Richmond, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

“Lovely views of the Thames” and “fabulous food” combine to make this Richmond boutique hotel dining room “difficult to beat”. The “exceptional tasting menu you can adapt to as many courses as you want” – from highly rated chef Steven Edwards (who owns etch in Brighton) – can be enjoyed “at a window table overlooking the river”, “on the terrace or in a garden dome”.

“You know what you are getting” according to fans of this sub-brand, spin-off chain, whose ‘café’ branches are a cut below those trading as a ‘brasserie’. They laud its “acceptable” cooking and say, “it’s great to see how well the Ivy’s formula has been rolled out with very atmospheric décor”. Even fans of the “really nice buzz” inspired by these “costly surroundings” can find the food “pretty average” though. And harsher critics (of which there are many) say “what is the point of this expensive and dreadful group? They just demean memories of the original Ivy”. Top Tip – “really reasonable for breakfast with decent portions in a pleasant atmosphere” (and you can book in advance for it, too).

2022 Review: “A lovely pub on Water Lane leading down to the Thames: now more of a restaurant than a pub” – a smart refit now lends a brasserie vibe to the dining room at this traditional boozer, off Richmond’s picturesque waterfront. The makeover – in late 2019 – was by the Ram Pub Co, which is part of Youngs. Few reports as yet on the rather posh-for-a-pub menu (they serve a selection of oysters, for example), but early feedback says it’s “the food is good, especially the fish”, and for a comfy yet relaxed get-together you could do much worse than a trip here.

“Excellent views over the meadows and Thames” make this dining room of a grand Richmond hotel (built in 1865) “a lovely place for a romantic dinner”. Sunday lunch and afternoon tea are also popular choices. It’s “a bit of a time-capsule”, though, and even if prices have moved with the times, standards generally can be reminiscent of a former, less demanding, era.

2019 Review: This ‘Food and Fuel’ gastroboozer with a Victorian bar remains a local staple for its “nice friendly ambience” and – amongst other things – “great steak, every time!” Stop Press: The Duke was acquired by Brunning & Price in August 2018, so perhaps change is afoot.

Not far from the Thames and Richmond High Street, the Gladwin family’s fifth field-to-fork venture (with food and wines from their farm in Sussex) inspires the promising but mixed reviews that seem to be part of the DNA of their chain. Some excellent meals were enjoyed, but the odd disappointment sounds a warning note.