Sam's Riverside — Restaurant in London

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Subject: Constructive Feedback on Our Recent Visit – 26.07.25, 2pm

Dear Sam’s Riverside,

We are loyal clients at Sam’s and have always loved the food, atmosphere, location, and the friendly staff — which is why we’re giving a 4 out of 5 for this visit. The following feedback is meant as constructive criticism, shared in the hope of helping you maintain the high standards that normally make your restaurant such a pleasure to visit.

On July 26th, 2025, at around 4:00 PM, we had lunch at the restaurant and were surprised to find several staff members sitting at surrounding tables, eating their meals during service. This created a somewhat uncomfortable dining atmosphere. We politely expressed our concern to the manager on duty, Adam, expecting a respectful conversation.

To our disappointment, his reaction was quite dismissive. He simply said that this was standard practice and that the restaurant had no issue with it. As we were trying to explain our perspective in a calm and respectful way, he abruptly walked off. He returned shortly after, placed the bill on our table, and told us the food would be on the house because he “didn’t like what he heard” — and then left without further acknowledgment.

We felt this response was unnecessarily rude and unprofessional. Out of respect for the rest of the team and the quality of the food, we called a waitress to make sure we could pay the full bill, which we did.

We also want to bring up a hygiene concern. Since your kitchen is open to the public, it’s important that kitchen staff remain mindful of their conduct. We noticed the head chef on duty (the one with a beard, not the blonde chef) taking fries from burgers before they were served and licking his fingers while preparing food — including salads — with his bare hands. This was disappointing and did not reflect the standards we would expect from a place like Sam’s.

Again, we are sharing this feedback in a constructive spirit. We truly value Sam’s and hope to continue enjoying it, but we felt it was important to share this experience in the hope it can lead to...

From the moment we entered Sam’s there was an immediate good feel and the rest of the night continued that way. It was fully booked out however we were offered to sit at the bar. Best decision ever as we got to enjoy interaction with the bar staff ( many in Oz know how TV enjoys a chat) - Sunny & Chicago ( his new nickname is now “Bull” !!!!!!) just fabulous. And the food was absolutely beautiful. As we had only arrived in Hammersmith earlier in the day we were just looking to have something simple for dinner. My princess enjoyed the gnocchi & I went outside my boundaries and enjoyed a fabulous cheese burger. Loved the imprint on the bun. Met the owner Sam when we first arrived and it was noticeable he made an effort to interact with his guests. Not overbearing just in a real positive way. As a business owner for over 40 years in Australia, you could sense Sam’s had a good culture and that was was obvious as to how Sam appeared & also Sunny behind the bar. They worked so hard all night & did not stop and yet there was no fuss, they still allowed themselves to interact & enjoy a chat with us and maintained high standards of getting the drink orders out to the wait staff. This place was just brilliant. We are here in Hammersmith from Perth Western Australia for some 11 days and this will definitely be our go to place over the coming days. You may not be as fortunate as us to have the interaction with the staff but you will not be disappointed as to the food, the service and the positive feel. Over 170 patrons on a Monday night tells you something as to how good Sam’s is. If you have complaints about your experience at Sam’s you must be hard to...

Dinner at Sam’s Riverside managed to tick nearly every box: quietly, confidently, without showing off. We sat outside, tucked into a shaded riverside table that still gave all four of us full view of Hammersmith Bridge.

The team here doesn’t just serve, they guide. Every question met with patience, every recommendation delivered with purpose. We didn’t need to second-guess a thing.

To start: a full platter of fresh oysters on ice, served with shallot vinaigrette and lemon: briny, clean, no off-notes. The rainbow crudités with whipped beetroot and avocado tahini looked almost too designed to eat. Crisp, cool, exact.

The standout: grilled half lobster, split, charred, finished with garlic butter and a handful of greens for contrast. Worth the little wait and the price. We added thin fries on the side: light, sharp, no grease.

Seared tuna niçoise came rare and rested, with crisp green beans and baby potatoes tucked under a tangle of leaves.

The crispy-skinned white fish over clams, mussels, and samphire, all swimming in a vivid green sauce that somehow matched the view.

Wine and beers were picked to match, no upselling, no push. Just good pairing advice. They also offered both still and sparkling water.

Prices aren’t light, but neither is the cooking. You’re not here to nibble and leave. You’re here to settle in, let the plates do their job, and leave with a better mood than when you arrived. We...