The Riverside Vegetaria

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 30^th 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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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

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 pâté with crudités (with not a squished cow in sight, of course, we’re talking mushroom, sage and olive pâté). 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.

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 décor 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.

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.