Review Riverside Vegetaria - Kingston upon Thames

Ross Olivier

I was looking for a restaurant with healthy options in Kingston and came across this gem. Service was incredible (thanks Joss) and food equally so. Sit outside of possible because the view is great. Will definitely return to try their other dishes.

Trop G

Really fresh and delicious food. If you grab a seat by the river, you’re in for a great time. Also the desserts are vegan as well, which is a bonus

Claire Heath

Catered for a group of 12. Food arrived quickly. And was fresh hot and delicious Lovely atmosphere outside sitting by rivers edge. Went some years ago and it was good then also. Recommend visiting.

Selin Jami

“Organic” food in Kingston!!! If you are after healthy, organic and delicious vegetarian food, you must try this place! I am not vegetarian but love to eat healthy and organic food. I did not know that vegetarian food can be that delicious. It is just next to the river, a little gem in Kingston.

Karen B

This is a small restaurant that could quickly get full and overwhelmed with orders. It wasn't too busy when I arrived and I had the Chefs Platter which was a sample selection of starter dishes. The food was nice and a variety of choices for everyone who is willing to not eat meat for a meal.

Emma Matthews

Love, love, love this place! Been coming for however long they've been here... over 20 years and I still travel from Hampshire for their yummy food. Tiny kitchen, but talented chefs that create amazing, tasty, scrumptious food. Large portions, fresh and very tasty. Vegetarian, vegan and wheat/gluten free catered for. Healthy eating, lovely staff, and of course the lovely owner Ritchie. Personally greets us all and treats us like royalty. Want the best Veggie food? Riverside Vegetaria is where you should go!

Sylvia Boult

This restaurant is absolutely wonderful. We have been going for many years and have never been disappointed. The food is to die for and all dietary needs are catered for. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Jaya Asmi

Nice place by the riverside with great choices of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food.

Lee B

Very friendly. Great service. Lovely food and generous hospitality. A charming Kingston institution that's stayed busy for a reason. Quirky, charming, individual, independent. Hugely recommended!

Arielle Jocktane

Really nice small vegetarian/vegan place. We went there during a hot day so it will be quick warm inside but food was excellent. You have a nice view from the terrace.

Michael Anderson

TLDR: Fantastic food, Excellent staff This is based on a December 2022 visit. Happened to come across this place while walking along the Thames river. The "Vegetaria" name is definitely what made me stop. It is always nice to go in to a restaurant and not have to ask if a meal has meat in it or not. Every menu item was available to me . The dining area had good ambience and was intimate. It felt like I was over at somebody's home for a meal.Truly unique. I had the falafel and pita with avocado, Water and the apple/cinnamon cake with ice cream. The portion sizes here were all Goldilocks style: not too big,not too small. The falafel tasted fresh and tender. It is possibly the best falafel I have ever had. The cake tasted delicious and better than I was expecting. I was expecting a standard generic restaurant cake. This seemed hand crafted.Additionally, the vanilla ice cream on top was even better! It was so creamy and full of flavour and texture. This was no generic ice cream either. I had a chance to talk with RIchie,the owner.He is a true Gentleman and loves the community he serves. I can tell there's a real connection there. In Summary, Check this place out for a unique dining experience.I hope to go back again.

Vinutha Hegde

This place is rightly called the Riverside . The view from the restaurant is beautiful. They have excellent variety of vegan and vegetarian Indian food. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. If possible choose outdoor seating, view of the river is something you wouldn't want to miss We ordered one my favourite Indian food - Masala Dose , and requested the staff to make a bit spicy. Chutney was spicy! Though dosa was not what I was expecting, I thoroughly enjoyed the taste. Sambhar had the consistency of dal and potato curry were delicious. A small portion salad was provided. Again , I wasn't expecting it, but it complimented the dosa, curry, chutney and thick sambhar!

Neil Clegg

Lovely food, so much so you don't miss the meat (I'm not vegetarian). Lovely earing outside by the river in the summer sunshine.

Christian Castilla López

Excelente vegetarian food side to the Thames’s river. The table service was extraordinary. But much better the advices about food choices of the owner. 100% recommended. In addition the price was cheap. Awesome Location!! :)

John Richardson

The best vegetarian restaurant in London - great menu, delicious food, friendly service, beautiful location by the riverside, very reasonable prices. Simply the best!

