If you long for the 'mean' streets of West Oakland, bits of Emeryville, or, now, the not-so-mean…read morestreets of West Berkeley, then you've come to the right place, sort of. The formerly industrial area that surrounds the Pearl appears to be teeming with artists who began moving to the area in recent years, lured by affordable housing. If the Hackney Pearl were plunked down in our post-industrial bits back home, already the artists would have been displaced by those who could afford the current extortionate rents. Back to the Pearl: there were picnic tables and benches IN THE STREET at which folk could have lunch, a drink, and a smoke. That's right. It's open air in the middle of the road. Puff away! My pals and I sat closer to the front of the place and had our bevvies: Meantime Stout. Aaaaaah! I love a good stout and a groovy cafe in the middle of seemingly nowhere. As of 2012, that 'nowhere' will be directly adjacent to an Olympic site. So, I guess, in a year the Hackney Pearl will be teeming with business. I say GO NOW before it becomes too terribly overcrowded. To be fair, we'd already eaten elsewhere before arriving at HP, so, although the food looked appetizing, I can barely remember the menu and need to go back with a hunger in my belly for a proper meal, and, of course, another pint of stout.

The Hackney Pearl is a new cafe and Bar situated in the heart of Hackney Wick and is aptly named as…read moreall those who live in Hackney Wick know there is the only classy place you can come for a late night cup of coffee or glass of wine as it is opened till 11pm from Tuesday to Saturday. I sampled their scrambled eggs recently which were nicely cooked, service is always with a smile and the decor is minimal. Love it.

THIS is seafood. A lunch for the ages. Getting straight…read moreinto it... Cornerstone is in the painfully cool Hackney Wick - first time I'd been to the area and I can see why it's got its rep. Reminded me a bit of Bushwick. The decor - very much of the area. Understated but classy. Comfy chairs! Which I never expect in such hipster places like this - you generally get a bench (which they do also have) or something industrial. Service - attentive and friendly without being OTT. Bread course - I love a bread course me, and this delivered big time. Fresh out of the oven with a delicious charry taste which was almost a little fishy smelling weirdly (keeping with the overall theme of the place). Grey mullet tartare - an explosion of flavour: the sauce - oh man. The fish was tender and perfectly seasoned. An incredibly well balanced plate of food - sour, umami and delicious, the yolk added a different texture. Crab crumpet - I had literal chills when I took the first bite. Not often that that happens. It fully lives up to the hype. Their flagship dish and an absolute steal at £16. The crumpet itself was perfect foil for the sweet, creamy brown crab and rarebit topping. Next level delicious. In my top 5 dishes of all time, swiftly followed by.... Curried hake - another in my top 5! The crunch of the crispy potato, the softness of the creamy succulent fish, offset with a zingy, slightly spicy katsu style curry sauce (which I wasn't expecting) which was thick and rich and perfect - an absolute fucking riot of flavour. There was plenty of sauce left so of course I used the remaining bread to mop it up - judge me if you will, frankly idgaf as it was fucking delicious. Peach Melba tart - what a finish! All going along very nicely until I get the crunchy, salty almond brittle in the middle - that's when the party got started boiiiiii! Turned what was already a lovely, creamy, fruity dessert into a world beater - adding crunch and a different depth of flavour. On drinks it was their summer special cocktail Cider Collins - an absolute buzz of a drink, perfect for summer. Zingy af, the cider really shone through but it felt like a traditional Collins. Total winner of a drink. This lunch will stay with me forever. Believe the hype with this place beautiful people!

Chosen by a friend who I always trust on food but he outdid himself here. Met for lunch, about a…read more15 min drive from ExCel Centre. They do small plates, primarily seafood. Everything was excellent but the Scotch Egg was amazing. I asked what it was and the waitress responded Scotch Egg, truly the understatement of the century. It was made with hake and another fish, breaded perfectly and everything came together brilliantly. Other stand-out dishes were an oyster with a great sauce, smoked gurnard which was a unique white fish, mackerel pate (which did have a very strong mackerel/fish taste) and fantastic scallops in a buttery sauce. Definitely recommended.

