JUST a couple of months after this Irish pub re-opened following a complete transformation it is booming.

O’Neill’s at Green Man Roundabout in Leytonstone High Road is operating under its new motto, bringing back the craic, and it is certainly living up to it.

The décor is modern and inviting but at the same time nods to the traditional Irish pub scene with the walls bearing photos of the Emerald Isle.

Keen to put a classic European twist on a traditional pub menu the chefs offer pizzas and tapas as well as classic Irish staples. All their beef is grass-fed and imported from Ireland.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

BBQ chicken wings and drunken mushrooms with a sour cream and blue cheese dip.

Greeted by the friendly staff my guest and I are seated in a booth overlooking the beer garden.

We were served appetisers of ‘drunken’ mushrooms, which come with a dip of sour cream and Cashel blue cheese, (£3.75) and BBQ chicken wings (£4.95).

The beer battered mushrooms work well with the cooling dip and including the famed Tipperary farmhouse cheese adds extra flavour. With 10 per serving, the wings are enough for a couple to share as a starter.

We drink Oyster Bay sauvignon blanc (£4.25 per glass) and Fantinel Prosecco (£6 per 200ml).

Following on from our starters we tucked into our main dishes, the chicken and rib combo (£9.50) and the salmon supreme (£9.95).

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

The grilled chicken and pork ribs combo.

The combo consists of a grilled chicken fillet and half a rack of BBQ glazed pork ribs served with red cabbage slaw and chunky chips. The meats were tender and well-cooked and complemented each other.

The colcannon mash served with the grilled salmon and greens had a creamy consistency and was a delicious alternative to plain mashed potatoes. The lemon and garlic butter served on the side was a little too garlicky for our liking but if poured sparingly it should not overpower the fish.  

While a selection of good quality Irish cheeses appeared on the menu, to our disappointment a cheese board was absent.

So to finish off we go for the Bailey’s sundae (£4.75). Even after two courses we can’t resist and we were not left disappointed.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

The salmon supreme comes with colcannon, greens and garlic and lemon butter.

Vanilla ice cream topped with the Irish Cream Liqueur, chocolate chip cookies, whipped cream and toffee sauce is the perfect end to the meal.

With chatty staff who went out of their way to meet our needs and a lively, welcoming atmosphere it is hard to fault this place. But one staple of the Irish diet I thought would be a hit with diners was Irish soda bread, which was absent from the menu.

O’Neills is open seven days a week from noon until late, serving breakfast, lunch and evening meals.