I went to a dog-friendly riverside restaurant in Richmond where they had a menu focused on sustainability and the most delicious baked bread.
Located in Bingham Riverhouse, just a 15-minute walk from Richmond Station, The Riverhouse restaurant is one of Richmond's latest restaurants.
Run by executive South African-born chef Vanessa Marx, the restaurant serves a menu made with low-waste ingredients, using foraged and garden-grown produce alongside locally sourced ingredients.
I was invited to come and try the new restaurant with a friend and being from south east London I’m never one to pass up a day trip to Richmond.
After starting with some cocktails in the lounge area we were seated at a table with views of the river, the restaurant itself is small and intimate with a bright and airy feel.
Alongside cocktails the restaurant offers a broad range of international wines from Europe to Africa.
We first began by sampling the Bierbrood, with whipped butter, the bread itself was served fresh and was a thick and spongy bread favoured by the chef on account of her South African heritage.
As far as breads go it was delicious and I’d have ended up eating my weight in it if given half the chance.
Moving onto starters I, being an avid seafood lover, went for the baked scallops served with sea vegetables, lemon and garlic butter, whilst my friend opted for the seasonal soup which in this case was artichoke.
The scallops were delicious and meaty with a warm buttery taste from the garlic and a slight kick from the lemon, and the sea vegetables gave it a lovely crunch although bear in mind you only get two scallops in a serving.
For mains, both my friend and I went for the Haye Farm organic steak served with café de Paris butter along with a side of fries and a seasonal salad.
The steak, which on that day was a sirloin, was delicious with a buttery taste and rich cuts of meat with very generous portion sizes.
Finally, moving onto the desserts I went for the Kentish coconut and olive oil cake served with grapefruit and olive meringue, whilst my friend opted for the baked cheesecake with Horlicks caramel.
The flavours of the cake were a mix of sweetness from the coconut and meringue, which had a creamy marshmallow texture, whilst the grapefruit gave it a more tarte taste.
I’ve never had a dessert like this before, the cake was spongy and soft, but the coconut wasn’t overpowering.
All in all, I think this new restaurant makes for a great option for anyone looking to try a menu focused on sustainability and a broad range of flavours.
The setting is beautiful and makes for a great lunch the next time you are in Richmond and feeling peckish.
Riverhouse Restaurant also offers Sunday Lunch on Sundays between 12pm and 5:30pm and Afternoon Tea on Saturdays & Sundays between 2pm and 4pm.
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