REVIEW: Delicious tales from the riverbank

On an early summer evening, it’s difficult to imagine a setting more perfect for a social meal with family and friends.
An oasis: Riverside at HoughtonAn oasis: Riverside at Houghton
An oasis: Riverside at Houghton

The Riverside at Houghton near Amberley was bathed in sunshine when we arrived at 7.30pm on a Thursday and we were shown to a table set in an oasis of sheer beauty and tranquility.

Forget that the road through Houghton runs just out of sight. With the river to one side flanked by ancient stone bridge, the wonderful South Downs and a row of palm trees, this is as close to paradise as you will find in this corner of England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When the South Downs National Park was created it was just such a venue that its proponents dreamt of.

Spanish omeletteSpanish omelette
Spanish omelette

The Riverside is many things. With extensive indoor seating as well as on the riverbank, it caters for many different tastes throughout the day.

You can come here for breakfast - it’s open at 9 every morning. You can have morning coffee. Its lunches are a special feature of the area.

It is especially noted for its traditional afternoon teas - just like grandma used to serve! The scones are all homemade, and are presented on stands using fine, vintage china - which immediate conjures up a warm glow of nostalgia.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday they are open in the evening from 6pm when you can come for Tapas or pizza.

The wonderful Anti Pasti BoardThe wonderful Anti Pasti Board
The wonderful Anti Pasti Board

We arrived for the Tapas - a new feature of the menu which was only introduced in the past few weeks.

Francesca Chapman - who has been running the Riverside for about five years - decided to feature ‘Tapas by the River’ because no-one else in the area was offering its like.

“To be able to sit out on the riverbank and watch the sun go down and just to be able to have a social dinner which is what tapas is rather than a three course dinner has worked really well,” she explained.

It certainly worked well for us.

Delicious: Chicken with lemon and garlic tapasDelicious: Chicken with lemon and garlic tapas
Delicious: Chicken with lemon and garlic tapas
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was not merely a different approach to dining it was simply delicious.

We bagan with an anti past board - an amazing selection of prosciutto ham, chorizo, salami Milano, mozzarella, marinated olives and ciabatta (£5.75 for one or £10.90 to share).

It was accompanied with a bread board with oils (£4.25) - including freshly baked rosemary focaccia and french baguette.

The tapas itself - a fusion of European and Asian influences - was wide-ranging and of extraordinarily good value and quality.

Francesca Chapman at the RiversideFrancesca Chapman at the Riverside
Francesca Chapman at the Riverside
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Some of our favourites were chicken with lemon and garlic (£5.25); bacon, brie and cranberry croquettes (£4.65); pork and apple scotch egg (£5.25); Spanish omelette (£4.25); home beer battered fish fingers (£4.65); and beef meatballs in a tomato sauce (£4.50).

They recommend 3-4 dishes per person to share.

But it’s not just the location and the food which makes the Riverside special - although all the produce is locally sourced, with meat from the local butcher, and eggs from the local farm.

The service was exceptional.

We were looked after by a brilliant young waitress and waiter, Chloe and Hayden - who was coping supremely well with his first evening on duty.

At its heart, though, it is a family enterprise.

Tapas by the River: Pork and apple Scotch EggTapas by the River: Pork and apple Scotch Egg
Tapas by the River: Pork and apple Scotch Egg

While Francesca is a sublime host, her daughter Charlie runs the kitchen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meanwhile, look out for Grandpa John’s chilli jam and courgette chutney which have gained their own celebrity culinary status in the area!

All sounds too good to be true?

Well don’t just take our word for it. Customers have been singing the Riverside restaurant and cafe’s praises too on independent websites. Like the recent comment: “We’d been meaning to try the tapas here for ages and finally got round to it on a perfect summer’s evening. We had a great table in the garden, overlooking the river and with the beautiful countryside and downs completing the view. Service was really excellent. Attentive, friendly and efficient. The tapas were very pleasant.”

These tales from the riverbank should encourage you to visit very soon! We will be back for more.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: