Culture Food & Travel Restaurant & bar reviews

Sam’s Riverside in Hammersmith: A glamorous glass cube dining space

Sam’s Riverside in Hammersmith: A glamorous glass cube dining space | Restaurant review
Avatar photo
Avatar
Shot by Cristiana Ferrauti
Ezelle Alblas Shot by Cristiana Ferrauti

A glamorous glass cube dining space has arrived upon the waterfront by Hammersmith Bridge. Restaurateur Sam Harrison has created this newcomer with the added expertise of head chef Harvey Trollope (The Ritz). Designed to entice the locals as well as becoming a destination place, Sam’s Riverside presents itself as a tranquil, grown-up restaurant adjacent to the newly renovated Riverside Studios, with the potential to rival the infamous and overbooked River Café just a stone’s throw away.  

The large interior space is a calming combination of creams, marble-top tables and simple designs, like an elegant and sophisticated hotel space. There is room for 90 diners and a glass-walled private dining room offering an intimate space for up to 16 diners.

We chose a signature aperitif to start up the evening: the Bridge Negroni, which offered a light, medicinal blend of Tanqueray Gin with the aromatic liquor of Quaglia Bergamot. This went well with our recommended savoury opener of Parmesan Churros. They arrived crisp on the outside, with a fluffy interior and smothered in generous flakes of bold mature parmesan.

Next up, the grilled octopus starter with crunchy pimentos, potatoes and creamy saffron aïoli. It could have been a little more experimental and the octopus cooked for a little less time, but the additional vegetarian dish of salt-baked celeriac with silky hollandaise sauce and crunchy hazelnuts was absolutely spot on, with its inventive presentation and amalgamation of carefully chosen flavours.

The main course was accompanied by a chargrilled stack of sweet heritage carrots, crunchy hispi cabbage and purple sprouting broccoli. A simple dish, yet bursting with a delicious smokey, charcoal flavour. We chose the roasted brill, which was more complex and full-bodied. Interestingly, the sweeter taste of this fish was paired with a savoury chicken jus and an earthy scattering of tasty chanterelle mushrooms, creating a much richer flavour. The hand-cut chips that we ordered were a perfect accompaniment.

For dessert we had a light spongy rum baba cake with pineapple and citrusy verbena, and the house speciality, Queen of Puddings, which had a longer preparation time. This arrived as a mountainous concoction of gingerbread, pears and sickly peaks of singed meringue. It tasted just like Christmas, and was definitely made to share.

Sam’s Riverside has a sophisticated and classic laid-back charm. The service is refined and the location is even better. There are plans afoot for an outside terrace dining space, so watch this space in time for the balmy evenings of spring.

Food

Drinks

Service

Ezelle Alblas
Photos: Cristiana Ferrauti

To book a table at Sam’s Riverside, 1 Crisp Rd London W6 9DN, call 020 8237 1020 or visit their website here.

More in Food & Drinks

Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery to open largest branch in Kensington this July

Food & Travel Desk

Madrid’s Chispa Bistró to make London debut with five-night residency at Carousel

Food & Travel Desk

Renais Gin and Quaglino’s launch new cocktail menu and pop-up for Cocktails in the City festival

Food & Travel Desk

Cuban Nights to bring live Latin music and rum cocktails to the Bloomsbury Club for Daiquiri Week

Food & Travel Desk

Bund Lounge rooftop bar brings art deco flair and Shanghai-inspired cocktails to Mayfair

Food & Travel Desk

New all-day restaurant and bar Canal opens in Westbourne Park

Food & Travel Desk

Shanghai Me to bring 1930s Pan-Asian dining to London Hilton on Park Lane

Food & Travel Desk

Villa Mamas in Chelsea launches Bahraini-inspired weekend brunch for Middle Eastern twist on classic fare

Food & Travel Desk

Rotunda at Four Seasons London Bridge launches floral cocktail menu and dried flower installation for summer

Food & Travel Desk