"The Verdict: Wildly expensive, but still lives up to its legendary status. The River Café is one of London’s most acclaimed restaurants, for very good reason. It was the first place to really do Italian cooking as it should be done, in a Hammersmith dining room that was modern in the ‘90s and now is unique to itself. The fact it’s on the Thames makes this institution special during summer but it has an aura all year-round. The prices are high, the pizzetta is delicious, and its light-as-a-feather chocolate nemesis cake is one of London’s most famous desserts." - sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, jake missing, heidi lauth beasley