The Forest Tavern

So impressed with this place! Very near 5 stars, an easy 4.5, but only fair to round up.
I’m not sure what the place used to be like, but having walked by this past Saturday a friend and I decided to pop-​in for one after visiting a pet shop in the area… the one turned into many and some food, as is often the case for good finds.
The place has a great community vibe and look to it, with a great atmosphere and small fire going up front by some couches to a more formal (loose use of the word, still very laid back) dining type area in the back. Both had a great feel to them, and there’s a decent size beer garden for days that allow it out back.
They had a good selection of beers for the type of pub, and the food that we tried (various starters) was all good enough for us to vow a return for a Sunday lunch which, on paper at least, sounded fantastic.
The only downsides I would say we noticed are that the «Fat Chips with Herb Salt» that we ordered didn’t seem to have any salt much less an Herb Salt, and as someone else mentioned the toilets (while clean on my visit) didn’t seem match the standard of the rest of the pub. Those small gripes aside, the staff were STELLAR and I’ve heard many good things about the food so I’m letting them slide this time… (it’s where the docked .5 would come from).
Back to the staff, they were beyond friendly which seems to be a lost art at some pubs these days… granted they weren’t slammed, but it was still quite busy and they effortlessly managed to be chatty without delaying service to the next customer… a definite mark in their favour.
All said and done, this may be our new local away from home… it’s two stops from Stratford on the TFL (and right near the station exit at that) and no more expensive than a tube towards the city where you’ll likely face far more crowded establishments… if you happen to be in the Stratford area for a bit and looking for something different it may be worth checking this place out if you’re looking for a real pub that’s just enough Gastro without being too over the top or hipster.

A wide selection of beers and incredibly pleasant staff. The Tavern resembles more French than Greek style — every chair is different, music is unobtrusive and charges you with energy, although we failed to identify the genre. Just the toilets resembled public toilets at the poorest village station in the Balkans. Just because of them — one star less.
Široký výběr piv a neskutečně příjemná obsluha. Taverna připomíná víc francouzský néž řecký styl — každá židle jiná, hudba je nevtírává a vyloženě nabíjí energií, i když se nám nepovedlo identifikovat žánr :D Jen toalety dost připomínají nádraží v nejubožejší vesnici na Balkáně :D Jen kvůli nim hvězda dolů…

Great pub with stripped back walls, fireplace, lovely beer garden, quality food and drink and live music, with a late licence on Fridays.
It is located in the heart of Forest Gate and is a key community resource, hosting vinyl and record fairs, gigs and other events.
The Tavern is by far and away the best pub in Forest Gate and the Stratford /​East of Stratford area.

Great venue in east london. A bistro pub that programmes live music, has vinyl record fayres, and djs. Situated in forest gate, east london. Great food, live music and DJs.

This newly revamp Gastropub has been reopened to serve a alternative style of food for the local area. Not only does it offer brunch, but also roast dinner. I was shocked to see muscles on the menu, so will be revisiting it again to try the other weird and wacky food.