Riverview Kitchen in County Durham

Please please beware this restaurant which we have been going to for several years has a large vegan option on the menu just out of interest yesterday as we found out there chips are not Vegan we asked how the rest of there food was cooked specifically the vegan dogs which we had just ordered to be told they along we all other options were fried in the deep fat fryer along with all there meat products !!!! The poor lady who served us was so apologetic BUT THIS IS NOT VEGAN AND IS HORRENDOUS!!! This is not Vegan and we will be taking this matter further so please please AVOID!!!! We have never enquired before as the place is lovely and usually a restaurant with so many options you feel they understand what precautions need to be in place The thought we have eaten here is just shocking

Fantastic food and service a must when in Durham

Happened across this little gem on a recent visit to the city, food was amazing, great service from the team, cheers.

The meals were excellent, breakfast and lunch. I saw the photo of the blueberry pancakes and I received the identical meal. American style are a backseat to these, don't pass these up!!!

A bit disappointed today, the coffee was lukewarm, £5.00 for coffee I would have expected it to be hot

amazing food but HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO PICK UP THE PHONE???

Went Riverview Kitchen with friends and loved it. Food was delish, view was cute, vibes were 10/10. Perfect spot to hang and share plates. Would totally go again!

Amazing food, friendly and polite staff, and dog friendly!! Will definitely go back!!

Although it was late, the price was good considering if i went to eat it there it would be more expensive (11 pounds) but i ordered and it was 9 pounds, which i really liked.

A very beautiful place and I advise everyone to visit

Fantastic food, salad, open sandwich, cofee all great and the carrot cake was yummy. Will definitely try the pancakes next time. The only issue is the door to the outside lets in a lot of cold air and many customers leave it open. It's a real problem and ruins the atmosphere/ experience; they should look to solve it ASAP. Ask to sit away from the door if it's cold outside (there wasn't anything available when we went)

Best way to start a day! Amazing food and love the loose tea - try the tropical rooibos.

We had a fabulous breakfast sitting in the prime location overlooking the river. It was freezing outside, but a lovely radiator was next to our table, and the restaurant felt really cosy with warm lighting. Portion size was very generous and waiting staff were friendly and efficient. It was quiet as we were first in, but I can imagine it's popular as the location and food are great.

Amazing service and food, definitely coming back and highly recommend it! It's also in a beautiful place!

We went here and we were seated quickly. We then ordered some drinks to which the waitress then knocks one over accidentally. It goes all over my bag, jumper and legs and she doesn’t even apologise straight away. I then have to stand out the way while they clean it up and she didnt apologise to me (who had iced matcha over myself) but she does to the table. We then get the food which was very tasty, slightly over priced. We pay but don’t even get offered anything as complementary or a discount even though I now need to do a load of laundry.

Lovely food and great service, only slightly marred by the waitress saying ‘woah, you’re starting early aren’t you’ when I ordered a bottle of peroni at 3.30 on a Saturday afternoon.

Great food, great staff and fantastic views, Durham's best cafe !

Friendly service. Biscoff pancakes were great (make sure you are VERY hungry if you order four stacks) and very nice Dirty Chai. Sadly couldn't sit at the window, but still able to see the river anyway.

We ate here today and it was really busy. The steak sandwich is amazing. Service was highly professional and very fast. The view from the window is fantastic. One of my favourite restaurants anywhere.

These guys do brunch….but really well. Genuinely attentive service, amazing views of the river, great atmosphere and the food was awesome.

absolutely lovely cafe on the riverside with inside and outside seating . I went here on pancake day and they were only serving pancakes all day, but great range and the pancakes tasted amazing , the service was lovely and the food was affordable and made fresh . Commendable service from all the waitresses who gave an attentive service through such packed hours . I would definitely recommend and will definitely come back !!!! The bill came out to around £30 for two people.

Fantastic breakfast. Highly recommend the special wrap and the eggs Florentine. Great atmosphere too.

Preciosa ubicación. Elegí las tortitas con tocino rayado, jarabe de arce y arándanos. Esperábamos tener que esperar, que estaba bien. Teníamos una mesa preciosa. Tristemente era jarabe con sabor a arce - no es lo real, ya que era más pegajoso que el jarabe de arce genuino y el tocino estaba empapado no crujiente. No podía faltar al servicio, pero lamentablemente mi comida no era genial.

Lovely pancakes but on the pricey side.

