The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay Review: A Non-Stuffy Seafood Restaurant In An Iconic Building

When you mention ‘The Savoy’ and ‘Gordon Ramsay’, people generally know what, and who, you’re talking about. The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay, is nestled in the heart of the world-famous hotel, and it opened its doors in Autumn 2021. It had no issues putting the train on its tracks, because four months after opening it impressively had a Michelin listing to its name. It was a pleasure to revisit the iconic building. This time around, instead of drinks, I was here for a date with some mussels at Gordon’s supposed seafood gem.

The Savoy is distinctly charming in its own right, with 135 years of excellent hospitality drawing in the biggest of names.

DesignMyNight Review of The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of knocking back a handful of whisky cocktails with a good friend at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar. In such an legendary setting where Princess Diana attended a Centenary Ball and Winston Churchill was a seasoned regular, it’s impossible to not be charmed by its status. The same allure was intact as I walked, once again, under The Savoy’s thin green lettering, right through to The River Restaurant, where our coats were checked and tagged before being seated at the bar.

The interiors at The River Restaurant fit in seamlessly with the elegance of the 135-year-old hotel. Light creams clash perfectly with darkened bar features to produce a timeless space that exudes a feeling of being amongst ‘old money’. Despite the grandeur of the restaurant and its postcode, the atmosphere isn’t what you’d think. Its all-day dining concept is relaxed, and is a far cry from stuffy.

The contents of the seafood platter were so fresh, they could have been plucked from the sea the same day.

For anyone unaware, the martini is the drink of the moment. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but both novice and discerning drinkers are in good hands here. The oval martini bar (designed by Russell Sage), is in the epi-centre of the room, but there was something quite intimate about having your feet tucked under its counter.

There are four signature martinis displayed on the first page, one being the Mermaid’s Martini (£20), mixed with Bombay Samphire Gin, Noilly Prat infused with pineapple and lychee liquor, and Peychaud’s bitters and a hint of Maraschino liquor. It’s a great introductory drink if you fear the potency of the classic drink. My finance had The Monarch (£24), a more premium option but slung back just as easy with Monkey 47 gin infused with Early Grey tea, Lillet Blanc, RinQuinQuin peach, aperitif, all enhanced with elderflower cordial and Mount Fuji bitters.

If you want to feel like a VIP, drinking a martini at the bar will deliver instantaneously.

Drained glasses and small talk out of the way, we were guided to a snug alcove towards the back of the room where we ordered the chilled shellfish platter (£95 for two). I’ve had a substantial amount of seafood platters in London but this one is exceptional value for money, especially when you take in the quality of the produce and your surroundings. A silver two-tier platter came neatly presented with fresh oysters, salty clams, meaty langoustines, delicate cockles, plump, juicy mussels, crevettes and devilled crab. The quality was second to none, and although it took a while to prepare, I can assure you it's worth the wait. 

No seafood platter is complete without a glass of wine, and a glass of Pouilly-Fumé Villa Paulus from 2022 was quickly recommended by the team. It was well rounded and balanced with a lovely earthy minerality. Shellfish forks discarded, we welcomed dessert menus. By all accounts, I consider £14 steep for a sticky toffee pudding. But when you’re in a Ramsay restaurant, I’ll gladly part ways with the money. A gorgeous slab of sponge with the most intoxicatingly rich sauce was paired with a scoop of fior di latte ice cream. It was just as I remembered it, three years on from my last out-of-body dessert experience at Gordon's Bread Street Kitchen outpost.

Overall: What We Thought Of The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay

Would I recommend this place to my friends and would I go again? These are the two questions I always ask myself at the end of a meal. The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay team has earned a resounding yes, and on both counts. The design of the restaurant is timeless yet stylish, and although it's situated in one of the most prestigious hotels in the world, it's managed to create a non-stuffy atmosphere where good food and drinks are at the heart of the operation. If you want a special space to celebrate or - to be fair - if you just want a really good meal, pop this place on your radar. I promise you won't regret it.