"“Years of exposure to smoke, fried bacon and chips have left them with the deep-brown patina of old masters,” writes Edwin Heathcote, the FT’s architecture critic, of the ageing coastal scenes that plaster the walls of the River Cafe, in his book London Caffs. Yes, with the River Cafe, there’s lots to wax lyrical about: its cerulean blue wall tiles, decorated with garlands; its lovely, mirror-like pigmented glass ceiling panels; the prehistoric signage out front. But for those more into food than interiors, a visit to the River Cafe won’t leave anybody disappointed. The place attracts a steady match-day crowd, along with plenty of classic old-man-with-a-newspaper types, all digging into chip-heavy fry-ups, soft Britalian pastas and other elevated canteen-style dishes, like crumble and custard. Visitors might even spot a Juventus-shirted staff member eating a cooked breakfast after his shift, which might just be the strongest endorsement a caff can get." - Isaac Rangaswami
