The River Cafe

Address:	Thames Wharf, Rainville Road W6 9HA
Tel	020 7386 4200
Email:	info@rivercafe.co.uk
Website:	Visit The River Cafe website
Price: £62.00	Wine: £20.00	Champagne: £38.50
Opening Hours:	Mon-Fri 12.30-2.15pm (Sat -2.30) Sun 12N-3pm Mon-Thurs 7-11pm Fri-Sat 7-11.20pm

Square Meal review of The River Cafe:

Probably the best-known Italian restaurant in the country, The River Cafe inevitably attracts the brickbats that such fame generates: ‘too expensive’ say some; ‘too noisy’ & ‘cramped’ others. But many more extol its virtues, & we can understand why. The absolute reliance on – & simple celebration of – great produce, the innate understanding of what good food should be, & the excitement & expertise of the staff are all infectious. Food can be as straightforward or sophisticated as the mood takes you: a plate piled high with freshly cooked, crunchy deep-fried anchovies sits comfortably alongside carpaccio of sea bass with chilli, marjoram, tomatoes & lemon. Beautifully made pastas come with accompaniments as varied as fresh nettle sauce or slow-roast rabbit & rosemary. Mains, such as a perfectly cooked tranche of turbot with potatoes & capers, make best use of the wood oven or char-grill, though the kitchen is not shy of slow cooking when necessary, as in superb roasted veal shin with lemon zest & thyme. Portions are generous. Desserts ace. And stellar people watching opportunities, too.

Wine List: Apart from a collection of excellent Billecart-Salmon Champagne, this is an all-Italian affair, which mixes established producers with those that are currently making Italy Europe’s most exciting country. There is plenty by the glass & half bottle, & while much is written about the food prices, the wine list is remarkably restrained, meaning lots of choice under £30. Best Buy White 2005 Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco ‘Haberlhof’, Alto Adige, Italy, £27.50. Best Buy Red 2004 Sesti Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, £35.

Chef: Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers

Since opening the River Café in 1987, Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers have established themselves as the leading ladies of the London restaurant scene. Their simple Italian cuisine & emphasis on sourcing the finest ingredients was a breath of fresh air & the restaurant soon built up a cult following. It was also one of the first sites to use an open-plan kitchen, creating a unique & popular atmosphere. It was awarded a Michelin star in 1998 & famously spawned a number of chefs, most notably Jamie Oliver. Authors of an impressive line of cookbooks, their first, Italian Country Cookbook, was an instant bestseller, winning both the Glenfiddich Food Book of the year & the BCA Illustrated Book of the Year Award.

The River Cafe Location: