The River Café

£26 - £65 / Italian, Vegetarian options

Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London

Michelin

Opening hours

12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM

Sunday 12PM-3:30PM
Monday 12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM
Tuesday 12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM
Wednesday 12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM
Thursday 12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM
Friday 12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM
Saturday 12PM-2:30PM & 6:30PM-9:30PM

The River Café stands as a hallmark of both culinary history and aspiration, attracting diners to its unique riverside locale with the allure of its longstanding notoriety. Despite its somewhat challenging accessibility, the café is oft-celebrated for its illustrious past and its role as a gateway for some encounters within celebrity spheres. The interior decor distinctly evokes a timeless 90s charm, which contrasts with its high-caliber aim. Patrons find a menu steeped in tradition, offering dishes that include Devon crab, lobster tagliatelle pasta, and a renowned Chocolate Nemesis dessert, reflecting a focus on quality ingredients albeit with fluctuating execution.

Though the service is usually described as friendly and knowledgeable, there are noted disparities in attention depending on the guest's prominence or occasion of attendance. For those keen on casual chapters over refined conversation, this café offers more than just a meal; it's about sharing breathable space along the river's edge. Yet for others seeking an authentic high-end dining experience, the amalgamation of agreeable staff, suggested prestige, and ambitious pricing may fall short on their expectations. As London festoons its culinary map with burgeoning choices, The River Café is prodded ever so slightly towards reinvention, standing as much an institution of commerce as of cuisine.