1st December 2007
La Giralda Spanish Restaurant
The pluses:
Popular Spanish restaurant with great food and big portions. Three course set meals. Good value. Vegetables included.
The bearded owner is usually around checking everything is fine. Jolly staff who have been there for years rush about.
FOOD
STARTERS
The menu changes seasonally. My favourite starter was a pate decorated with cumquats (those cute little fruits which look like teeny oranges).
MAIN COURSES
Our main course favourites are fish, good moist duck, chicken, and rack of lamb, usually with some kind of sauce and garnish.
Generous portions of vegetables and usually saute potatoes doled out until you say stop.
DESSERTS
Good choice of desserts well-presented including sugary concoctions, ice creams and fruit salad. Latest are a cheesecake with apple. My favourite is the frangipane tart to die for. What's in it? Almonds? Whatever it is, it makes you want to go back and eat it all over again.
COFFEE
Pleasant coffee with big brown sugar cubes.
DRINK
Wines can be pricey but the cheaper ones include bottles of white Orvieto or jugs of sangria (red with fruit floating in it).
DECOR
Three large rooms. Two rooms at the front with windows. Lots paintings and mirrors.
BAR ROOM:
Entrance is through the room with the bar and tiled floor. Wooden tables with placemats and shields and crossed swords on walls.
BANQUETTE ROOM
I prefer the inner room which has some banquette seating and lots of paintings. To me it seems cosier and warmer.
BACK ROOM
The third room at the back without windows is nonetheless big and jolly.
Any minuses?
You often have food left over but they are not really geared up for wrapping leftovers.
SPECIALS
Christmas dinners with crackers and two sittings for New Year's Eve, the earlier one being cheaper.
BOOKING
Must book. Two sittings on Saturday and you can sometimes get in at the last minute if you are willing to eat early. Closed Sunday night.
PARKING
Not a lot of nearby parking. A few spaces immediately outside in the short slip road. Or in a street to the right (as you face the restaurant) beyond the yellow lines and bus stops.
Check whether your arrival time runs into the local one hour restriction at lunch time aimed at deterring all day parking. You can drive into the slip road and drop granny at the door and let grandson drive down the road and park in a side road. It's in a small parade of shops with Tesco opposite. If you've gone there without booking and can't get in, try Mangosteen opposite or drive into Pinner.
La Giralda is regularly featured in food guides.
Latest prices. Lunch menus at two prices. The dearer one is @18.
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(3/3 found this review helpful)