Umair S Khan

Small, cozy restaurant on Kingston Riverside. Food was good, but portion size was small. We found it pricy as well

Brendon

This is a hidden gem! Most amazing dishes available and so accommodating and friendly. There’s a reason this place has been open for the last 31 years! A new favourite for sure!

Helen

Tasty food and decent portions. Good cider choices! Right on the river and fast staff. We will be back.

Karen Tien

The smell was fantastic when we walked in. The location is great place and we were disappointed it was too chilly to sit outside. We went for the sharer which allowed us to try 3 different dishes. They looked great but the taste was lacking in some. I found the Mexican chilli the only one with taste. The curry and the jambalaya was very bland. I found the costs to be quite high but everything is organic so understandable.

Susie Maley

I treated my sister to lunch today as it was her birthday. She is vegan so I chose this restaurant liking what I saw on their facebook site. We sat outside overlooking the river with the occasional boat passing, swans and ducks doing what they do and people watched as a different array of folk passed by on the footpath. The owner, Ritchie was charming although quiet. We made our choices and the food was extra fresh and delicious. I had a starter, main course and pudding (call me Miss Piggy) while my sister opted for a main course only followed by tea. Because she was carrying and opening a gift bag, the owner deduced it was her birthday and brought a small birthday cake with a lit candle. We thought this a very nice extra touch. An extensive menu which is all clearly labelled (vegan, wheat-free etc) and very reasonably priced. I highly recommend this restaurant and know I will certainly be going back to sample more of their fare.

Ankit Mittal

As the name says, the menu is extremely comforting to a vegetarian. Location is also good. Went there couple of times on sunday afternoons. The best part is there unique desserts, worth trying all. Caution - Outside seating can be a bit hard when sun is out in full.

Calcitestar

Excellent food HUGE choice. We went here to celebrate our wedding anniversary in July 2009 and were very pleasently surprised. The fact that the resturant was packed on a Tuesday night goes to show it is well regarded. There was a HUGE choice of food for the vegatarian and vegan (such a change from the normal resturant) and everything was labelled if it was wheatfree, vagan and/or Organic making choosing a meal very easy. Not only was the menu full of interesting food but the blackboard also had more temping food. You could also watch the swans and boats on the river as you ate. A very enjoyable meal. We shall return to try out many of the other items on the menu.

Frances Moulton

We came here for my brother's birthday as he is a vegetarian and was bored of always having to have risotto at restaurants. The restaurant was packed, every table was full which made it a bit tricky to navigate to your seat, and it did get rather loud. Everything on the menu sounded great, I went for the aubergine and spinach gratin which was huge and very hot, slightly burning my tongue. All of the food looked really good, and my brother was very happy! I would recommend visiting in the summer when they have their doors open and you can sit next to the river, as then you would less snug when you're eating.

Lizzie S.

It's not easy being green... unless you're at Riverside Vegetaria. This beautiful veggie restaurant is on the same road as the theatre in Kingston, along with a bundle of other tasty looking independent places. It was my sister's 30th birthday and as a treat my mum and I took her out to lunch here. This place is a five star veggie dream in summer. The dining area is right along the river front without any road between you and the water you can sit there watching the swans and boats bob up and down. However, we came in February which made this a 3.5 star place. I'll give them 4 as the service was so good. The menu is extensive. We could have sat here for a good 45 min just making our choices, and after seeing the specials board, another half hour! This is a must for all veggies, it's a great place with a good vibe. The tables are all crammed into the small space, making it feel cosy and homely. Not to everyone's taste, but I thought it was lovely.

Genevieve T.

I popped in this place since a good smell was wafting from it onto the river walk. I met a local inside who dines here at least weekly. She introduced me to the owner who offered to make baby purée for my infant. I returned a few days later, and he delivered on his personalized offer and even held my child to free my hands and allow me to get a bite. What warm service! The food was flavorful and generously sized, and the waterfront view is pleasant. Here's a picture of my satisfied little diner.

