The River Cafe (London)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Ruth Rogers, Rose Gray |
| Headquarters | London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham , United Kingdom |
Area served | London |
Key people | Ruth Rogers (sole proprietor) |
| Products | Italian cuisine |
| Website | www |
The River Café is an Italian dining establishment situated in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London. Originally co-managed by chefs Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray, it has been under the sole proprietorship of Rogers following Gray's passing in 2010.
Location
Positioned on the northern bank of the Thames in Hammersmith, this restaurant is housed within a repurposed former Duckhams oil storage site, located close to Hammersmith tube station. The venue was redesigned by architect Lord Rogers, who is married to Ruth Rogers. Established in 1987 initially as the firm's staff canteen, it boasts a garden offering scenic views of the River Thames.
History
Among its hallmark dishes are wild mushroom risotto, Dover sole, and John Dory that is smoked on the premises, complemented by Italian sweets like lemon almond cake and the chocolate "Nemesis" cake.
The River Café was awarded a Michelin star in 1997.
The restaurant has played a significant role in launching the careers of renowned chefs such as Theo Randall, Ed Baines of Randall & Aubin, April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig, along with celebrity chefs including Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Ben O'Donoghue, and Tobie Puttock.
Cookery books and recognition
Rogers and Gray collaborated on six cookbooks, titles among them being Italian Easy and The London River Café Cook Book. Their first publication, Italian Country Cookbook, received both the Glenfiddich Award for Food Book of the Year and the BCA Illustrated Book of the Year. They also hosted a 12-episode Channel 4 program titled The Italian Kitchen.
Published in 1995, The River Cafe Cookbook is distinguished for its memorable photography and its impact on culinary literature.
In recognition of their contributions to hospitality, both founders were honored with Members of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010.
Rose Gray died from cancer on 28 February 2010 at the age of 71.
See also
Further reading
- Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers - The River Café Cook Book (Ebury Press, 1996)