The River Café London - Buy Reservations

Can't deny the food was delicious and a lovely place to be on a beautiful summer's evening. But a restaurant like this could only exist in Fulham given the very high prices which meant a two course meal (one of which was a 'cheaper' pasta dish) and an entry level wine still came to over £200. If expensive restaurants with an entitled clientele is your bag then you'll enjoy it here but, otherwise, there are far better places to spend your money.

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Have wanted to visit for a long time and it didn't disappoint, loved the experience. Food simple and perfect - everything I would have expected it to be. Loved that Ruth Rodgers was there and milling about. Nice atmosphere and enjoyed sitting outside on a lovely summer evening. Overwhelmed by my experience and still talking and thinking about it. Gosh it was expensive though.

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This was our third visit and we were very disappointed. I just cannot see how they justify their exorbitant prices. We were in a party of six for lunch and had wine very much at the lower end of their list. The bill per couple came to £305. I was most disappointed with my food. The lobster starter was acceptable but the main course of Turbot at £47 was very underwhelming. It was not firm and the accompanying braised courgettes were slimy and overcooked. The potato side was similarly slimy and unappetising. The setting is lovely and the service was efficient and friendly. The overall experience would have been enjoyable at £80 a head for lunch but in my view £150 is totally unacceptable for food that was frankly not out of the ordinary.

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We had an overall disappointing experience at the River Cafe. The only good thing I can remember is the valet service. I struggle to understand the hype , and long waitlists. I would not even comment on the michelin star that is a insult to the profession. Restaurant was full, with a good atmosphere and some VIPs at some tables. However the restaurant is cramped and the surrounding is far from idyllic , nothing special, you d get the same in a lot of pub on outskirt of central london. Menu is Italian but the ingredients are not to the level of any decent trattoria. As starter we had : buffala which was on par with supermarket upper range, pizzeta we could have had at zizzi and untasty artichoke spread on non uniformly grilled toasts Mains were a good but non special vegi pasta (price £37…) My £48 dover sole was tiny , fish roe had not been cleaned, sauce was over lemony and side greens were cold Desert was a continuation with an industrial tiramisu and a hard as rock almond tart with 3 Tesco style raspberry on it. Bill came at 125per head without bottle of wine (just a cocktail and a glass of wine each) Outrageous! Dont know if post covid supply and labour shortage means a one star now has to lean toward cheap chain but Michelin definitely has a way overdue inspection to make here!

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Outstanding in every way, location, service personality, wine and the food: absolutely delicious. Wonderful vibe lunching in the sun for my sister’s birthday last week. Ok it’s expensive but I really couldn’t fault it in any way. Loved: my calamari salad and pigeon, my sister had: lobster salad and Dover sole. We shared an epic dessert of fruit, cream and pastry to finish. Sommelier selection of a small vineyard italian wine reflecting our menu choices brilliant and no fuss made when we wanted to take a third of a bottle home, one of us back to work, one driving. Whoever is hiring and training the hospitality team and chefs has got it very right. Don’t change a thing please. Great also to see the young team heading to the staff table by the river with their well deserved lunch towards the end of a very busy service. Overall 10.

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Average food outrageously overpriced. £30 for a pasta starter? Baffling. £40 for a seabass main? What justifies the prices. Maybe the view? So disappointing. Staff lovely but not professional hospitality staff. Most just part time students and not experienced. Didnt know the menu etc. This is important because 12.5% added on top of exorbitant prices means you pay a colossal amount for unprofessional service. I felt quite ashamed that I spent so much money on this and the experienxe reminded me of my own white priveledge. Throwing away so much money on something like this when people are struggling to pay bills. Was a wake up call for me. This place may have been exceptional but not any more. And for me, I think I would prefer to donate to a charity than spend my hard earned cash on this.

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This legendary Italian on The River Thames in The Hammersmith area of London is a force of nature that came on the scene in 1987, and it feels a bit 87 in there, in the best way. The colors of the servers clothes, the aqua blue carpet, the mirrored bar and ceiling, the handwritten menu that changes daily gave me the feeling of the time I went to Maxwell's Plum with my dad when I was young. You feel the specialness of the room. The food is delightful, the staff are a mix of young summer jobbers and old pros, all trained nicely. We booked a noon lunch and it was tremendous.

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The food was outstanding. I had buffallo mozzarella to start - wonderful. The wood pigeon was possibly the best I have ever had. The Afagato to finish was awesome. We had three nice relatively inexpensive bottles for 6 of us. The service was mediocre. I ordered a side of spinach with my pigeon, and it did not come with the course. After reminding our waiter, it finally arrived - just as our table had finished our course. Then, we ordered coffee which did not come. It took nearly 15 minutes as we asked 3 wait-staff before the coffees came. And my expresso was cold. For a restaurant charging these prices, these service lapses are unfortunate. The cost was just shy of £900 for 6. This was mouth-wateringly expensive for a lunch. I was glad to have gone, for the food.

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A 60th wedding anniversary. for the offspring of that Union. We told them this and they looked after us well, after all their limit was 8 per table, we were 9, but they coped. An airy bright room with very attractive, smart and understanding servers... The wine list had a first page with nothing under three numerals... I blanched, but further on the second cheapest at £53 was fine, after all the kids had bought us a bottle of Champers to start. They also hit on the idea to go for the mains at £47 and then the cheese .Then. ice cream The lamb was absolutely superb... not enormous helpings thank goodness but beautifully presented. No pushing of pricey bottled water either, but sufficient iced the bill was £700, as we had two bottles of the wine ! but everyone had a very happy lunch...

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I recently went there for the first time for my birthday dinner. We were already shocked by the paper table cloth and loud (albeit buzzy) atmosphere. Waiters/waitresses young and not well trained, not knowing who at the table ordered which food or drinks. The food was fine (but not more than that) but not living up to the price tag of £30 for a starter or pasta/primeri. Not only that, the secondi meat dish (nearly £50) was swimming in an oily juis, it was plated horrendously, no finesse but looking the opposite of appetising and definitely not what I expect from a Michelin restaurant. Overall very disappointing and not sure how they maintained the Michelin star and what the hype around the restaurant is. It might have been great in the good old days but not anymore!

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