Spela G.

I was really excited to see there was a vegetarian restaurant in Kingston, but found this place to be a bit disappointing. The menu is huge but many meals are ready-made reheated which I spotted on the way out could be bought to-go. Staff seems really unwilling to assist. I kept having a feeling I was disturbing them by asking for cutlery, water etc. it was very disorganized! The location is fantastic, right by the river themes and the outside seats are the best. I feel maybe we go unlucky with the day we came, so will be back!

Jayne K.

I first went here over ten years ago and I soon became a regular customer. The food has been consistently good and it's a beautiful location, especially in the summer when you can walk along the river after a meal. The service is good too. It's the full package for me.

Diego A.

Let's start with the good stuff: amazing location in Kingston's riverside and somewhat charming dining room. They also state that they use local produce whenever they can and it has been awarded in the past because of this. Now, the not so good stuff: extremely overpriced food for what I believe it's just average veggie dishes. The produce is of great quality but the cooking is just average. Also, the staff are not especially joyful, which is not a problem per se but doesn't improve the experience. Check it out if your vegetarian and want to eat at an independent place but you may end disappointed.

Ann M.

The setting is lovely, but the food was not good. I ordered a hot pot, but there was no hot pot, and it was bland veggies served with a bland tomato sauce over rice. I was disappointed. Also, our waitress really didn't speak English so trying to understand the difference between dishes when trying to order was not possible.

Cari S.

I have been coming to The Vegetaria for nearly 15 years now. It is my first - scratch that, only choice for meat free eating. But saying that they do meat free food sounds uninspired. It's not just a meat free restaurant, its a charming cosy little place on a riverside setting which does amazingly inventive vegetarian food. There is no music playing, just the hum and chatter of families, couples and friends. I often see the same people there, so they obviously like it as much as I do. The owners and chefs are are from India, and the dishes have a south Indian flavour. As well as an extensive menu, there is a list of specials up on the chalk board which lists about 30 dishes. Really. You will take a long time choosing, but while you are debating, I would start off with the garlic bread to nibble on. It's not your standard garlic bread. The chefs take thick wholemeal bread, and cover it with fresh butter, and mash up garlic cloves. I love it, but I make sure I don't kiss anyone immediately after. For starters I would suggest a pate with crudites (with not a squished cow in sight, of course, we're talking mushroom, sage and olive pate). Don't fill up on the bread that they freely pass around, because the main meal portions are huge. I like the sweet potato curry which is one of the ongoing specials on the chalk board, or the courgette, mushroom and lentil bake. Vegan and gluten -free diners are not left out either, many of the dishes do not contain dairy. There are plenty of organic wines on selection as well, the reds are usually the best. The prices are not expensive, starters are about 5 or 6 pounds, and mains are 8 - 10 pounds. If you have room, which you probably won't, but I always seem to manage (I am such a greedy-guts), try one of the desserts. There is a scrumptious baked fig dish, where the figs come out sizzling, soaked with brandy, and served over organic ice cream. After this, roll home. You won't be able to walk.

RNagle

I've been here twice now and both times the food has been delicious and the service personal and warm. As well as the middle eastern influence mentioned in the other reviews there are some tasty Caribbean dishes that are a change from the usual vegetarian fare and the garlic bread is a must. The organic wine range is good too. The decor is a bit 70s Alpine but it adds to the relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere, and the views onto the river through the French doors more than make up for it. If you are a suspicious carnivore you should still give this place a try, and its reasonable too.

Kelly H.

Small restaurant with a lovely river view. Could do with an update in terms of furnishings. Really tasty veggie food. I had a potato curry with brown rice. Delish! Garlic bread incredibly garlicky, but tasty. Friends loved their meals of stuffed aubergine and stew. Chilean Sauv Blanc very nice. Cheesecake disappointingly had no biscuit base (or base of any kind). Waiter incredibly good looking, but rather perfunctory in terms of service.

chikidev

My favorite place to dine in Kingston and Richmond. Great value for money, i've never had a bad meal, and when i say that, i mean the food is always delicious, home-cooked, tasty fare. How do they make their falafels so tasty? I always leave feeling full and satisfied. A relaxed atmosphere that could be boosted by a bit more sincerity and friendliness from the main waiter. But just enjoy your meal and the wonderful view of the thames.

