I’ve lost count of the number of people from the Cambridge Foodies Facebook group who claim ‘Riverside Bar and Steakhouse’ is the best steak joint in Cambridge.

I have been keen to visit for some time because of this. I have often looked at their menu fondly. I am anticipating my inevitable review. I decided that enough was enough. Tonight was the night I would finally take the plunge. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

One dish that caught my eye and was personally recommended to me by someone from our community – the ‘surf and turf’. It comes with an 8 oz fillet steak and half a lobster, what’s not to love?

The restaurant

Unsurprisingly ‘Riverside Bar and Steakhouse’ is located by…The River Cam. The restaurant is located up a flight of stairs but you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the river. Unfortunately, I visited during the evening, so it was pitch black but I know the view would have been stunning. if it had been earlier. I can imagine the views of people punting down the river. It really is a tourist’s idea of paradise!

The restaurant has an industrial/London vibe, with lots of brickwork and light bulbs without any shades. Despite this, it still manages to pull off an elegant and stylish atmosphere, worthy for any special occasions or fine dining event.

There are lots of things to get excited about on the menu, but fundamentally I was there for the steak. I’ve heard good things about their ‘lobster mac and cheese’ but I wasn’t about to pay nearly £40 for it. So, I decided to go for the ‘surf and turf’ dish as planned.

Surf & Turf

The dish came out served in a pan, along with hand cut chips and a peppercorn sauce. The lobster looked absolutely fantastic, with an exciting bright orange colour that really popped off the plate. The accompanying fillet also had a magnificence about it, mostly credited to the round thickness of the steak.

I asked for my steak medium rare and that was exactly how I got it. The steak itself was lean, soft, and tender, with a great flavour to boot. I couldn’t find a single fault. It was probably one of the best fillet steaks I have had in a long time.

The peppercorn sauce was a little thin. It had an unusual and complex flavour which I couldn’t quite put my finger on but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The lobster was also exquisite and had a real juiciness from the fact it was swimming in its own juices. My only criticism was that the lobster was really small. Now, maybe I have been spoiled on my travels across the world with lobsters. But I couldn’t help but feel that even by British restaurant standards, that this was not enough, especially considering that I’ve paid £70 for the dish.

A great Steak joint in Cambridge

There is little to fault with ‘Riverside Bar and Steakhouse’. It literally has everything you would want from a steak joint and more. From the stylish interior, to the beautiful views of the river Cam, and a prompt service from start to finish. There is a wide variety of steak cuts to choose from, as well as other interesting dishes that will make you want to come back again and again. Yes, prices were a little steep but this is to be expected in the centre of Cambridge (especially for a restaurant serving expensive dishes, like steak and lobster). With that said, I still feel the dish could have done with just that little bit more lobster. I don’t mind paying top money for quality but I want to be thoroughly stuffed by the time I leave. Otherwise, it was an absolutely flawless night and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves a good steak or something a little different.

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