The place serves great cappuccinos and pancakes. We ordered the biscoff with strawberry and blueberry pancakes which were really fluffy and yummy, best eaten warm. Really loved the pancakes and the atmosphere. It’s a bit noisy inside the restaurant but outside of the weather is good it’s very quiet and peaceful and each table has a great view

Excellent food, quick service, lovely atmosphere. Great location. Wide variety on menu.

Beautiful. Lovely food. Big potions. Amazing view. Lovely team. Great service. Thank you.

Hubby y yo entramos el sábado después de dar un paseo por Durham. Estaba lleno y había una cola para las mesas. Se movió bastante rápido y yo diría que solo esperamos 5 minutos. El servicio es rápido pero no apresurado. También es apta para perros. He estado antes y sé que el tamaño de las porciones es generoso, así que deliberadamente no desayunamos esa mañana. ¡El Sr. P tenía masa madre con aguacate, tocino, huevo y salchicha y era bastante platillo! Tuve la envoltura del desayuno con huevo revuelto, salchicha y hachís marrón. Dado que era tarde en la mañana, nos quedamos por una segunda taza y compartimos un pedazo de pastel de zanahoria y sin duda nos mantuvo en marcha durante el resto del día. Muy recomendable.

Esto fue fabuloso. Mi pila de panqueques era excelente - los panqueques son ligeros y esponjosos y extremadamente delicioso. El inglés completo era igual de bueno. Agregue el servicio amable y la cálida vibra de "bienvenida a todos" y tendrá la experiencia perfecta del desayuno del viernes

El lugar perfecto para ir, para disfrutar de buena comida y bebidas, ya sea saladas o dulces, frías o cálidas, todo es increíble. Ve a ver esta cafetería, con sus hermosos interiores, ambientes relajantes, vistas impresionantes y personal súper encantador, ¡es una necesidad!

We were looking at visiting another cafe until we were told it wasn’t dog friendly and it turned out for the best! This place is a must visit! The staff are very warm and welcoming and dogs are welcome (they have a mini dog menu too!). Definitely will be back again! Oh and it was very busy which is a good sign however the service was still very quick!

Amazing breakfast. Lovely coffee. Great atmosphere. Came really quickly too. Will make this a regular place.

Parada aquí para un desayuno increíble. Salió tan rápido y estaba un buen plato lleno. Todos ingredientes de buena calidad. El café era encantador también. Bonito espacio luminoso y una vista al río. Ambiente agradable y acogedor. Sin duda volveremos de nuevo. Gran elección en el menú.

We had spotted this cafe whilst walking along the river and decided to pop back after visiting the castle. My husband had a burger and I had a halloumi wrap. Both came with chunky chips. The food was fresh and delicious and the service was excellent.

Came here for tea and a cake, as the outside board advertised delicious cakes. I had tea with the white choc and raspberry tray bake which sounded lovely, however I was so dissapointed the choc part was okay but the bake itself was very dry the consistency of MDF couldn't eat it. My partner had traditional scone and jam unfortunately that was too claggy stuck to roof of your mouth he did manage to eat it. Only saving grace tea was good and coffee, for 17 pound you would expect a lot better. Came out feeing robbed!!

Cakes not very good described as delicious outside, certainly they are not. What we had was very dry drinks were okay but wouldn't come again 17 pound is a lot when you don't enjoy.

Went in today for cake and tea as it advertised delicious cakes on board outside however that was not the case, tea and latte was nice but the white chocolate and pistachio tray bake was disappointing as the base the consistency of mdf (very dry and incredibly hard) my partner got a scone with butter and jam which was claggy and stuck to the roof of your mouth, very disappointed would have expected better for £17

Very good and plentiful food Super nice servers! Don’t hesitate!

The place is really nice and cozy, the view is amazing. The workers are very nice and most importantly, the food was great. I spent 14 pounds for pancakes and 2 teas for two people.

Absolutely packed. Yet the service was quick and professional. Food was great and portions were decent size. Highly recommend.

Felt like waiting forever for something that was average, cold when arrived and poorly plated in box. Had to practically build sandwich again. Thought it was coming with chips but came with some sort of cheese crisp things and a side salad not pickled cucumber. Full of grease and not enjoyable to eat unfortunately.

Very delicious food, very good service and unbeatable views.

