Formans Restaurant

A historical East London spot - London's oldest existing salmon smokery with Olympic stadium and River Lea view. The smokery actually relocated across from where the Olympic Park was built, due to the games, and now functions as a smokery producing amazingly delicate, top-quality smoked salmon with a modern bar and restaurant and rooftop event space / gallery. Their drinks list is entirely made up of local spirits and English wines (glass of Chapel Down Brut is only £6.50) too.

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. We went for my mothers birthday. The staff were wonderful. The food excellent. The setting lovely. Thankyou.

Best brunch ever (and I eat a lot of brunches). Take the Forman’s smoked salmon steak and poached egg (like a eggs royal but better) with a latte and you will not be disappointed!

A lovely, slightly different place - definitely recommend. We popped in here one Sunday afternoon for lunch. There were a few people eating, but there's was easily space for the six of us. The menu is a little bit different to your usual British-fare. Plenty of fish, including, of course - smoke salmon! The food was all delicious and not too pricey. Would definitely recommend.

Salmon is incredible there and the service is also very good. All drinks are British and wine and gin is exceptionally goodLovely venue and top notch food. Will come again. The service was excellent and made us feel really welcome, very professional. The food was wonderful, it could not be faulted and we are not easily pleased.

We went for the talk and the tour of the smokehouse at the weekend. Lance Foreman was a most entertaining speaker. Our hearts sank though when we went down to the factory for the fish demonstration, but we had no need to fear, as Darren was an absolute comedian. We then followed with the salmon tasting, and the obligatory glass of champagne. It was a wonderful day out and I can't recommend it more highly.

We went for a mothers day lunch and it was gorgeous. All the food was delicious and the prices/portion sizes are good for a nice place. The service was great. They were friendly, allowed me to order a main sized portion of a starter and gave us a free bottle of prosecco for mothers day. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a nice view of the canal. We also headed upstairs to have a look at a great art exhibition. I would definitely recommend going and will be returning to try the dinner menu.

Visited Formans for a post birthday celebration. It did not disappoint. Ample parking with friendly direction from the security outside. The restaurant itself is open, spacious, relaxed and modern with fantastic views of the stadium and canal. It looks like the area opposite is being landscaped so will be even better in the future. The evening was sunny and warm so we could sit on the nicely furnished balcony and take in the view, very relaxing. The food was well presented and tasty. The stand out thing was the attentive, friendly staff from start to finish. This makes such a difference to a restaurant visit. The prices are very reasonable too. We left very happy with our visit and will definitely return again. This is a little oasis and I can imagine it will be a very much sought after place to eat in no time at all.

Visited here for brunch with my wife and one year old daughter over the weekend. We had heard about his place as they supply Waitrose with their salmon. The restaurant does not have great parking nearby which is the only downside. The venue itself is well decorated and the staff are faultless - very polite, helpful and friendly. My wife and I both are their version of Eggs Royale which was delicious. The salmon was amazing. I also had their twist on a Bloody Mary which had a pleasant strong spicy kick to it. The views from the restaurant are over the canal. Overall it is one of the best places we have been to for brunch in East London and will definitely be back

Our son invited us to brunch and what a delicious one it was too! We shared two smoked salmon platters, the salmon fillet was the best I've eaten, and all accompanied by yummy scrambled eggs. Special thanks to Inda who looked after us so well and also gave us a run-down of the smokehouse from the viewing gallery. We'll be back!

Recently, I attended Forman's Restaurant with my wife. We were pleasantly surprised we had feel like at an exhibition. The dishes look amazing, very delicious. Probably the best smoked salmon we've ever tried. You have all my admiration

Impressive tour of this smoked salmon producer. Very modern building and equipment. The previously mentioned view across the canal of the Olympic Arena is now obscured by a recently built school. Demonstration of salmon preparation and slicing was very interesting, informative and amusing. I look forward to dining in the restaurant soon.

I should possibly give this place 4 stars as it doesn't have AC so was a bit unpleasant during a 30+ degree muggy evening; the food, wine and service were all very good though. I'd recommend the salmon platter for starters and the halibut main was excellent. 30 quid a head for food and maybe a bit more for a bottle of wine? Will go again.

