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Giraffe - review by sjsoutherner

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Giraffe - review by sjsoutherner

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

The only two words that describe how I feel about this restaurant are: LOVE IT! I've read through other reviews and I agree that this place can sometimes be a little pricey and is definitely more of a family themed restaurant than relaxed trendy place to go for a long lunch. However, for good food and a great atmosphere I thoroughly recommend it. I've been many times at all times of the day and enjoy there casual atmosphere for brunch, lunch or dinner. I love their evening cocktail combinations and value menus for dinner. Thoroughly recommend a visit for a weekend brunch also as their breakfast menu is delightful (especially when topped off with one of their gorgeous smoothies). It can sometimes be a little noisey and often at main meal times there is a queue to be seated. However, I've always found the wait worthwhile.

A big thumbs up to a great restaurant in a great location ;0)

Giraffe - review by arcantara99

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:01:37 +0000

Giraffe - review by arcantara99

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Tags: lively, family & home feel, crowded

This chain is marketing itself as a friendly family restaurant. Friendly it may be but it is definitely for families so I wouldn't go there if you don't want to be surrounded by kids and babies. This one is in a great location so you can sit outside by the river and it's very popular â¬ there are often queues to get a seat. However it is also noisy, busy and on the occasions I've been the service has been particularly slow. The food has always tasted quite fast-food like even if it sounds healthy on the menu which is a shame. The menu is admirably wide ranging â¬ from burgers to stir fry â¬ but this is one for the children rather than a sophisticated night out.

Le Mercury - review by LOVEANDKATE

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:34:38 +0000

Le Mercury - review by LOVEANDKATE

Rating: 4.1

Location: 140A Upper Street, N1 1QY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4088

Website: http://www.lemercury.co.uk/

Tags: lively, good value, crowded, french, romantic

My friend and i ended up on Upper Street last night and as I always do when I'm in Angel, started browsing menus for food. I've been to most eateries in Angel so we decided to try something new.

We passed Le Mercury and decided to go in due to its cheap menu
Starters Â£3.95 and Mains Â£6.95 which is incredibly reasonable for the area.

i must admit, I was a bit scepticle at first- it was either going to be hit or miss. It also appeared to be rather busy and I wasnt sure we'd get a table.

However, like others have mentioned in previous reviews its not just an intimate restaurant crammed full of tables on the ground floor-theres 3 floors of crammed intimate restaurant space!!!!!, it just goes up and up and up rickety wooden stairs.

and yes, very dim candle lit, romantic and even though you're squished in we didnt notice or were aware of others sat around us. No idiots shouting or mis behaving. Infact the crowd was totally mixed- from 18 - 80.

The service staff were lovely and cracked jokes continuously, especially when I ashamedly asked for ketchup for my steak and chips [!!!!!]

We ordered a bottle of wine priced a couple of quid above the house and it was delightful.

food was not outstanding but very pleasant for the price and just the right amount so that you can actually eat both starter and main.

They also gave us enough time to rest inbetween courses and we ended up spending 3 hours in there.

I'd definitely go back- love the rustic and authenticity of the place.

Giraffe - review by waverley

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:42:09 +0000

Giraffe - review by waverley

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Tags: lively, good value

I have just returned form a weekend in london with my boyfriend. we decided to have brunch by the river yesterday and chose to go to giraffe as by the que of people standing outside looked popular. We did have to wait around 15 minutes to be seated which was annoying as there were plenty of empty tables but only one member of staff showing people in. There were a few other members of staff hovering around who didnt take the initiative to help. However...
Once we were seated our waiter was extremely friendly and helpful. The menu had so much to choose from that it took us a long time to choose as there were so many dishes i would have liked to have tried. We had nacho's with cherizo to start as we were quite hungry which was big enough for us to share even though it was designed for one and we had the all day brunch each. its was absolutely gorgeous. The scrabled egg was possibly the best I have ever tasted and the meat was of a high quality with not alot of fat.
Our waiter was very attentive checking everthing was ok and updating us along the was as to when our food would be ready even though the wait was no more than 10-15 minutes. The food and service of the meal more than made up for queing to get in and I would deffinately go back again.
My only negative was as we were waiting to be seated a group of 4 pushed past the que (which like I said was quite long)and seated them selves in plain view of the waiter and the rest of us customers waitin. The waiter then went over and handed them menu's and took their drinks orders! I was extremely angry as I thought it was very rude and they should have been asked to go and que like the rest of us.

Le Mercury - review by kellytron

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:14:17 +0000

Le Mercury - review by kellytron

Rating: 4.1

Location: 140A Upper Street, N1 1QY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4088

Website: http://www.lemercury.co.uk/

Sure it's not the best French food you'll find in town but for the price it's a total steal. Quite a nice (and romatic if that's your thing) setting too.

Giraffe - review by sheilaellen

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:27:26 +0000

Giraffe - review by sheilaellen

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Tags: expensive, international, crowded

I got the distinct impression that, whatever high principles they may purport to subscribe to, the people that run this place are not interested in their customers' best interests.