Booootiful food! Lovely scenery even on a typical English weather day! Wife had the strawberries pancakes 2 is plenty for one person they are juicy fat pancakes- I had a plain sausage bap which was perfect very filling !

amazing little location with picturesque food!! absolutely loved visiting here. got the avocado and salmon on sourdough, hash brown, mushroom and avocado on sourdough and the bacon bap. all in all very nice food. only down side was the service was a bit all over the place, one server had an airpod in, others would come over twice asking if we had had the bill after asking for it - but again we’re all only human so really not a major deal. we were placed outside and luckily was a mild day so was quite nice, but the table was annoyingly wobbly especially trying to cut up the tough sourdough!! would go again and try something else on their extensive menu ! do recommend

Do not take the four pancakes with loads of sugary sauce lightly. They have probably enough calories to satiate a horse. Which is a good thing by the way. Nice view, tasty food, excellent spot for a sunday breakfast

Durham is unique in that it has two breakfast restaurant cafe's where you cannot book and if you get there after 10 forget it unless you are prepared to wait. The food is very well done, the sourdough toast is just the way I like it not too sour and crunchy, in fact I could have just eaten toast and marmalade it was so good. We had eggs benedict, eggs royal, super large fresh orange juice and coffees and tea all were excellent. Service is swift, friendly and expert, this is not a sit and enjoy place really although you are tempted by the lovely river views. Absolutely packed. Breakfast for 3 an eye watering £68 though. Should have stuck to just toast and the view! So many wealthy students wow!

We drove to Durham just to go there for dinner as It's supposed to be open until 20.00. It closed at 5, however it said 20.00 on the Internet and even on the sign outside. :(

Incredible food, great prices, fast service and a beautiful view, what more could you want!

Absolutely terrific breakfast, a family of four dined well here. The negatives are that you can’t book, we arrived at 09:15 (Sunday) and it was almost full. Also if you are sat near the door on a cold autumn or winters day, get used to either getting up and shutting the door or shouting ‘can you shut the door please’ at customers entering or leaving. Genuinely incredible that so many people drift through a door without checking whether it is shutting. We were freezing! Please invest in some door closers! I’m not picking though, the food and service are superb. We had a pancake stack (delicious), avo poached eggs and chilli (ace), two poached eggs on toast (demolished) and a toasted tea cake for the tiny fella. All were served with a smile. All were very very nice. So nice I forgot to take a photo!

I love this spot. The food is always so fresh and made with food quality ingredients. Its good value for money. They're always busy but the service remains excellent.

Visited this place after finding positive reviews online. From the moment we were greeted to the moment we left we were very impressed. Such friendly staff, lovely food and a great buzz. Fabulous find.

The decor is pleasant, though the pricing feels rather high given the offerings and the extended wait times for a few drinks. We ordered hot chocolate with whipped cream, yet despite requesting it twice, the whipped cream never arrived—though we were still charged for it!

Just off Framwellgate Bridge, Riverview Kitchen is certainly worth visiting. There is a varied menu with delicious food, served by friendly staff, which made for a memorable lunch with my daughter. Luckily the weather was nice enough to sit outside & there was a lovely atmosphere. I'll be back again soon. - thank you.

Amazing salads and order on time as always!

Really nice staff, pretty interior, nice view. The WiFi was not working so well, so wouldn’t recommend it for working online. And it was cold. I don’t know whether British people think more than 10 degrees outside is hot so they turn on cooling, because I had the same experience in another cafe yesterday. I guess I won’t be turning back again soon because I was cold, but if you’re not, I would definitely recommend going here.

Been in today for Sunday lunch today and the restaurant was amazing, I have lived in Durham for 4 years and have never been in previously. I can particularly recommend Egg Royal and poached Eggs with avacado on sourdough bread both were outstanding dishes. My son had pancakes as well which he really enjoyed. Thanks to all the team and I look forward to visiting again soon.

We had Eggs Benedict which was very disappointing as eggs where hard

Terrace is beautiful, service is friendly however I would like to suggest if you could also put a tap water outside or near terrace as I was by myself eating and the water station is inside and I didnt want to leave my food and my bag unattended so I asked one of the member if they had tap water when I had asked for a sauce and she told me there was a water station inside and I could get it. I do understand it's not part of their job to get me the water and she was respectful. For solo walk ins I think its good if the water station is also nearby the terrace so we can get for ourselves as I did not get it bcos I have to carry all my things with me just to get the water. But it's only a suggestion😁 Anyway all the service and food is amazing Thanks

Food was really delicious. Restaurant itself was very warm as it was full. Could have done with some air con or openable windows.

Only come here if you're seriously hungry! Food is excellent and plentiful so get yourselves down here for a lovely experience 😋

We are so fortunate to have a table at the corner of window side. Breakfast in river side of Durham.

As soon as we walked down towards the cafe, we were greeted before we even got to the door and asked if we would like to sit inside or outside. We sat outside. Not sure who the girl with long dark hair in a ponytail was, but give her a pay rise because her customer service was absolutely amazing and she genuinely seemed like she was enjoying her work. Food came out very quickly - halloumi burgers with chilli jam and a biscoff milkshake - very tasty! Water dispenser inside too, which is a nice touch. Great service and would recommend to others.

