Last Updated on January 19, 2026
An Early Evening Menu Worth Lingering Over at Sam’s Riverside Hammersmith
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
It’s January. If you’re anything like me, you’ve overspent at Christmas, overindulged, and are now trying to put the festive period behind you. There’s a chill in the air, and the nights stretch on. Yet all is not doom and gloom – good food need not break the bank at Sam’s Riverside.
Sam’s Riverside, right on the river in Hammersmith, is a West London restaurant favourite for a reason. The brasserie-style décor is effortlessly cool, the atmosphere relaxed and unpretentious, and the kitchen consistently delivers confident, well-executed dishes that more than earn its loyal following. Right now, there’s a particularly tempting lure: from Monday to Thursday, 5–6.30 pm, and at weekday lunches, the Wine & Dine menu gives you two courses and a bottle of wine for a total of £75 for two people. West London indulgence without the usual price tag.
Six o’clock on a Wednesday evening, and Sam’s was buzzing. Perhaps the Fulham football match had something to do with it, but honestly, it didn’t matter. Outside, many restaurants looked forlorn, dim and empty. Not Sam’s Riverside. Here, the place hummed with conversation, clinking glasses, and the kind of West London warmth that makes you feel you’ve arrived somewhere worth being.
The décor is a study in understated elegance. A long bar with caramel-coloured leather stools greets you, offering a peek into the open kitchen where the action unfolds. Red leather booths framed with black metal and glass lead into the main dining area, where marble-topped tables sit alongside plush seating beneath art deco ceiling lamps, their delicate floral detailing adding just the right touch of warmth.
The Wine & Dine deal includes a choice of red or white wine: La Colonie Grenache Blanc, Viognier 2024, Pays d’Oc, France, or La Colonie Syrah 2024, Pays d’Oc, France. We opted for the white, an elegant companion to our meal. Medium-bodied with rounded texture, it carried sun-ripened notes of peach and apricot, finished with a crisp, zesty lift. The menu offers two courses, each with three seasonal dishes. You can start savoury, or skip the starters and save room for dessert. Or a third course is available for £5 if you want it all. The options cater comfortably for vegans and fish lovers as well as committed meat eaters.
We began with crisp, addictive smoked haddock croquettes, balanced perfectly by a zesty lemon mayo. The beef carpaccio was equally impressive: paper-thin slices crowned with indulgent truffle mayo, bright pickled girolles and satisfyingly crunchy croutons.
The pan-fried salmon is a triumph, bathed in fragrant curry beurre blanc with sweet red pepper and tender pak choi. A welcome twist on a familiar dish, it delivers real flavour and finesse.
The calf’s liver is an unapologetic winter comfort: rich onion gravy, salty treacle bacon adding crunch and crushed potatoes. My companion was utterly absorbed.
If you think you can do without dessert, think again. The clementine crème brûlée is a classic with an orangey twist, hiding a juicy surprise at its centre, rather like a grown-up Jaffa Cake.
Or opt for the simple pleasure of an affogato: vanilla ice cream topped with superb coffee for an excellent finish.
The staff at Sam’s are attentive and genuinely warm, striking just the right balance and making this a thoroughly enjoyable early evening meal. If you live or work nearby, the Wine & Dine menu is perfect for a relaxed post-work catch-up or as a lead-in to the theatre, a concert or even a football match.
Sam’s Riverside,
1 Crisp Walk,
London
W6 9DN,
United Kingdom
Telephone: 020 8237 1020
Looking for something different? Check out our recommendations for restaurants serving the best British food in London
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