We had to queue for ages (approx. 30 minutes), standing in their busy doorway. Luckily I had a free paper with me, which I read from cover to cover.

Once seated, in front of aforementioned queue, I was glad of the pullover I'd brought as by now a sharpish breeze was blowing through the doorway, onto my back.

I've recently had to start trying to cut gluten out of my diet - much easier said than done as you'd be surprised how often it can sneak into products that you just wouldn't expect to contain it - so I'm especially grateful to food retailers that provide clear labels telling me what's safe and what's not. Unfortunately, Giraffe don't do this. However, the Manager did go out of his way to try and help and after much rummaging around in his office (and another fairly lengthy wait) was able to produce a list of which products did/didn't contain gluten. Unfortunately, that was nearly everything.

Eventually I opted for an overpriced steak (fatty) and mash (dry). The portion size was adequate though, which is more than I can say for the duck noodles that my boyfriend opted for. The look on his face was akin to a starving kitten, closely followed by one of pain, on receipt of the bill.

Our advice: don't bother.

Le Mercury - review by Guerilla1

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:29:24 +0000

Le Mercury - review by Guerilla1

Rating: 4.1

Location: 140A Upper Street, N1 1QY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4088

Website: http://www.lemercury.co.uk/

Tags: romantic, cheap eat, good value, french

Romantic, fantastic food, great staff and CHEAP.

Le Mercury - review by janie_lou

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:51:24 +0000

Le Mercury - review by janie_lou

Rating: 4.1

Location: 140A Upper Street, N1 1QY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4088

Website: http://www.lemercury.co.uk/

Tags: lively, cheap eat, good value, mediterranean, crowded, brasserie, french, romantic

In short:

Le Mercury never fails to please me.

In long:

I seem to recall thinking on first impressions that this was a busy, and popular little venue. Emphasis on the little - the dining room looked crammed. You might not think its too romantic being dead close to the next table but once you sit down and realise you're going to have a tough choice deciding what to have you realise its actually a bonus - you get to have a good old nosy at what your neighbour is eating.

However, from experience I can now say that its usually a nice enough bunch of people in there. We've never experienced any braying idiots sat right next to us (ah, unless I was the braying idiot and drowned everyone else out) so I don't think anyone could complain about it being a bit of tight squeeze.

On that note, I used to think it was all on the ground floor, but its actually a three-floor beast of building. The separate rooms and their decoration really remind me of restaurants I've been to in France and add so much charm to the place, along with the cosy candlelight.

The food. Seems ludicriously cheap for what you get. And there's plenty of different options for the three courses.

I've tried most of the starters except the mussels. I cannot abide mussels but the liquid/sauce they are in is DEVINE. Apparently the mussels are pretty good too and the mollusc eaters amongst my friends always order them. I mop up the juices when they're not looking.

Other starters have been generally pretty good though I'm not keen on that "chicken sandwich filler" (as Idoru puts it so well!) but then I've always prefered salad cream to mayo. Yes, I know, I'm a barbarian.

As for the mains - there's plenty of hearty meat dinners on offer: big lumps of lamb, roasted chicken, steaks. I'm sure there's some delicious veggie options, but I think I get selective vision when reading menus having grown up in a "I'm not paying for bl**dy vegetables in a restaurant" sort of family.

If you do want some vegetables with your meal then these come on the side, but if you have pigged all the bread and had a substantial starter then I wouldn't go overboard - each one shares easily between two.

I always look forward to a visit to Le Mercury, it always delivers good value, good service, and above all good food.

*********************************

PS I also like it cos I had my first date with my soon-to-be husband here (don't worry, I'm not going to make a habit of adding soppy footnotes - this is my one and ONLY time, promise!)

Giraffe - review by inkognitoh

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:09:11 +0000

Giraffe - review by inkognitoh

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Tags: cozy, world, international, family & home feel, cheap eat, good value, vibrant, fresh, fusion, crowded, healthy, lively

God bless the new Southbank redevelopment and the introduction of restaurants and cafe's. Giraffe is actually a chain of restaurants but I've only been to the one at Southbank Centre (a lot) so can't comment on the rest.Though I imagine the same good vibe flows through them all.

The food is cafe style fusion with lots of South East Asian influences although there are loads of good solid grill options like burgers and fish. All the ingredients are healthy and fresh and the dishes are cooked to order.

The service can be a bit iffy but this is possibly because the restaurant is always busy. I make it a policy to always book in advance if attending a play/gig as otherwise there is often a queue for a table.

I notice another review mentions a celebrity sighting in her local Giraffe and I would like to add my own 'Simon Amstell was here' at the Southbank. Not as glamorous as a Hollywood screen goddess but still...