Quite place with a beautiful view.

We went in for a Sunday lunch with no booking but were seated promptly by the friendly staff since there were a few tables available. Service was quick and though they got one of our orders wrong, they took it back without any fuss and returned with the correct dish. The pancakes were slightly drier than we’d have liked, but the wraps and the Philly cheesesteak sandwich were delicious, as was the coffee.

A very cozy and homy restaurant by the river. We enjoyed the English full breakfast set, the pancakes and egg Benedict. The pancakes came in generous portion (we struggled to finish!) The restaurant was dog friendly as well!

Attended as a couple with dog in tow, lovely to sit outside, the outdoor tables were clean, staff attentive, lovely lunch menu.. had the prawn, smoked salmon and avocado on sourdough, was delicious and a generous portion. The homemade lemonade was gorgeous too! Not forgetting the puppuccinio

This cafe is gorgeous with its views and being right beside the river. It is, however, very expensive for what it is. Smoothies are £6.50, and a cuppa herbal tea is £4, which seems rather excessive. It is understandable prices have gone up with the cost of living, but this seems a bit too much. That being said, the Kendal Mint Tea is the best mint tea I've ever tried - it is very refreshing. The cakes are fresh, light, and moist. The soup, however, left me feeling hungry, as only one piece of bread came with it, which was small. It is a lovely cafe with nice staff, but sadly too expensive.

Such a hidden gem! Lovely place set right on the river, we were met with a warm greeting and fabulous serivce. The breakfast was amazing. 10/10 would recommend

What a find! We had a delicious breakfast here on our first day in Durham. The setting is lovely, right next to the river, and the pancakes are perfect - although the portion sizes are massive. The service was great too.

We’ve been three times now and each time the food has been absolutely delicious, and big portions. We’ve always sat outside which is so pretty, adjacent to the river, under the trees. It’s definitely our go to place for lunch in Durham.

Had the smoked salmon with avocado and baby prawns which was delicious the staff are very welcoming

Very nice location next to the river and very good food. Love it

Outstanding! We called in based upon a friend’s recommendation - he’s a local - for lunch with the dog and we were not disappointed; even the dog got a sausage to enjoy. Great setting and surroundings, wonderful staff, and excellent food (quality and quantity). Highly recommended if you in the vicinity; we’ll definitely return as soon as we’re here again.

Excellent service. Separate celiac menu. This is the first time I've seen intolerance separated from celiac. Bravo! 👏 A rare occasion I could fully enjoy a meal safely with my family 🙂

We visited for a coffee. The location and views over the river were lovely and the key attraction of the cafe. The coffee itself was very weak, much closer to hot milk than coffee. It also arrived in a strange plastic vacuum cup snd not the porcelain cups we had seen in previous reviews. Price for a coffee was gbp 4.75. The most expensive coffee we had in Durham. If you love coffee, perhaps not here. Three stars for the location. I suggest trying a cup of tea.

I've had multiple lovely breakfasts and brunches at Riverview and would highly recommend it. The food is very tasty, especially the pancakes and it has an extremely charming atmosphere. If you can, arrive very early so that you can score one of the tables along the windows overlooking the river. Riverview is often very busy and you will probably have to queue. The service is friendly and helpful, but can sometimes be a little slow because of how many people there are. You can also bring a dog with you!

Great food, view and atmosphere but the dog friendly policy is too lax. Letting customers have their dogs on the seats, the dogs nosing about on the tables - staff were encouraging it. If you are nervous around dogs, this is not the place to eat. I don't mind dogs in a place, but they need to be well behaved and on the floor!

Really lovely food and staff. Big fan of the American pancakes. Try to get a table next to the riverside window if you can!

Awesome menu choice. Quick service. Dog friendly.. massive bonus

Went twice while in Durham and on both occasions the food and service was excellent. The cafe is situated on the river side and there is both indoor and outdoor seating, often in tables for two but tables for four are not an issue. First time, I had the burger and fries, they were great. The second time I had the full breakfast and it was substantial and reasonably priced at £13. Service was excellent. The pancakes are very popular and very filling I am told by my colleague.

The BEST vegetarian breakfast stottie EVER 🤤 I could have eaten this again - it was too good! And there was a decent gluten-free breakfast menu too, which is very rare. Staff were super friendly and knowledgeable about allergies and dietary requirements.

