Giraffe

anise

Went downhill as it got busier 14th May 2008

3 found this helpful

My goodness the staff here are chirpy - one wonders what they put in their coffee. We went here for dinner on a balmy Tuesday evening in May because we were too lazy to go home and cook. The starters were nice enough (chicken and vegetable dumplings and potato wedges were popular) - fairly predictable for this kind of venue but they arrived hot and fairly promptly. The waitress also worked out immediately that we were going to share them around generally, rather than each 'own' a plate and she offered to go and get us side plates, so that was great (I am used to going to the branch of Canteen next door where you may, on a bad day, need to ask for a knife to spread the butter onto your toast. That is if they remembered to give you butter. But that's another story.).

We ordered hamburgers for the main course and this was where it started to go wrong. The accompanying onion rings were cold and the burgers were dry. Not that they had been cooked to death (in fact they were nicely pink), it was just that the meat was not juicy at all. The dryness also extended to the buns. To add insult to injury, the presentation made the burgers so tall they were impossible to eat so we had to dismantle them - taking out the tomato slice and (optional extra) mushroom just to be able to give our poor aching jaws a chance of biting into them. All a bit disappointing really as the point of optional extras is that you want them to be part of the burger. The chips were fine though.

mazphd at 15/05/08

thank goodness the chips maintained standard!

Shame they can't keep up with their own popularity.

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FluffyRona

Great value for money! 23rd October 2007

4 found this helpful

Well worth sniffing out instead of the usual "chain" fare that British palates seem happy to settle for. An interesting menu mixing barbecued South African meat dishes with Oriental influences in a fusion mix that really works. The best edamame beans in London by miles!

mazphd at 23/10/07

so with you re. the edamame beans! beats Wagamama's! :)

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mazphd

No need to stick your neck out 21st October 2007

3 found this helpful

Ok so as chains go, this one is not too bad. For breakfast there's a wider selection than the expected eggs, bacon and er egg's that we seem to do so 'well' in this country. Choices instead range from some pretty cool muslei, even with choices of milk - soya etc, through to banana and blueberry stacked pancakes, with some ranch style 'eggs toastda' along the way.. sounds tempting no!

oh and portions are pretty great!

In the evening the menu gets a little less exciting, but then the cocktails are flowing, the staff are more than friendly and there is always a nice vibe. I've now been to 3 giraffe's and even had to queue on one occasion so was the poplularity of this little haunt on Liverpool st's market.

This place is family friendly and not too costly on the wallet compared to other chains that offer a less exciting menu arrangement.

A place most ideally suited for sunday brunch then you can take advantage of those stacked pancakes, smoothies, range of coffees and enjoy the less than authentic, but no less fun latin flavour of a lazy sunday morning.

In short if you're stuck for inspiration of where to go and don't have time to stick your neck out to find an independent gem- then Giraffe has your back (and stomach) covered.

lewiswebb

A place for the brunch bunch 11th September 2007

2 found this helpful

The billing as "World Cusine" is a pretty thin veil for a place that does at least half its business on the back of a great brunch menu - the ranch style eggs tostada are a revelation, and some inventive burgers - lamb satay anyone? Giraffe Spitalfields is wonderfully laid back during the week for a post-work bite and perfect for a chilled-out bite and a smoothie on Saturdays. Living just around the corner I have to point out that Sunday is actually the market's "big day" so be prepared for a queue and pretty inattentive staff should you visit between 11-3. But even this doesn't take the edge of a wonderful people-watching spot, and they're not in a hurry to move you on if you opt for an outside table.

MissBex

Giraffe 24th July 2007

3 found this helpful

Sits right in the heart of spitalfield markets..

The best hangover cure ever..TOPPED POTATO WEDGES with melted jack cheese, black bean chilli, sour cream, guacamole & toasted sesame seeds. mmm always a good one in my books!

Unfortunately the last time I went there the goats cheese burger has suspiciously exited the menu which is a shame - but the salads are scrummy.

I've seen lines at the spitalfield cafe that seem to go for miles, but I think its a misconception that you'll be waiting forever for a table as the line seems the move pretty fast. You often need to really try to grab the waitors attention, but this is simply for the fact that the markets are so busy on a saturday.

Good environment as I love to people watch so always makes for a fun outing on a saturday morning or afternoon.