The food was excellent and very well presented. And the quantity was good. It is quite expensive but high quality. The front of house staff were extremely helpful, even opening up the factory gate and office area so that a disabled member of our party could avoid the long staircase. In fact the Company's owner himself came to unlock the factory gate! That is good service! However the table service was a little ametureish which was a surprise.

Something a bit different. Restaurant attached to traditional smokery. The smoked salmon tasting platter is delicious and great to compare the different cures. It is spotlessly clean and has a great outlook across the River Lea Navigation to the Olympic Stadium. Only open on certain days so check in advance. We'd recommend the smokery tour which has to be booked in advance.

The worlds best smoked salmon production line, with a unique dining experience! Open for meals Thursday - Sunday with a huge selection of dishes prepared on site, using traditional prepared smoked salmon. Also worth noting the huge gallery space, also used for events capable of seating 400! A must try for Hackney Wick!

Traditional non-automated, hand made salmon smoking all in one factory, retail, restaurant, gallery, corporate venue! Been invited here as part of the Apr 2015 Google #LocalGuides event. Had a fantastic night tasting the real smoked salmon hand cut by the Guinness Record winning Darren, tasted their while range of products. Should definitely come here to taste what a real smoked salmon should taste like. Its not even that expensive! (Around £6 for 100g).

A unique and exceptional restaurant. The menu includes not only fish and smoked fish, but also red meat and a vegetarian option. All are most exceptional and the products sourced from within the UK. The attention to detail is obvious – from the selection of delicious English wines and artisan gins, to the crockery, glassware and cutlery and interior decor. The chef originally trained under the Roux brothers.

Well s great find was supposed to be easy to get to we took the tube to Stratford as it was a Sunday they had replacement buses,but there was no one there even though it was busy to show u how to get to the right bus,so we ended up getting taxi,and we'd prefer booked the table If u like fish this is for you!,oh is it fishy,! During the week they smoke there own salmon,you can see them in glass as u go to your table It's in a place called fish island,which is truly wonderful,over looking the water Great smoked salmon dishes and other fish dishes,the salads were nice,I could eat it

This is a great place to eat and you can see the smoking and packing facility from the gallery. Best smoked salmon platter. The staff could not have been nicer or more attentive. Highly recommended.

The restaurant is amazing with an good service. Vary menu option but the salmon is the main star. For wine they only offer a selection of English wines. Will definitely visit again.

We had not been back to Formans in a long time and wanted to share it with two friends so walked them to Hackney Wick from Mile End to enjoy a very delicious brunch on a Saturday. Not booking i was so pleased that we able to just walk in and a table was available in the sunny room over looking the canal and Olympic Park next door. The two friends had wine and both enjoyed their choice from the menu. On to the food two of us chose the fish cakes, an eggs Forman and the scrambled eggs with salmon, all delicious and shared. To finish we had seen the Victoria sponge and shared two portions and again so good.

One of my favourite restaurants and probably the one I visit most often. The manager is awesome and knows exactly how to treat customers and as a chef the food is always amazing!!! It’s not Michelin food on presentation but it certainly is cooked with the same love and attention I would expect a chef to give at a Michelin quality restaurant and it’s at much more affordable prices which is incredible. I could not recommend this place more to anyone!!!

If you don't like smoked salmon, you haven't been to Foreman's. Stunning venue with spectacular views of the Olympic Stadium and some or the best smoked salmon I have ever tasted. Also a fantastic space for functions.

Five star food, service was slightly lacking. The fish dishes were possibly the best I have had in London. Great flavours and perfectly cooked and plated. Definitely try the smoked salmon platter. Nice setting and decor to impress. Service was okay only, the faults being: slow refills on drinks, the waitress clearing the table didn’t clean it thoroughly and one plate was left. But with food this great I would return anyway! Another odd thing, there were filled glasses of popcorn left out on the bar - surely those would go stale and be discarded if no-one sits at the bar?

Very nice restaurant, very friendly staff and food Was excellent, we even had a quick visit to The smoked Salmon Factory. Definetly will go back. I highly recommend this place.

