Wonderful cooking and admittedly fantastic ingredients but I always leave feeling like I have been mugged. The staff work the tables like sales managers work accounts. Nothing isn’t charged to it’s maximum, so a request for a sliver of the chocolate cake on the side of a to-be-shared panacotta was charged at full price. Pasta requested as a main course was charged at a premium add on of 20% despite the request of the ‘primo’ portion. This is a local restaurant and needs to remember that small giveaways can reap rewards, though looking at the usual at-capacity dining room, they are not about to suffer if they don’t make me feel special - but then, I can always go back to Riva and often do, if the choice comes up.

I went expecting the best, and it is true that the food , service and general atmosphere are all exceptional. The pasta was excellent and the chocolate nemesis desert definitely stood out, however, the big let down with the river café is the price. With virtually all starters £15.00 and mains £35.00 + this is not a cheap eat. However, if you have the right reasons (or the budget) to splash out, go on a beautiful day and the river cafe is an excellent choice.

Everything has probably been written about this great restaurant…very 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.

Far too expensive for a regular visit. I used a £120 gift voucher and still had to pay an extra £60 to cover a 3 course dinner for two including one bottle of wine & 2 aperitifs. At the end of the day Italian food is based on a peasant cuisine - 2 or 3 basic ingredients freshly prepared and simply presented. RC does it extremely well, don't get me wrong, but save it for a special occasion!

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 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)

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.