I came for some breakfast this morning, initially the man who took our order and brought over our meal was nice. I ordered a meal with bacon, sausage egg avocado and siracha mayo which was stated on the menu. It arrived and i was disappointed as there was no siracha mayo and the bacon was burnt. I felt awkward to complain but i asked an older lady with glasses and curly hair if i could swap out my meal as it was not eaten and i even said i would still pay for the meal but just to order soemthing different. She was completely rude and told me she was unable to swap it even though i told her i would still pay. Then told me to just take off certain parts of the food off, which is just stupid cos i ordered that dish for the ingredients on the dish. I then told her there wasn’t siracha mayo like stated there was on the menu. She bluntly replied i need to ask for it. Overall the pancakes i ordered after were nice but she was rude and not understanding. After ordering the pancakes just walked away without taking away the meal and ignored my last question and also didn’t smile once.

Really good food and service, nice view from the window over the river. Only drawback was the decision to play a club mix over the speakers… not really the ambience you want with breakfast

The entrance is difficult as steep stairs to manoeuvre.

Really good, it is right next to the river Wear, the pancakes are excellent

This is a lovely place: great location, friendly staff. But please: it is not nice to clean the cafe while there are still guests there and to push chairs around with great noise is rather rude! It makes the guests feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Riverview Kitchen in Durham offers a pleasant dining experience with its charming riverside location. The restaurant exudes a cozy atmosphere, making it a great choice for a casual meal or a special occasion. The menu features a variety of dishes. Standouts include their fresh salads, highlighting their commitment to quality and flavor. Service is attentive and friendly, with staff knowledgeable about the menu and eager to assist. The highlight of Riverview Kitchen is its scenic river view, providing a peaceful backdrop to your meal. Overall, Riverview Kitchen is a solid option for those seeking good food in a relaxed setting with a lovely view.

Amazing place to sit outside during sunny days. Had just pancakes and iced coffee and all was tasty, massive pancakes. The staff is friendly and it's good value for money. Will be back for sure.

Lovely spot with delicious vegan options! I ordered the avocado toast with mushrooms, hash browns, and sriracha. It was very tasty and filling.

Best view restaurant in Durham ! Also food is not bad , wonderful! Good choice for After noon tea or brunch

If you're looking for a yummy meal, this is a good option. I had the goat cheese sandwich, and I liked the tea so much that I ordered a second pot.

Really good view, would highly recommend the pancakes, the entire vibes were very aesthetic!

Excellent little spot for breakfast with friendly service and a warm atmosphere. We’ve called in here a couple times, both during the week and at weekends and it’s always a busy little place but the staff are very attentive with great service. Would definitely recommend Riverview Kitchen to anyone visiting Durham.

Looking for Brunch? Definitely visit Riverview Kitchen. I’m very picky when it comes to brunch and this place exceeded expectations in every single category. 5 stars for: ambience (beautiful river views, soft lighting, cozy interior), service (were sat instantaneously on a busy Saturday morning, order taken within 5min of sitting down, waitresses delivered everything with courtesy and a smile), food (excellent quality, toast came hot, smoked salmon cold, range of choice was incredible, pancakes, full english, halloumi fry up, et cetera galore), free water and excellent drink choices, and its also dog friendly! Love love love

The food was fantastic , what i liked most was the happy atmosphere music taste. The portions were made for giants and the price is ok. Great value!

I have been looking so forward to eating here as every time we go there is a huge queue. Not today!! It was around 3pm and there were plenty of tables inside and out. We sat outside as was a lovely day. I ordered Halloumi open sandwich and Husband ordered Philly beef sandwich with chips. My Halloumi was hardly cooked. I normally do it so it is chard and soft. This was diced with hardly any evidence it had been in a pan. Salad was nice. Husband said his sandwich was lovely. The chips though were huge and hard in middle. Anyway had to go and spend a penny . Toilets were dirty. Floor dirty . Not good enough really considering the bill was around 35 pound for two sandwiches and two coffees.

Lovely food and you can bring your dog also! Only thing missing a star is price but the food is really lovely and the smoothies! Breakfast is the best by far and the pancakes are a 5/5

Called in on spec Very busy, sat outside which was fine, free coffee and a huge slice of moist carrot cake Service quick and friendly

Great food in an amazing location in Durham, every time I've been has been thoroughly enjoyable.

Absolutely unpleasant experience, food is overpriced and not even that good. Half of my order came so late, when I already finished my food. Absolutely blant taste. BBQ with pulled jack fruit was such disappointment, cost 14 quid and taste like 7. Can't recommend, nothing special other than a nice view