The Optimist Tavern Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "Food was perfect and bar staff couldn’t do enough."
• "The staff could not do enough to accommodate our choice from the menu and the meals were well worth the money."
• "The pub was clean, staff were welcoming and friendly and food was very good."
• "Good atmosphere, good service."
• "The staff were friendly and very helpful."
• "Staff really friendly and helpful... more importantly we still enjoyed ourselves and definitely worth the visit!"
• "The service was excellent, efficient staff who were very friendly and made the whole evening very enjoyable."

Cons:

• "Service has deteriorated due to short staff, use to be a great pub but getting served is slow."
• "So disappointed with our visit good fri rude staff hostile atmosphere in pub."
• "Absolutely disgusted that I’ve just called this place at such a difficult time to book a wake after my dad's funeral and was told that they were too busy to talk to me."
• "We were ignored for 5 minutes while we stood at the unmanned bar before our table was 'pointed at'."
• "We stood there waiting at the door as per their policy for about ten minutes and the staff could clearly see us but was too busy talking among themselves to bother to come over and talk to us."
• "Absolutely shocking services. Rude staff (manager is horrendous)."
• "Each time we've visited, we've had a very long wait for our food, there never seems to be enough staff."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was all lovely and hot, being a large order as well."
• "Food was as expected for an Enber Inns - good value, great taste and well presented."
• "Had a wonderful dinner which was great value for money and tasted great!"
• "Food tasty."
• "Our food was lovely, I went with a recommendation..very nice."
• "Visited mid week for a quick bite to eat and can honestly say the chilli was absolutely lovely."
• "The food was amazing. The staff were very friendly and welcoming."

Cons:

• "The only thing worse is the food, which is awful. Far too much salt, burnt chicken wings, the steak for kids is just gristle."
• "The food was fine, standard pub grub but unfortunately the steak really wasn't good at all."
• "Waited ages for luke warm food, small portions served without a smile or comment, overcooked and just slapped on the plate."
• "When the dinner arrived, it was lukewarm, and one of our main meal orders was forgotten."
• "Food served cold two meals had to be sent back chips on other meals warm and beefburgers well and truly overcooked."
• "Food was actually awful. Chicken Salad tasted fishy and plant based cheese was put on my dish and wasnt advised of it."
• "Pie, chips and peas, which when it finally arrived, not only did it look like it had been thrown on the plate, but it was cold."

Ambience & Decor

Pros:

• "It just had a refurbishment recently, looks lovely but what a waste of money."
• "Nice, well decorated and comfortable pub with some decent lagers on draft."
• "A lovely pub and great atmosphere."
• "The venue had a very nice ambience - service, staff and food excellent."
• "Staple of Upminster! Great pub with an equal measure of atmosphere."
• "Amazing atmosphere and staff."
• "The recent refurb looks great!"

Cons:

• "When we came in the manager sat us on a 2 seat table which was right next to the back garden doors, the table was dirty and wobbly, also very dark."
• "The gents toilets were in need of some TLC too, the cubicle door didn't lock or stay closed, a urinal was out of order, and only one hand-dryer worked."
• "Also management let a dog into the restaurant sitting at the table while food was served...unhygienic."
• "The interior is really starting to look a little dated."
• "The grass is in serious need of TLC, the fence needs a good overhaul."
• "Not allowed to sit at a table out of the freezing wind because it hadn't been cleaned."
• "It doesn't appear that the pub is that concerned about standards."