Le Mercury - review by islamel

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:44:40 +0000

Le Mercury - review by islamel

Rating: 4.1

Location: 140A Upper Street, N1 1QY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4088

Website: http://www.lemercury.co.uk/

Tags: cozy, romantic. staff friendly, quaint, cheap eat, excellent value, mediterranean, brasserie, french, romantic

Le Mercury is a quaint little place on Upper Street serving French and Meditteranean food. Despite being in competiton with so many other restaurants it still manages to hold it's own. The food is good and cooked very well and there is always a lovely range of dishes. The menu consists of 7 or 8 choices of starter and about 10 mains which cater to most palates and tastes.
The desserts are good - nice lemon tart.
The wine list delivers and the specials change daily.
This place has a nice romantic feel - good for a quiet intimate dinner, with the only lighting coming from the candles on the table. The staff are lovely and patient.
Just make sure you book as it is quite small and fills up in the evening very quickly. You can see why, as the prices are so good, I wonder how they do it.

Au Lac - review by islamel

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:29:20 +0000

Au Lac - review by islamel

Rating: 5.0

Location: 82 Highbury Park, N5 2XE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7704 9187

Tags: good food, oriental, family & home feel, good value, authentic, vietnamese, friendly, romantic, cozy

Au Lac has two branches to it's name and has been a long standing favourite in Highbury and Finsbury Park since that branch opened more than 10 years ago.
The problem I have with many 'Vietnamese' Restaurants is that they are often Chinese cuisine dressed up - but here you get the real deal. The food is very authentic and of great quality. There are the same old faves for those that want them but also some great regional dishes, such as the pork belly stew that are worth a try. I have never had a bad meal at this place in all the years I have been eating here and the loyalty you show to the restaurant is repaid by the owners with lovely friendly services, a welcoming owner(who always makes an effort to come over and say hello), complimentary dishes and quite frankly some of the best Vietnamese food I have eaten.
I haven't tried the Hoxton branch yet but if it is anywhere as good as Highbury I'm sure it's fab. VERY VERY GOOD.

Giraffe - review by islamel

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:13:40 +0000

Giraffe - review by islamel

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Tags: american, family environment, varied menu, child friendly, british, proper food, international, family & home feel, good brew, good value, quick bite, healthy

Giraffe is set just off Upper Street where the majority of the restaurants in the area lie. It is a mixture of Cafe and restaurant with a good varied menu. It crosses a variety of cultures and you will find spring rolls, hummus with pitta, salads, burgers and noodles - and more.
There's a great kids menu and the smoothies are definitely worth a visit.
Giraffe is a nice place to go on a Saturday or sunday afternoon with friends or kids.
The last time I went, I saw Cate Blanchett eating with her husband and child!!!!!!

Almeida Wine Bar & Restaurant - review by islamel

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:47:06 +0000

Almeida Wine Bar & Restaurant - review by islamel

Rating: 4.0

Location: 30 Almeida Street, N1 1AD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4777

Website: www.almeida-restaurant.co.uk

Tags: romantic, wonderful dining space., wonderful food, classic french, great value, good value, mediterranean, friendly staff, french

I first dined at Almeida 5 or so years ago. My Sister and were looking for a really nice, local restaurant for Mother's Day. We decided on Almedia, and have never looked back.
The restaurant is a complete joy from the decor in the dining room to the food to the service - just great.
The dining room is lovely, light, airy and spacious but also incredibly comfortable. The service is always polished, personal, attentive and warm without being overbearing. They remeber you after one visit and even remember their regular's specific likes and dilikes. The second time my partner and I ate there, I accidently touched my partner's hand with the little copper saucepan that they served the jus for our cote de beouf. No thrid degree burns or anything of the like but about 2 mins later, the maitre'd, placed a little cup of ice next to my partners hand - he had seen the incident from the other side of the room and came to help without a word from us. About a year later when I called to book a table, the lady I spoke to ask me how the hand was - just from me giving my surname. Now if that's not making you feel like a valued, appreciated patron, I don't know what is.
The menu serves some really well executed classic french dishes ie. Steak Tartare, Oysters with Vinagrette, Fois Gras, Platter of Classic Charcuterie and Pates for starters(and many more). For mains there's steak frites, Cote de Beouf, Seabass with Clams and Duck with Puy Lentils and regularly changing dishes according to the seasons. Just make sure you save space for the deserts as you will not find a better Creme Brulee in London - and as for the Lavender Ice Cream - HEAVEN!!!!
There is a huge and varied wine list to cater to all budgets and tastes - and the somellier is wonderfully helpful - we once changed our mind about the wine three times without a word of complaint - even though he had opened 2 of the bottles already.
This restaurant delivers on so many levels. Great value too - £22 for 3 courses at lunch, £27 at dinner. YOU CAN'T FAIL TO LOVE IT.

Le Mercury - review by gilka

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 19:21:24 +0000

Le Mercury - review by gilka

Rating: 4.1

Location: 140A Upper Street, N1 1QY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 4088

Website: http://www.lemercury.co.uk/

good affordable french restaurant on upper street, angel. This place is quite big with 3-4 floors, nice romantic tables with candles. Staff are quite friendly+chatty.
some dishes were a miss so choose carefully and go for the 'safe' options.

Giraffe - review by barbara

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:23:48 +0000

Giraffe - review by barbara

Rating: 3.4

Location: The South Bank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Had a fab meeting with some special friends here...a great day and place indeed!