amethyst

Beautiful location right on the river at Kingston. Especially good when the weather is fine and you can sit at a table outside and enjoy the scenery and wildlife (animal and human). The food here often has an asian slant but there are middle-eastern-influenced and european dishes too. Good choice of alcohol-free drinks and vegan options. Has won several awards and remains reasonably priced.

jester

Don't recommend the nut roast it was bland and tasteless! Perhaps we just ordered the wrong things but really this was a disappointment. That said, the location is nice with lovely river views.

Highview

The Riverside Vegetaria is a fantastic restaurant catering for all tastes not just the vegetarian market. Really interesting menu prices are a little on the high side but the quality makes it well worth the sum on the bill at the end. Pretty views of the river Thames and the swans from almost every seat. Well situated for the new Rose Theatre. Food is created in the tiniest kitchen you can image which you pass when entering. Many of the main courses come with small side dishes of interesting extras I always come out feeling well fed with food I couldn't create at home.

rodsfaria

I have to agree with the previous review about the staff.Not so great decor and very dated,but what's important is that the food is great.Combinations you can't even imagine.

raxlakhani

I've eaten here a few times in the last year and I have to say that the food is consistently good. It can get very crowded particularly at the weekends and the management tends to cram in customers around the tiny tables. The service has always been professional but never really 'friendly' which is a shame. The Caribbean style vegetarian casserole is to die for. Luckily no animals did.

daveywebster

Yum, absolute fantastic vegetarian food in a fantastic setting along the Thames, about a 8-10 minute walk from Kingston town centre. The menu is huge, just their standard menu had about 30 different main vegie meals on it, plus their 12-15 item specials board! All different tastes are catered for from Asian (curries), spicy (chillis), hearty (soups, stews, pies), traditional (lassagnes, casseroles, etc ..) and lovely sandwiches absolutey fab! The prices are reasonable for such quality food (£8+) and the downstairs restaurant bit has huge glass windows/doors which open up onto the path next to the Thames. Very nice in the evenings watching the revellers go by, boats cruise up and down and to sip a nice vino and have a filling meal. I really, really think non-veggies will like this place as well as there's such variety cooked with real talent and skill ; i.e. not just a non-veggie meal without the meat and more oil and cheese which is how I find a lot of restaurant/pub veggie meals to be. Give it a try, you definitely won't feel cheated! I think there's various copies outside showing awards and accolades received, have a read first if you want more info. Cheers and enjoy

Ratha

This place has a vantage point by the Thames riverside and when the french doors are open in the summer it is a great place to be close to the water's edge. There is a wide choice of food offered and quite an ecclectic mix taking in flavours from all over the world. I have been going to this place since the early 80's and the quality has remained high. My favourite is the masala dosa ( lentil and rice batter savoury pancake) served with lentil gravy(sambar) is so scrumptious, just like my mother's! The stews are especially well made and using sweet potatoes is simply delicious and balances the spicy taste. None of the food is particularly highly spiced which means the flavours come through well. Food is not greasy,healthy and fresh ingredients, salads are crisp without brown and curled edges. Try the lassi ( yogurt drink which is savoury or sweet). They will serve tap water readily without trying to flog you over-priced bottled water as some restaurants do! Good value for money and has remained consistently good with quality. Service is quick, efficient and friendly and not intrusive so you can get on and enjoy your food and have an uninterrupted conversation. Portions are very generous so don't overorder. If you want more the service is quick and you never have to wait too long. The ambience is nice and the music is appropriate and softly played. You feel quite relaxed as soon as you step into the place as it exudes a calm atmosphere. There is seating upstairs which is just as nicely decorated and often reminds me of the sort of restraurants you get in the backwaters of places like Luxor or Jodhpur etc - lots of dark wooden furniture, trellis decorations, ethnic pictures and figurines. My non vegetarian friends whom I have introduced to this place find the food so good that they don't even miss or yearn for meat they can't believe how good vegetarian food can be and would very happily go vegetarian if the food is this good ! good huh ?