When the River Terrace unexpectedly closed its doors last year, I was truly disappointed. I had practically lost count of the rave reviews it received on the Cambridge Foodies group, with people raving about its incredible views of the River Ouse and popular dishes.

Imagine my excitement when I discovered that it had reopened this week under new management! It was an unmissable opportunity for me to finally visit and enjoy what has to be the best riverside views St Ives has to offer.

The views, as expected, were nothing short of magnificent. We had an unbeatable view of the iconic St Ives Bridge, which, for a bit of trivia, was built in the 15th century and is one of only 6 bridges in the entire country to boast its own chapel. Yet, the greatest part of my experience was not the history lesson but to simply kick back and watch the gentle rhythm of the river, with ducks splashing away in the background and boats drifting by.

Utterly blissful!

Local beer

I was delighted to find three craft beers available on tap, proudly featuring our local BrewBoard Brewery. I opted for a pint of the refreshing Hammerhead hazy pale which proved to be the perfect riverside tipple and truly hit the spot. It is clear that this establishment offers more than just a dining experience but is also a superb destination for a drink.

The menu featured a comprehensive selection of popular choices, including 12″ sourdough pizzas, loaded fries, salads, sharing platters, and a brunch option (served till 3pm). Additionally, cakes were available at the counter. Prices leaned towards the premium end with the pizzas sitting squarely within the central Cambridge price bracket.

Pizza Time

I couldn’t resist the allure of the 12″ sourdough n’duja pizza. There was a slightly longer wait for it than anticipated for the pizza due to a complication in the kitchen but I must commend the staff for their excellent communication by keeping me fully informed about the delay. I put this down to inevitable teething problems with a newly opened establishment and honestly, it was handled as well as anyone could possibly expect.

When it arrived, the pizza itself was beautifully soft, with a generous spread of n’duja. The mozzarella was concentrated towards the centre, while the tomato base extended further across the dough. My only minor quibble was a little too much crust for my preference, but that aside, it was a decent pizza.

Getting loaded!

My wife, a self-confessed loaded fries addict – largely due to the copious amounts of cheese usually involved – immediately honed in on them the moment she saw the menu. The presentation was certainly eye-catching, with a vibrant red colouring and a garnish of green rocket. Surprisingly, they didn’t appear ‘loaded’ with cheese as one might expect. The chips themselves were a touch overdone and a little oily but that certainly didn’t stop me from pinching a few from her plate. This did, however, add a satisfying crunchiness that I particularly enjoyed while the finely chopped onions added a welcome flavour.

Camembert by the river

As keen fans of baked Camembert, we naturally ordered it from their sharing menu. It was a well-presented dish, arriving with four slices of flatbread. However, much like the chips, we found the flatbread to be a little overdone. We started to wonder if this was due to all three dishes being prepared simultaneously, with the pizza’s delay leading to the others sitting under a hot lamp. Despite this minor point, the Camembert truly hit the spot, delivering a delightful, gooey cheesiness that, for me, might have been the highlight of the entire experience.

The perfect summer spot ☀️

It is truly wonderful to have the River Terrace back in St Ives. With so much of this picturesque, historic town graced by the river, it honestly felt like a crime not to have a single spot where you could dine in a formal restaurant alongside those beautiful views. There were clearly a few teething problems, which is completely understandable for a newly reopened establishment but I genuinely urge you to look past these minor imperfections. The staff were evidently working incredibly hard and communicated brilliantly throughout our visit. The menu itself is packed with popular dishes that have wide appeal and I have no doubt that once the team finds its rhythm, the River Terrace will quickly become a beloved St Ives institution.

Thanks for reading!