The Square Peg is a good stop for a budget meal, cocktail or drink and a good start to a night out. It offers sandwiches, steaks and has variety in its liquor menu. The staff is friendly and equally quick in serving a more or less crowded place. Located in the heart of the city, The Square Peg is surely a place that at once is classy and spells home comfort.
This is an extensive pub, one in which it is not unusual for eight-hundred lunches to be supplied on a Sunday. This pub seems to be especially aimed at the needs of the family. There is a family garden with a self-contained play area to keep the kids amused, though be warned: it is adjacent to the canal! Inside there are many pleasant rooms to choose from with a fairly modern look, by Stratford standards and a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Note that in all this space there are only two tables reserved for smokers. With regards to food, a three-course meal could consist of garlic mushrooms, surf & turf like rump steak with scampi, and ginger sponge and custard. Salad and vegetarian dishes, junior dishes and light portions just about cover the tastes of even the pickiest family member!
The further away from city centre you go, it seems, the more likely you are to find a Harvester pub. These big, friendly, homogenized places are great if you have kids and you're after a child-friendly environment that won't cost the earth. They also have the benefit of dishing up something children eat - usually from a specially designed Kiddies Klub menu, or some such similar. The Arden Oak will serve adults with surprisingly tasty treats too, such as hickory smoked ribs or marinated cuts of flame-grilled meats. Unfashionable maybe, but cheerily nonthreatening.