Is Giraffe all it’s cracked up to be?
Many of my fellow tweeters have been raving about Giraffe, so only thought it was worthy of a visit to find out for myself.
Rainy and miserable, I arrived at around 1.30 on Saturday afternoon with my lucky lunch companion and fellow tweeter (FT). We were greeted amiably and told we would have to wait about 20 mins, no problem, would give us a chance to look over the menu and enjoy a drink in the process, which we did. FT made a comment that it was an extensive menu with so little choice (read into that what you will)!
FT had a red stripe, I had the bottled cider. We were then shown to our table about ten feet from the door…very drafty and chilly! We signalled to the manager on duty and a waitress and were duly ignored, impressive! We then managed to grab the attention of the rather lovely bearded waiter to ask politely if we could have a seat further into the restaurant as it was unpleasant and terribly drafty where we were…no problem he says. Good to his word he re-seats us right in the middle of the restaurant…warm and toasty there.
After having a good gander at the menu, I was disappointed not to see Eggs Benedict as part of the ‘Brunch’ menu, surely Eggs Benedict is a ubiquitous item of any brunch menu! Given that wasn’t available we both had burgers, which were standard, hot and reasonably tasty. Quite a measly portion of fries to accompany the burger, but hot all the same and we were both suitably fulfilled, especially as FT insisted on ordering onions rings that had been seen wafting past us to another table.
We didn’t ‘do’ deserts but FT had a hot chocolate, which by all accounts was very good (but since when did five miniscule marshmallows equate to thirty five pence?).
We had the most delightful waiter throughout our visit, who would have had us eating every desert on the menu…and I would have if I could, if I had been more susceptible (i.e. tiddly) maybe I would have caved in. I was being a good girl, it was lunchtime after all!
All in all, it was good, there was a nice ambience with world music filtering through the restaurant, the staff were pretty attentive and effectual, the only thing I would change would be the seating, I felt like I was at a seaside resort. That said with that type of furniture, one would assume that their business plan is to turn over covers quickly and efficiently, to wit they will do a good job I am sure.