I am very confused by all the reviews saying this place has amazing food. Everything was lacking…read moreflavor and seasoning. My husband's beef was over cooked, and the "kids menu" was ridiculous. Portions are too large and not at all kid friendly. Drinks were great, and staff and service was exceptional.

Ah Print House!! I wanted to visit you since you were Dane's Yard Kitchen that when they closed, I…read morewas quite disappointed that one of the few places that actually looked nice in Stratford, disappeared! But then, you turned up and I was happy again! The Print House is a very nice pub/bar/restaurant by the canal in Stratford High Street. It has this big open outside area with wooden benches and tables, barbecue and mojito bar during the summer and a ping-pong table! Inside is cosy and welcoming. Wooden walls, some sofas here and there, high tables and a dining area with waiter service. The food is good enough to justify the price, which is average with East London places and way much better than the food you find in other Stratford pubs; and the drinks are ok, Not a big selection of beers, but still they have a few to choose from. They also do ciders, wine and cocktails

The coffee was terrible, but the food was brilliant. I had hot smoked salmon with eggs hollandaise…read more(the 'Forman' on the menu) and it was perfect. Would definitely visit again, but I will avoid the coffee! Having visited a few more times I thought it only fair to bump up my review. On the occasion that me and my partner treat ourselves to breakfast/brunch here it has always been a pleasure. The food is always delicious, beautifully presented and the staff are welcoming, friendly and good for a giggle. The last time we visited we had missed the brunch menu (oops. Lazy Sunday!) But we had a fish platter to share, which was divine. I had one of their 'Fish Island ice tea' cocktails and it was delicious! Good stuff. Love this place for a weekend late (or very late) breakfast. Needless to say I have avoided the coffee since the first visit ;)

I live in Stratford so I'm so happy when I find good food in the area that isn't in the Westfield…read moreand I don't have to go central for. The first time we came here we brought family from out of town and I got reservations the Friday before which made me a bit skeptical but i was so impressed. It's a bit difficult to find but once you do you're greeted outside and asked if you have a reservation. Inside there's pop art on the wall and a modern feel in the lounge. The view of the Olympic stadium is actually kind of shocking how close it feels. We were seated in the intimate dining area and there were only a few other tables full and some people came in trying to get a table and they were turned away as the tables were booked for later on. I liked that small feel of the restaurant which is something hard to find in London. They serve all English wines except for the champagne which I think is pretty cool. I had the smoked salmon and crab salad to start and the salmon was so delicious as they smoke them in house. For my main I had the filet with truffle dauphiniose potatoes and creamy celeriac mash. The filet was tender, the potatoes were rich and creamy and the mash tied it all together. For pudding, we shared the cheese board and they serve it with seeded crackers and chutneys. There isn't a choice for the cheese which is always hard because my husband isn't a fan of blue or goats cheese or basically soft cheeses in general but I was a happy bunny. On your way out you need to check out the view of all the salmon in the smoking process! The next time we came here on a double date as we had such a great experience the first time. This time I had the pate parfait with the hazelnut salad and it was creamy and the flavours paired perfectly. For the main, I had the turbot with clams and scallops and chorizo foam and everyone at the table was jealous of my food. It was absolutely delicious. We each had a dessert but all I can remember is the golden syrup sponge which is actually baked in the syrup tin, yum. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is great and I can't wait to come here for brunch in the summer on the balcony over looking the canal and stadium.

