The Perfect Sunday – River Cafe, London.
I couldn’t pick a better restaurant for a family Sunday lunch. However I wasn’t with my family, and there was no chance of expecting a typically British traditional roast. But still my opening statement remains.
My first experience of Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ River Cafe was perfect, without any exaggeration. It was July’s Italian Club and as a special treat we went to celebrate two members’ birthdays. (Italian club is a once a month meeting of chirpy London foodies, all with an interest in exploring the capital’s Italian food scene.)
This particular Sunday; July was smiling at us with 25 degrees and clear skies, and we all arrived cheerily in what felt like Mr
McGregor’s garden clashed into 2011 with a modern sixth form college block.
After initial greetings, giggles and a quick birthday debrief, we decided to begin with River Cafe’s signature cocktail, a Rossini
(prosecco with fresh strawberries). We all agreed that this was delicious and ever-so-easy-to-drink and conversation tailed to this being the perfect beverage to toast at a wedding. (And also get extremely sloshed on, without noticing, at said wedding.)
Menus had arrived, complete with easy on the eye waiters and waitresses who delivered our bread, Italian oils, vinegars and accompanying water. With prices at a restaurant high we hoped taking a waiter home in a goody bag was part of the deal, and quickly put our dibs in on our favoured choices.
Focusing back on the beautifully fonted menu (which at a later date I purchased for a work related project) we decided to get a range of antipasti and primi to share, but then choose our own main, all opting
differently so we could sample a larger range.
We began with Fritto Misto con Zucchini, Fiore e Melanzane (basically lightly battered vegetables) a great appetiser for what became a supremely tasty feast. This taster paired with Calamari Ai Ferri (chargrilled squid with fresh red chilli and rocket) reminded me of my year living in Spain, simply from the tapas-esque small plates, which were light on the stomach but a dream on the palate.
Following our antipasti, we launched straight into three primi (pasta) dishes which included Rotolo Ai Funghi (fresh pasta roll stuffed with summer girolles, spinach, buffalo ricotta, thyme and parmesan), Penne Con Pomodoro (penne with fresh tomatoes, traditional balsamic, basil, butter and pecorino) and Tagliatelle con Vitello (hand cut fresh pasta with slow-cooked
veal, pancetta, rosemary, lemon peel and thyme).
Having favoured the veal fresh pasta dish when selecting, it was the simplicity yet beautifully sweet flavoured penne that actually stole the primi round. 
The vegetarian and veal plates were superb, but the tomatoes in the penne were unlike any I’d ever tasted and the delightful waiter even went into great detail of how they produced such a high end product (chef secret I’m afraid). Much of the vegetables andherbs used are grown on site (or should I say campus) and the idyllic day we experienced really enhanced the beauty of such a carefully organised garden. Said waiter continued to flirt with our group and brought over complimentary Crostini Misti with Chicken Livers, tomato, tarasco and lardo di colonato. We felt ridiculously spoilt.
The mains were all priced around the £30+ mark, and options were snapped up before I had barely read the first line. Where I would never usually end up with a seafood dish for a main, I took a gamble as all the best meat dishes had gone to an Italian Club comrade. I chose the Triglia Arrosto (whole red mullet cooked with bay leaves, lemon and garlic with zucchini trifolati) and it didn’t disappoint. The fish was rich in colour as it was in taste. It slid off the bone and had a tender texture. As a big fan of lemon and garlic, the flavourings were delicious and I polished off the majority of the fish before even attacking the soft green zucchini trifolati. Even after so many previous plate shares, and taster bites from my friends’ mains, I still managed to clear the plate, impossible not to when taking the price and quality into consideration. This really was as special a treat as my Heston ‘Dinner’ visit earlier this year.
As plates were cleared we cast our eye over the instantly produced dessert menu. With much to choose from, I surprisingly craved
sweetness and took longer than usual deliberating my next course.
The £9 bowl of cherries was the talk of the table, especially when a bowl went past to a nearby couple on a date- and the lady in
question picked at no more than five, before leaving the barely touched extravagance ignored to the side.
I finally made a choice, based on if I were to splash out any further it had to be on my current favourite trend; salted caramel ice-cream (or Gelati Caramello if speaking with true Italians). Having never been a massive ice-cream fiend (not one of those crying into my Ben and Jerry’s types) so my new love for salted caramel ice-cream has astonished me somewhat, but
who’s complaining? Even for two scoops at £8 a bowl, I most certainly wasn’t. And if there’s to be next time, it most certainly will be the Ribes Nero (Blackcurrant) as having tried someone else’s I almost (ALMOST) had dessert envy.
By this point it was late afternoon and we were all ready for a Sunday afternoon nap in the sun. The only thing for it was coffee and the group rounded up such a pleasant experience with a variety of Italian strong coffees, yet I went for the more sleepy fresh peppermint tea. We were so full. And so happy with our day.
The River Cafe is clearly a high-end favourite as on leaving, the waitress’ voice carried that Olivia Newton-John no less was on the
phone and waiting to make a booking. We all giggled at our extravagance and waddled down the riverside path, basking in the heat and rubbing our swollen bellies. I wholeheartedly recommend you replicate this trip. It makes any occasion an OCCASION.
Whose Boots Are Those Shoes? 
One of my favourite afternoons of the year so far – utterly perfect.