Friday’s Culture Casserole: Across the Pond

Contributed by Donna Marie

Quietly situated on the Kingston High Street overlooking the River Thames is “Britain’s Best Vegetarian Restaurant,” awarded by the Vegetarian Society. Otherwise known as the Riverside Vegetaria, we have been established since 1989, and we are the only vegetarian restaurant you can find in the Kingston area.  

Riverside Vegetaria 

Our cosmopolitan menu is specialised so that it consists of a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and wheat-free dishes. Despite these distinctive and unique criteria, our ingenious chefs are able to prepare the dishes with minimal amounts of fat, using only extra virgin olive oil.  Our menu, which has been described as a ‘culinary trip around the world’, coexists with a huge chalkboard to allow customers the opportunity to choose from a variety of Organic dishes and daily specialties. Staff are constantly on hand to aid customers in choosing from the selection, but also make it a point not to be annoyingly pushy in their attentiveness. The restaurant is fully licensed and serves an extensive range of organic wines and beers. When the weather permits, glass doors are opened out onto the riverbank and alfresco dining is almost irresistible. The room for romantic, candlelight and classical music meals over the tranquil River Thames on summer nights – a rare treat in Kingston. The restaurant is divided into two floors, with a non-smoking downstairs, simply but elegantly decorated. It is spacious enough to accommodate large parties, but at the same time retains a cosy and homely atmosphere.