Riverside Cafe - Lewes

#28 - Vegetarian - Lewes, Cafe, British
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Reservation request for Riverside Cafe.

Riverside Cafe

Riverside Cafe
4.0 / 5 (971 reviews)

Description

Located by the river, Riverside Cafe offers a range of dining experiences, but customer reviews reveal a mixture of highs and lows. While some guests have praised the restaurant's delicious food and attentive service, others reported significant delays and poorly heated drinks, with waits extending up to 40 minutes. Unfriendly staff interactions further detracted from the ambiance, leading to calls for improvement. However, on a positive note, the cafe has successfully hosted private events, showcasing its potential for creating memorable experiences. Overall, diners are divided, making it a gamble for those seeking reliable service.

Last update: 17.01.2026 from: deapchana

Reservation request for Riverside Cafe

Feedback

★ 4 / 5 from 971 reviews
deapchana
18.01.2024

The restaurant serves delicious food prepared by enthusiastic individuals. I have seen firsthand the attention to detail they put into preparing meals for their customers. My brunch was cooked perfectly and the coffee was just what I needed.

leonie-g
20.11.2023

After enjoying a leisurely walk by the river, we decided to grab a hot drink at Riverside Cafe. Unfortunately, our experience left much to be desired. We ordered 2 chai lattes and a coffee latte, but despite the cafe not being busy, we had to wait 15 minutes for our drinks. The chai lattes were disappointingly not hot, but my husband drank his quickly as he was cold and thirsty. When I mentioned this to the waitress, she seemed uninterested. After ordering another chai latte and specifically asking for it to be hot, my husband was charged for the replacement drink, which took a long time to arrive. Although it was finally hot, the overall experience was marred by the disinterested staff, slow service, and lukewarm drinks. This has left us disappointed and we will not be returning. From Brighton.

jchornsby45
20.11.2023

I waited 40 minutes for 2 coffees, an orange juice, and a tea at this restaurant. I had paid to sit inside the cafe but didn't have time to enjoy my drinks there because they took so long to prepare. When I asked for my drinks to be put into take away cups, the waitress cashier rudely handed them to my husband and snapped at him to hurry up, even though we had already waited 40 minutes for them. Her behavior made us all feel unwelcome and the service was very poor. Unfortunately, the wait and the rude behavior even caused my elderly father to have an accident. Overall, it was a very unpleasant experience and I will be avoiding this cafe in the future. Despite usually enjoying our visits there, we will not be recommending it to friends and family due to this negative experience.

tones9
20.11.2023

It's been 25 minutes and I'm still waiting for a simple order.... unfortunately the place isn't set up to cope with simple orders. If you value your time...go elsewhere

emily-s-restaurant4-1
20.11.2023

We sat outside which was lovely however- the tables weren’t cleaned. Lady who took my order inside was lovely and sweet. The girl serving the food didn’t know what food was what. My drink arrived ed with bits in which weren’t supposed to be in there. I was then made to collect my own drink. No thought or care to their own hygiene, cutlery not wrapped up -presentation awful and sloppy. No napkins. Filthy cutlery! Food was dripping in grease. Overall the food wasn’t great and clearly slapped together. Low quality produce even though they have a butcher 2 counters away. Will not be going back anytime soon and would certainly recommend some hygiene lessons.

FAQ

The second closest stop is Lewes Bus Station, located 172 meters away.

The place serves you a choice of gluten-free menus.

Special baby high chairs are available for toddlers and babies.

The restaurant is accessible and can therefore also be used with a wheelchair or physiological disabilities.

More information

Suggested nearby restaurants.