River Cafe.

Listen, This is how it goes in the River Cafe kitchen when they’re devising the new menu… “Fritto Misto?” “Gotta have it. Italian classic. Simple. Delicious.” “It’s our bag for sure.” “Simple, true. But how much simpler can we make it?” “Um, could we swap a nice mayo for something simpler?” “Like a wedge of lemon?” “Cracked it. And let’s build on that theme. What if we got rid of prawns and replaced with a couple of slices of battered lemon?” “Not sure we’d get away with that. Battered lemon? Are they supposed to eat it?” “Tell ‘em it comes from Amalfi.” “Smart. So that’s two bits of calamari, a couple of courgette flowers and two slices of lemon. OK?” “Hmmm, will they buy that?” “I hear you. Some polenta?” “Is that from the sea?” “No. We could cut it into the shape of a fish” “Darling this is The River Cafe not Findus. Just cut it in triangles.” “OK. How much shall we charge for Fritto Misto?” “£29?” “Fritto Misto sounds expensive. Let’s not disappoint with the price.” “£39” “Done”. The River Cafe is a truly wonderful restaurant where they really do take simplicity of cooking and quality of ingredients to the next level. The Fritto Misto was good but scant. The veal chop was simply one of the nicest I have ever tasted. Thanks to my generous companion for the afternoon for not hogging it all himself. Crab and avacado wasw bountiful, fresh as a sea daisy. The fennel sausage ground up in the fettuccini was joyfully delicate although the home made pasta was a little chalky. Lemon tart had such a thin base it couldn’t repel the moisture in the curd which was a shame. But it was only £15. Yes the River Cafe remains a true stalwart, for people who want the best and have no fear of cost. Front of house welcome you with an air of knowing you want to be there and therefore barely needing to force a welcome smile but the rest of the service is bright and breezy. I left feeling treated and thanking God I wasn’t paying the bill. I took a walk down the river. It’s beautiful. I passed Sam’s Riverside along the way. It was busy and buzzing and it reminded me that a beautiful meal can be had in cool surroundings not 10 mins from The River Cafe for literally half the price. More power to them both.

Such a great spot for an English breakfast and cup of tea. A great selection on offer. The staff were very friendly and greet their regulars by name. Our breakfast was very generous.

My favourite greasy spoon now that the other Italian place is full of tourists! Super friendly family run traditional caff doing all the usual plus the modern stuff (avo, poached eggs, flat whites) so suits traditionalists as well as the new breed. Also do pasta and sandwiches sp not just breakfast. These guys know what they're doing. You can tell they've perfected their art over many years.

Super friendly and funny owner (Father and son) with warm service. It’s an over hundred years old cafe with old school style. Food is freshly made and hot. Wonderful coffee. This cafe just located opposite to the station. Have off street pay-parking. Full of great memories! Of course reasonable fair price!

River Cafe is a classic and traditional diner right next to Putney Bridge Station. Service was quick and friendly. Nice selection of food - nothing too fancy, just solid options. Reasonable prices combined with everything else makes this a great place to get a bite!

This place is incredible! The best English breakfast I have ever had. They put the ENGLISH in English breakfast! When the food comes it is so well cooked and piping hot! The coffee is just how it should be! If only this place was around during the times of the plague they would of saved a lot of lives with breakfasts like this 😂 10/10 you have to go!

Had a wonderful lunchtime meal at The River Cafe. The food was great quality, arrived quickly, and was piping hot... just how I like it! The staff were excellent: friendly, helpful, and happy to answer any questions about the menu. I even stayed a bit longer to enjoy a rock cake, which I’d definitely recommend! The setting is traditional and homely, a refreshing change from the growing number of ‘hipster cafes’ in London serving bad coffee, bland food, and indifferent service at overpriced rates. This is not the case at The River Cafe. Value for money was great and the whole experience left me looking forward to returning the next time I'm in Putney!

I went with my mother and son for breakfast. The owner and family were incredibly friendly and treated us amazingly well. We were able to order off the menu and personalise our breakfasts. The food was great, too! . Highly recommend this cafe to football fans!