While visiting London for a few days, we were looking for a good pre-theater spot, and The Gun was…read moreincredibly convenient and seemed like a great fit. It absolutely didn't disappoint. The staff was fantastic -- they accommodated two additional friends who joined us at the last minute and timed everything perfectly so we made it to the theater on time. We were seated on the enclosed patio with fantastic waterfront views, which made for a great atmosphere. The food was excellent, and the drinks were expertly made. I'd definitely return and would highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

We love going to the Gun for Sunday lunch - it's become a tradition for us over the years…read more We get the roast chicken to share, with veggies, Yorkshire puddings, gravy, bread sauce etc etc and its always a treat. The roast beef and the pork are also recommended. Service is always decent, the atmosphere is nice and if you can get a seat in front of the fire in the snug, its a great place to hang out for an hour or two after lunch. Recommended

Bow Road isn't the most exciting place to find real ale pubs. However, step but a a hundred metres…read more(or maybe even less - my ability to judge distance is shaky at best) down Coborn Road, and you'll find this gem of a Youngs pub. I should note that I've only been in lunchtime and mid afternoon - I've not visited this pub in the evening. However, I cannot fault the Coborn Arms as a lunchtime pub. Both the front outside patio and the interior are spotlessly clean. There is a vegetable garden out the side (which punters sadly cannot trespass on, though I was allowed to nick a wonderfully sweet and ripe cherry tomato after its harvest), and the interior of the pub is large and airy. There is a mixture of seating, from a few comfy sofas, to 'normal' pub chairs and tables. The patio has large, clean benches with enormous canopies over the top. I have been once in the early evening (getting to darkness) and the outside is well lit and welcoming. I drink, in a Youngs pub, Youngs Special, and have never had a duff pint. The beer is kept beautifully and served well. The beer is a tad dear, (around £3.00 a pint), but this is to be expected for a London pub (even East London). The staff are friendly (very much so) and efficient. The bar has reminders for staff and customers alike to smile, and signs containing pithy or poignant quotes and sayings. There is a large(ish - not as enormous as a Wetherspoons, but that to my mind is a bonus) menu. I've eaten here at lunchtime a couple of times, and the food is very good, if brown (I had a burger one time and shared a Sausage Feast the second). I'm surprised not to see more vegetable offerings, given the existence of the vegetable garden at the side. The loos are clean and well stocked (I like the individual hand towels piled next to the sink in the ladies', and a wicker basket to place them in once you're done). Needless to say, I cannot speak for the men's rooms! I have tried a couple of the pubs along Bow Road - I needn't do so again - this is by far the best. Well done.

What cozy Pub in East London with delicious food. The steak Diane and sticky toffee pudding was so…read moretasty. Love that you can grab a pint and food and relax in one of the many seating options. Sunday roast, but get there early before stuff runs out!

I really like the appetizers in this place. The food was amazing. The service was top notch. The…read moredrinks were very special! Will come back!

Stopped in for a bite after a day of site seeing. Had a pint, the Spicy Chicken Thighs and the…read moreButtermilk Chicken Burger. Service was on point and the food and drink were satisfying. No complaints.

What a place ! Awesome ambiance and I was impressed at the food quality. I'm in town for the week…read moreand will probably be back every night. Great beer selection including hand pulled ales. Indoor and outdoor seating

Found this spot through a Yelp search. Nice place with a cute outdoor area. Pies were fantastic and…read morehearty.

We made a reservation for Sunday roast at P&B. To be honest, it was like Thanksgiving on a plate…read more We ordered the 45 day aged steak. It was tender and delicious. The potato's looked better than they tasted (overrated). What tasted the best in my opinion was the sautéed leeks and parsnips and carrots. The bread was like a fried donut, eh. The Scottish eggs are decent. The ambiance was cool n trendy. Music was on point. We enjoyed our night here.

Vibe: 8/10 Service: 8/10…read moreValue: 6/10 Pork snacklins: 6/10 Sirloin roast: 8.5/10 Roast cod: 7.5/10 Chocolate mousse: 7/10 Overall: 7.29/10 (3.64/5) [To clarify our review system: 10 = we'll never have anything else as good as this in our lives (we use 10 very sparingly!) 9 = extraordinary 8 = great 7 = above average 6 = average Anything below 6 is being critical]