wall. The kitchen is opened to the dining room, so you can see what's happening behind the line. The outdoor seating is nestled next to the restaurants organic herb garden, feet away from the Thames. The food, though categorized Italian here on Yelp, seems to be a bit more modern/British, with Italian influences. It's not classic Italian, with heavy sauced pasta dishes etc... Sauces are light and fresh, not heavy and dense. Preparations are simple and traditional, encouraging the ingredients to speak for themselves. There are plenty of fish dishes on the menu, plus a few meats: A whole pigeon, veal, and Leg of Lamb. They have a fantastic wine menu, as well as a great selection of cheeses too. read more

5/5. Always 5/5. Go to place for sunday lunch. Expect to see celebrities. Expect to have amazing food! read more

how have we not heard of this place earlier? dinner was such a memorable experience. i love the fresh ingredients, excellent execution, open kitchen, water front property and view of their garden. it was so delightful, my husband bought me two of their cookbooks thinking i might be able to recreate some of the magic. i'll certainly try! huge fan of the insalata di fagiloi and spinach pasta..and the melon sorbet was a summery party in my mouth. read more

this reastaurant is beautiful inside great place to sit and eat ,a well designed room. The service was friendly and relaxed our wine waitress was great but our order taker was a little inexperienced describing botarga as cheese when in fact it was dried fish roe t.the dish was still nice if a little unexpected.the rest of the food was simple well cooked and enjoyable i was every course was was nice but i was a little underwelmed by the flavours.the price tag was high but not unexpected so did not mind too much.All in all a good meal but a little pricey to become a regular. read more

What a great dinning experience!! To get it out of the way, the only minor negative is that the ambiance does not match the food and service. Not terrible, but a large unremarkable room as compared to the exquisite food and excellent service. So with that slight ding ( not enough to reduce it below 5 stars) lets get to the positives. Start with the bar. We arrived 30 minutes early (misjudged the London night traffic which is not quite as horrible as the day traffic) and, while seated early, did have a chance to enjoy cocktails at the comfortable bar. The custom drinks were excellent and would definitely recommend the summer cup and Mediterranean cosmopolitan. I had a local gin in my G&tT, which was very good but I did pine a bit for the fresh fruit martini. For appetizers, we had the crab salad (very solid) but the clear winners were the grilled scallops with eggplant and the grilled peppers with leeks and Swiss chard. The risotto with fresh porcini mushrooms as a split middle course was epic. For main courses, the grilled Turbot was good but the marinated lamb was even better. Off the charts, was the veal shank, which was as good a dish as I have had anywhere. Melt in your mouth texture with incredible flavor. Lemon tart for dessert was exquisite and the cheese course was also excellent. Wine list was superb in the Italian categories and the Som. was very knowledgeable and eager to help. Throw in the excellent service and this is must eat in London. read more

The food, albeit good, is not spectacular as it was when this place first opened. The service has gotten so much worse, this last time we had a waiter who appeared bored with us, our order (which he mucked up), and us. Do yourself a favor and buy the cookbook for someone you know who can cook and eat that food. It will be a better dining experience, and MUCH better value for money. read more

My wife, mother in law and I had lunch here a couple of Saturdays ago. We had a lovely meal and enjoyed our afternoon, however, we were not blown over by the restaurant as we thought we might be. The service was fine, but not as attentive as it should have been for the price. We joined the table late and we're not offered drinks, we had to stop a waiter to place an order. The food is interesting and I'm sure, at the peak of contemporary cuisine. However, for us, it was a little too creative for its own good and a lot of the taste and enjoyment was lost in the meal. Overall, we did have a nice time and can't take anything away from that, however, it is an extremely expensive restaurant and we didn't feel the quality of food and service was worth the charge. read more

it's by the water, which is nice, but the surrounding area is just okay. everyone at lunch was telling me this is "one of the nicest restaurants in hammersmith." duly noted. i had the mozzarella salad to start - very good, but comes with a huge slab of mozzarella cheese. then i had some sort of pasta for lunch - it was good, but nothing too memorable (that's why i can't remember the name of the pasta). overall, decent food and experience. try this if you're in hammersmith and want to go to one of the nicest restaurants in the neighborhood. read more

The cooking at The River Cafe was indeed quality but it was simply far too expensive for my liking, £40 for a main course at that kind of level was really questionable. It would set you back around £90 if you have a 4 course meal, that is more expensive than most tasting menu in other 1 Michelin star venues. If I directly compare to The River Cafe to most of the other 1 stars restaurants (Eg: Launceston Place, Fera, Murano), they all involve higher technical skills, nicer presentation and most importantly, better tasting profile. So while The River Cafe has a nice river view, friendly service and good food, at close to the £100 mark, my expectations were not met. read more