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Food For Thought - review by Navajo_Pete

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:59:01 +0000

Food For Thought - review by Navajo_Pete

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

Long-standing vegetarian cafe and restaurant in Covent Garden's Neal Street.

This has been in this same location for many, many years. Owned and managed by a local couple, who are totally hands-on and involved in the business.

The restaurant has built up a loyal following among the local shop workers, office workers, residents and shoppers to fashionable Neal Street. Its reputation is one of mouth-watering, well-prepared veggie meals, salds, and snacks.

Wether you come at lunch time or early evening, the place is likely to be packed, so be prepared to spend a bit of time - no good if you're in a hurry and only have 3 mins! It's well worth the wait, as it's hard to chose anything that isn't delicious. Prices are very reasonable, towards cheap, and given that this is Covent Garden, that's a bargain.

Vanessa and her husband buy tonnes of veg every day, directly from new CG Market, in most cases. The freshness of their soups, casseroles and quiches is legendary.

If you're only going to have one main meal per day and fancy (or restrict yourself to) a healthy, vegetarian option, this is the place to come to, if you're in the area. The take-away soup, rustic bread and a nice veggie stew are just perfect if you have a sunny spot at Seven Dials to eat it and watch the world go by.

Food For Thought - review by seconds

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:09:09 +0000

Food For Thought - review by seconds

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

As one of the other reviewers has noted, Food for Thought is a London institution! From the outside it is a tiny restaurant in Neal Street, but the whole basement is in use. Traditionally, you queue upstairs to take food away, and queue down the stairs (and the queue at lunchtimes always reaches down the length of the stairs and along the street) to eat at the benches or on cushions downstairs.

This is a vegetarianâ¬"s paradise (they serve only veggie food), but is also a delicious experience for meat eaters. Every day there are 2 or 3 different soups, 3 main meals, and a salad, plus 2 or 3 scrummy desserts. The menu changes each day. You can have anything you like for less than Â£5, but plan to spend more if it is your first visit, go when you are hungry and try a dessert as well!

Food For Thought - review by hellyphant

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:42:17 +0000

Food For Thought - review by hellyphant

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

Tags: vegetarian, east european, cheap eat, good value, crowded

Food for Thought is a small vegetarian cafe on Neal street in Covent Garden, and my favourite lunch-time haunt. It's incredibely popular with local office and shop workers and has many regulars.

On ground level there is a take away counter, behind which you can see staff cooking up fresh pots of lentil curries and spinnach soup and all other kinds of healthy dishes. Every day they serve a mixed salad which I would totally recommend - it normally comes with couscous, pasta, or potatoes so is quite filling. Fresh homemade bread is also available and is often still warm, tasting like it's just come out of the oven.

Prices are good value, especially for central london. A mixed salad and large chunk of fresh bread costs about Â£3.70.

Downstairs there are tables where you can eat in, although I never have myself. It always looks very crowded and claustrophic.

Also, bear in mind that queues can be long during the lunch hour - often spreading some way down Neal street, so it's best not to go there if you're in a rush. It's alot quieter before 12.30 or after 2pm.

I'm very glad I disvoered Food for Thought. It offers a tasty, healthy alternative to the monotony of yet another lunchtime sandwich.

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.

Food For Thought - review by bee_girl

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:14:06 +0000

Food For Thought - review by bee_girl

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

Tags: lively, good value, crowded, vegetarian

A Vegetarian restaurant in a great spot in Covent Garden. For vegetarians or non vegetarians alike, I think itâ¬"s top quality food at very reasonable prices, something you donâ¬"t get very often. It also puts to bed all stereotypes about vegetarian food that may exist. However, if you want a long chat with friends with a long side down meal, save for another day. It can get very crowded and hard to get a place. Tables are canteen like and as food is serve yourself it can be a very quick processâ¬¦.deserts are also brilliant though so stay for that!

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.

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.

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...

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!!!!!!

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!

Giraffe - review by flojo

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:26:16 +0000

Giraffe - review by flojo

Rating: 3.4

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

Phone: 020 7928 2004

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Been here quite a few times.

Great place to meet friends, whether before heading off to a concert or just stopping for a drink.

Fun, friendly staff and a lively place, with an emphasis on global food.

Worth noting that they do decent cocktails and have a good happy hour from 5-7pm!

Food For Thought - review by horseradish

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:13:12 +0000

Food For Thought - review by horseradish

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

Big grey queues in the big grey rain, big grey plates, big grey food, but about as close to the original Cranks vibe as you'll get.

Food For Thought - review by poolside

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:32:55 +0000

Food For Thought - review by poolside

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

food = great and very healthy but ALWAYS go take-out :o)

Food For Thought - review by Frankie

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 00:05:35 +0000

Food For Thought - review by Frankie

Rating: 3.8

Location: 31 Neal Street,, WC2H 9PR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0239

Yes I've been there - and it's been there too, for as long as I can remember. It must have been there since hippies discovered an old dilapidated yard around the corner and set up co-operatives there... I think Neals Yard Bakery still is a co-op?

I reckon it's a pretty good platter for the money. It's a bit like a canteen. You queue at the counter and a big ladel swoops down over your bowl and you get dolloped. About 4 servers work together in an area the size of a washing up bowl - you've got to be impressed, watching them juggle plates and cutlery in perfect harmony.