Riverhouse Restaurant

Occupying prime real estate along Richmond’s leafy banks, with unrivalled views of the river Thames, Bingham Riverhouse’s eponymous restaurant really is impeccably located. For an elegant meal with a view of the water, you can’t do much better. And yet, despite its prestigious location, this charming restaurant is refreshingly laid-back. We’re greeted with an exceedingly warm welcome on arrival and led to a cosy dining room where subtle lamp lighting, period features and bespoke artworks create a sense of being at home. This, we imagine, is the effect the team are trying to achieve here: a place for locals to socialise, relax and celebrate without unnecessary fanfare.

In the kitchen, South African-born Vanessa Marx was recently recruited to lead the charge, where she works closely with the seasons to create an eclectic menu of vibrant dishes and bold flavours. The menu is decidedly modern and bounces across the globe, from a crisp tuna ceviche tostada laced with lime and chilli, to a well-dressed salad where salty confit duck, soft, maple-glazed quince and crisp radicchio are fine partners. We like that there’s clearly a conscientious push to champion vegetables wherever possible, with plenty of choice for veggie and vegan eaters. A vibrant dish of wild garlic gnocchi served in a glossy, verdant sauce was another highlight, as was a pretty slice of cheesecake topped with candy pink rhubarb and imbued with the hum of stem ginger.  

There’s a succinct wine list which the sommelier can guide you through, while cocktails span signatures and all the classics. The bill could tot up pretty fast if you're not careful, with small plates ranging from £9-19, but that’s the price you pay for high quality, sustainable ingredients in one of London’s most affluent areas.  

Still, it’s all very lovely, and we’d love to return during daylight hours to soak up those river views in full force. 

"Food has the power to tell a story, change the energy, and connect people. I cherish watching the seasons change in the UK, appreciating the incredible British produce and its growers. In this new world, transparency and sustainability are the currency, and I'm excited to continue this culinary journey at Bingham Riverhouse," says award winning chef, Vanessa Marx. Vanessa is the brains and drive behind Riverhouse Restaurant, a place that guests can gather to enjoy modern comfort food in a laid back setting.

Open for lunch from Tuesday through to Friday, with the addition of brunch and dinner on Saturday, and a Sunday roast to round off the week, Riverhouse Restaurant is an excellent place to enjoy hearty, delicious food. To share amongst the table, you may enjoy Haverstock White and truffle arancini, or the crispy crab cakes and tempura oysters with nori and ponzu. Small plates to begin your main meal include caramelised celeriac with coconut raita, spiced coconut butter and roasted pumpkin seeds, along with Wimbledon Rooftop Farm coffee grown mushrooms with a fermented nut and truffle cream and toast.

Larger plates are perfect for hungrier tummies, and include imam bayildi with quinoa, crispy kale, hazelnut dukkah and pomegranate, and Brixham fish market catch with lemon beurre blanc and samphire. Don't forget to order a selection of sides, and maybe try the stock pot onion poutine with gruyere or buttered winter greens. To polish off an excellent meal, try the desserts of cacao torte with reishi mushroom and cranberry sorbet, topped with maca date caramel, or, the classic dish of apple tarte tatin with tonka bean ice cream. If you like to dine in spots that feel out of the ordinary, try the enchanting garden domes which are found in the restaurant's zen garden, and overlook the river. These domes pop up in the winter months, but be sure to book ahead.