Reviews

Overall Total Score
3.6 out of 5
Very good | 1758 reviews

What Mikki S doesn't like about The Optimist Tavern:
How disappointing the food and the service….waited 40 min for food to be served to see obvious signs that it had been sitting under hot plate….no apologies just excuses of “hit and miss” in hospitality from the server View all feedback. What Joanie H likes about The Optimist Tavern:
My family took me and my husband here after a family meal to celebrate my birthday. They had pre booked a table for us and when we got there the table was waiting for us, we just had to grab a couple more chairs. The pub looks like it has been done up since the last time we see there. It wax not too packed, plenty of space in there. The toilets were very clean, it has a car park. We never ate there so I don’t know wh... View all feedback.

Reviews from various websites

Tripadvisor
3.6 ★ from 364 reviews
Excursion07691504545
29.12.2023 - 00:37

Seriously Ember Inns, you cannot be serving food like that to the public! Went here for our Christmas dinner and it completely ruined our day! Having waited an...

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Joanie
29.12.2023 - 00:37

My family took me and my husband here after a family meal to celebrate my birthday. They had pre booked a table for us and when we got there the table was waiti...

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Ladythatlunches68
29.12.2023 - 00:37

Great pub for lunch. The food is piping hot and tasty with no long wait for food. Staff very polite and friendly. Lovely Sunday lunch. Chefs kiss.

brendatm97
29.12.2023 - 00:37

Christmas Dinner booked with family friends we had a lovely time. The staff were friendly, food was filling and catered to vegan/dairy free alternatives. The pu...

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kath0956
29.12.2023 - 00:37

The pub is nice and clean lovely staff dog friendly would be nice if they did a little more for children but that’s a small point for the company as Hornchurch...

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Ember Inns presents a striking atmosphere with its recent refurbishment and attentive staff, yet diners' experiences reveal significant inconsistencies in food quality and service. Many patrons expressed disappointment over long wait times—sometimes exceeding 45 minutes—only to be served meals that fell short of expectations, often described as burnt or inadequately prepared. While some guests appreciated the cozy environment and friendly service, others felt let down by the food. In contrast, alternate options nearby like The Optimist offered smoother dining experiences with satisfying meals, leaving hopeful diners seeking improvements from Ember Inns.

Google
4.1 ★ from 1166 reviews
Louise
25.02.2024 - 12:29

We had a wonderful dinner. Beckie, our server, was incredibly helpful.

Annemarie
25.02.2024 - 12:29

Lovely meal, nice atmosphere. Beckie was brilliant, she went above and beyond to get us the meal we wanted

BAM
25.02.2024 - 12:29

Beckie served me, she was lovely and great I asked for a ale but needed suggestions and she helped me pick a great ale. She deserves all the credit.

Mark
25.02.2024 - 12:29

I had a wonderful time at the Optimist today. It's a fantastic pub that is dog-friendly, and Becky provided excellent service.

Sharon
25.02.2024 - 12:29

Beautiful location for a wonderful farewell to our dear friend.

Gastroranking-uk
3.0 ★ from 228 reviews

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