Nice food and good value, my main criticism is that the restaurant was huge and entirely empty apart from two tables, and they put us right in the middle of the other two tables, elbow to elbow. It meant that there was no privacy and felt really uncomfortable in such a large space, and really ruined the meal. No one else arrived in the time that we were there, so it was very strange surrounded by some many empty tables and basically sat with a bunch of strangers in an empty restaurant. We only visited for brunch, I would recommend asking to sit somewhere else if this happens to you.

Nice canal side setting. Famous for the salmon but plenty of other options. Great menu of English wines

Can’t fault the smoked salmon, and I really like their choice and knowledge of British wines. For me though, the restaurant is a bit stuffy and formal. The food is good, but not great. Given the prices, I expected pretty flawless cooking and ingredients. I guess overall it is not really my vibe in terms of decor and ambience. My parents loved it though. I brought them for a quiet daytime drink on the terrace. On that occasion we enjoyed attentive, friendly service and some complimentary petits fours - lovely!

Very nice East London restaurant with a nice atmosphere and canalside views. Our starter of the tasting platter was very tasty, would recommend. My wife had the Dover sole which was amazing, my roast pork was good but not on the same level. The only issue was the service could have been better. No additional drinks were offered, even water and they gave us the wrong bill.

Food was fantastic, lovely looking place. Had the cavier salmon sharer, fillet beef and lamb. There was one waitress and the host doubled up assisting her, resulting mixed service (sometimes speedy, but forgot to order our desert etc). It was not teaming with people, which I was surprised at but busy enough.

Food is excellent, the smoked salmon varieties are delicious! Not sure it actually has the best view of the Olympic stadium since someone stuck a building in the way, but the restaurant is lovely in itself and still a nice view of the river if you're by a window.

You know what, I didn't even eat there so I can tell you whether or not you will like the food butt location wise is great, it's like a hidden gem. Some could say they definitely need staff to meet you at the door but the lack of humans really added to the mystique for me 😂 it was like an adventure just to get there, very nice In term of dress code I'd say smart casual Menu is fancy pub food basically, but like I said I didn't eat anything Buuuut they did give free bread and water so you know it's up there in class 😂😂 If I go back to actually eat I'll let you know

Lovely place, they opened specially for our car club on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Food and service very good and overlooking the canals. Bottomless breakfast of sausages, bacon, eggs and of course smoked salmon with juice and coffee and deserts. Very recommended.

Fabulous ingredients, slow and ill-informed staff. No one knew anything about their own menu, we counted 12 staff for 14 guests and it still took 50 minute to get drinks and 1 hour 15m to get food in an enjoy restaurants ( it must have 60 covers).

I was excited before I got there because it was recommended by my friend said how's nice the restaurant was but I totally disagreed.. As soon I got there at the reception, one of the staff cannot find my booking and he questioning twice are sure you have make the booking? The food wasn't fantastic and the cocktails was taste as what it shall be.. waiter's are too slow was drink.. I wouldn't go back again..

Went on Saturday, and was disappointed that the only menu available was the brunch menu. However there was a whole series of tables who were having a different menu. Food was delicious but the service was atrocious. No defined waiters per table, so despite the restaurant only having half its covers we waited, and waited and waited.

Food is overpriced, restaurant is outdated and service is poor. The smoked salmon starter was good, but you would hope so. The rest of the menu lacked imagination and had no awareness of what a £70 meal looks like elsewhere in Hackney/East London - avoid.

Ate her a while back with 2 other friends and ordered the steak and lobster. The steak was overcooked & the lobster on top of the steak varied in size on one plate it was a piece the size of your small fingernail the other plate had a size piece of your thumbnail and the other plate was lucky enough to have a tiny bit more... but by all means pathetic. Especially for the price they charged. Accompanied by a not so great English wine and some very off putting framed photos on the way to the toilets about taking back control of borders and pro brexit bla bla bla, why not keep the politics to the dinners to discuss rather then advertising on the toilets for this. How does that kind of propaganda make the foreign ppl feel who eat there? Exactly didn't think you would care anyway. And neither will we about coming back!

Forman's, you're already masters of deliciousness, and we'd be over the moon to see your smoking expertise applied to more incredible plant-based delights! 🌱 Imagine the magic you could work with smoked tofu, mushrooms, and a whole world of other fantastic veggies. It's an exciting time to embrace a kinder, more sustainable future, and we know you'd absolutely nail it! 💚