Harden's survey result
Summary
“Soldiering on with flair and confidence” – Ruth Rogers’ world-famous café is “still the ‘go-to’ location for “exceptional quality”, “ingredient-led”, “expertly served” Italian cooking” (“even Italian winemakers are impressed by its authenticity and quality!”) Stuck, “out-of-the-way”, between a quiet Hammersmith backstreet and the Thames, a chic crowd (many of them regulars who live in the centre of town) cram themselves into this bright, unadorned room which started life as the staff canteen for Ruthie’s late husband, Richard Rogers’ architectural practice (“is it my imagination or are the tables getting even closer together nowadays?”). But, while practically “no one can doubt the quality of the food, even so the gobsmacking prices are hard to justify” and it is yet again voted the most overpriced restaurant in London in our annual diners’ poll. As is now customary, comments mix awe at its virtues with frustration at the level of value: “I do love it, but I always get buyer’s remorse afterwards” as “the pricing leaves a bitter taste after a fine meal”… “and yet we still go back…” Top Tips – 1) On a warm day, its location becomes a reliable attraction in itself: “it’s enchanting sitting outside on the terrace beside the Thames”. 2) When it comes to the menu, “it changes so much that it’s pointless to pick out too many individual dishes but the fish and shellfish are cooked with great skill and attention to detail; and timeless favourites include the Ribollita and the Chocolate Nemesis”.
Summary
“Yes, the food is simply presented, yes, there are paper tablecloths, yes, it’s expensive… but it’s worth every penny!!” That’s still the winning verdict on Ruth Rogers’ world-famous canteen, where it’s “so difficult to get a table”, despite a hard-to-find location in a Hammersmith backstreet, and relatively humble – albeit “slightly starry” – premises. (The site started life as the staff canteen for husband, Richard Rogers’ architectural practice). That “this is the restaurant that pioneered the idea of produce first”, further enthuses its devotees, many of whom are longtime regulars (“we’ve been coming for 25 years and have never been disappointed”). And yet, despite all the positives, many diners just can’t stomach a bill that can seem “terrifying”, or even plain “ludicrous”. Hence, for the umpteenth year, it’s voted London’s most overpriced restaurant by the sizeable minority who feel “it may be absolutely exceptional every time, but on occasion, you do think they’re just taking the piss”. Is there a way of reconciling these two competing camps? A fair middle view is as follows: “£540 for four people with one bottle of cheapish wine and a couple of gins. Can a basic Italian meal be worth that much? Well, on a beautiful summer evening on the terrace by the Thames, it feels like being on holiday: so overpriced it may be… but worth every penny!”
Summary
Ruth Rogers’ “thrilling” canteen, in an “out-of-the-way” Hammersmith backstreet (originally founded to serve husband, Richard’s, architectural practice) has won global renown on the back of “perfectly seasoned” Italian dishes “of such bare simplicity the quality of the phenomenal ingredients truly sing”. “On a hot day, there’s no better spot in London” than its “delightful” outside terrace near the Thames; and in cooler weather, its “faithfully preserved 1990s-chic” interior, though “tightly packed”, mostly gets the thumbs-up too – “bathed in light at lunch, or with a certain buzzing energy in the evening”. It’s the “ferocious prices”, though, which bitterly divide reporters, and which yet again win it No. 1 billing in our list of Most Overpriced restaurants. To its more ardent fans, the situation is clearcut: “forget the haters” – “if you think it’s overpriced, you simply don’t understand food!” Very many other diners, however, are badly torn: “I know, I know, I know: it’s an institution, a pioneer, an icon! And I value it hugely for its contribution to the London scene. The room is still one of my favourites. The food is delectable. But let’s be honest: we have many excellent Mediterranean restaurants all across town nowadays, and a grilled piece of fish, a slice of lemon tart, and a glass of Vermentino isn’t really worth half-a-week’s wages!!”
Summary
Ruth Rogers’ “thrilling” canteen, in an “out-of-the-way” Hammersmith backstreet (originally founded to serve husband, Richard’s, architectural practice) has won global renown on the back of “perfectly seasoned” Italian dishes “of such bare simplicity the quality of the phenomenal ingredients truly sing”. “On a hot day, there’s no better spot in London” than its “delightful” outside terrace near the Thames; and in cooler weather, its “faithfully preserved 1990s-chic” interior, though “tightly packed”, mostly gets the thumbs-up too – “bathed in light at lunch, or with a certain buzzing energy in the evening”. It’s the “ferocious prices”, though, which bitterly divide reporters, and which yet again win it No. 1 billing in our list of Most Overpriced restaurants. To its more ardent fans, the situation is clearcut: “forget the haters” – “if you think it’s overpriced, you simply don’t understand food!” Very many other diners, however, are badly torn: “I know, I know, I know: it’s an institution, a pioneer, an icon! And I value it hugely for its contribution to the London scene. The room is still one of my favourites. The food is delectable. But let’s be honest: we have many excellent Mediterranean restaurants all across town nowadays, and a grilled piece of fish, a slice of lemon tart, and a glass of Vermentino isn’t really worth half-a-week’s wages!!”
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
The River Café Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Given the outstanding bread bakers in London today, I suggest the team explore options to the focaccia? I am a bread aficionado (travelled to Spa Terminus to buy Hedone bread after the restaurant closed) and was quite surprised recently to find the bread still on the menu."
"A bit disappointed… great location but the food was average and very expensive. "
"This is a marvellous venue with lovely food but boy is it expensive. Lovely spaghetti with bottarga followed by slow cooked veal shin. Sarah had ravioli with truffles and beef for main."
"Love the food and the place but even for me, a long time fan, the prices are starting to get hard to stomach "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £55.00 | £70.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £31.00 | £55.00 | £15.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £48.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London, W6 9HA
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm‑2:15 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm‑2:15 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm‑2:15 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑2:15 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑2:15 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm |
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