Book a table
RT Café Grill.
Modern European cooking with a 180° view of the Solent. Breakfast through to dinner, every day we’re open, from Chef Robert Thompson MBE.
Tables for one to seven book instantly online. Walk-ins welcome at the bar and terrace.
Best New Restaurant in the UK
Best UK Chef, Robert Thompson
Listed, Chef Robert Thompson MBE
Relaxed,
never careless.
Robert’s most relaxed kitchen: a modern European bistro on the Ryde seafront, with seasonally led menus, an open terrace for the summer and 180° of Solent through the dining room windows.
The same chef who cooks the tasting menu at Thompson’s, and the same team: the kitchen that writes the menu each season, the front-of-house who remember your table. A good steak and a second glass, a lunch that deserves a little time, dinner with people you’re pleased to see.
Meet Robert and the teamOut on
the terrace.
Open all summer for lunch, dinner and afternoons spent with a glass of something cold. Two ways to enjoy it.
Lunch and dinner, outdoorsGarden dining
The full Café Grill menu, served on the terrace. 180° of Solent in front of you, a summer breeze, and your table for the afternoon.
Book a garden table
Drinks, snacks, slow afternoonsGarden bar
Cocktails, sharing platters, English sparkling by the bottle. Settle in for the afternoon, watch the boats pass, stay for another. Reservations welcome, walk-ins too.
Reserve a tableGarden dining and the garden bar depend on the weather. If the forecast forces us indoors, we’ll be in touch the day before.
When we’re
open.
- Spring and summer
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Autumn and winter
- Thursday to Sunday
- Breakfast
- 9am to 10.15am
- Lunch
- Noon to 5pm
- Dinner
- 5.30pm to 9pm; Thursday to Saturday in autumn and winter
- Drinks and bar snacks
- 9am to 10pm on open days
Autumn and winter hours from 10 September 2026. Check the latest before a bank holiday.
Book your
table.
- One to seven guests book instantly online, up to two months ahead.
- Eight or more: call 01983 526118 and we’ll arrange the right table, or enquire about The Cellar for a room of your own.
- Walk-ins are welcome at the bar and terrace for drinks and bar snacks, no booking needed.
More than
one way in.
Afternoon tea by the window, booked at least 24 hours ahead. Thompson’s, Robert’s tasting menu, on selected dates in The Cellar. And two private dining rooms downstairs for eight to twenty guests.
Gift cards for all of itGood to
know.
The questions we’re asked most. Anything else, call the team.
Do I need to book?
For a table in the restaurant or garden dining, yes, ideally: tables for one to seven book online up to two months ahead. The bar and terrace take walk-ins for drinks and bar snacks.
What kind of food is it?
Modern European bistro cooking from Chef Robert Thompson MBE: grills, plates and classics on an à la carte, plus grill specials, a breakfast menu, puddings and a Little Adults menu for children. Menus are written seasonally.
When is breakfast served?
9am to 10.15am on every day we’re open: Tuesday to Sunday in spring and summer, Thursday to Sunday in autumn and winter.
Can we eat outside?
In summer, yes. Garden dining serves the full menu on the terrace; the garden bar does cocktails, platters and English sparkling. Both depend on the weather, and we’ll let you know the day before if we have to move you inside.
Can we book for a large group?
Eight or more, call 01983 526118. For a room of your own, The Cellar has two private dining rooms for eight to twenty guests with no hire fee and no minimum spend.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome in the restaurant. Mention you’re bringing one when you book so we can find a suitable table.
Is there parking?
No on-site parking, but there are two large public car parks within a two-minute walk, one directly opposite the restaurant.
Where are you and how do we get there?
Royal Maritime House, 17 St Thomas Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2DL, on the seafront. From the mainland, the FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head takes 22 minutes; the hovercraft from Southsea lands at Ryde Esplanade. Get directions.
Is RT Café Grill Michelin-starred?
Chef Robert Thompson MBE is listed in the MICHELIN Guide and held Michelin stars at Winteringham Fields (2007) and The Hambrough (2009). RT Café Grill is his relaxed restaurant; his tasting menu is served at Thompson’s on selected dates.
See you by the water.
Breakfast to dinner, Tuesday to Sunday in spring and summer and Thursday to Sunday in autumn and winter. Book online or just turn up for a drink.