Lunchmaxxing at @therivercafelondon 🇬🇧👏🏽☀️
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Always a good time here, especially when the sun is out and flooding the dining room with light. The menu evolves daily with the seasons, but there were a few standout dishes on this visit.

The wood-fired courgette pizzetta was beautifully executed. Ultra-thin, crisp and topped with young pecorino fresco and Roman zucchini. Fresh, salty and completely addictive. The wood oven langoustines with garlic and parsley were delicate and sweet, but it was the new-season Italian asparagus with Parmesan fonduta that stole the show. Tender, earthy and perfectly matched with that rich cheese sauce.

For primi, there wasn’t a weak dish on the table. The mezze maniche with zucchini and mint was excellent, as was the fettuccine with spring peas and guanciale. The salty, peppery richness of the cured pork worked brilliantly with the sweetness of the peas. The clam risotto was another highlight and one I’ll definitely be attempting at home.

For secondi, the veal cutlet with sage and capers was my favourite. A deeply flavourful crust, incredibly tender veal and just enough sage coming through to lift the whole dish.

Dessert is always excellent here. Chocolate Nemesis and lemon tart remain the classics, but the rotating seasonal gelati are equally worth ordering. One of my favourite places to spend a summer afternoon in London 🦅 Less