Giraffe

Very disappointing. I had the chilli dog which was ice cold in the middle. I mentioned this to our server who took my food back to the kitchen and returned it clearly reheated in a microwave as the bread was now soft and soggy. To further my annoyance the tip was added to the bill on my behalf. I certainly did not want to leave a tip as the service was poor, so having that decision made for me was the tip of the iceberg. I won’t be returning.

Giraffe is part of what one could call the more refined food court of Chapelfield Mall. With seats in view of St. Stephen’s Church preferable to all other restaurants in the plain or the mall, the general feeling of the restaurant is quirky, exotic and homely all at once. A personal small highlight for instance, is that the cocktail stirrers are colourful giraffes with incredibly long necks.
The offerings at Giraffe are varied and delicious. Salads, such as the California Sushi Rice, plated on sheets of seaweed and with the currently trendy ingredient kale, or the ever-​popular jambalaya are offered as mains, for reasonable prices around GBP10.00 while the lunch menu boasts slightly smaller portions for better prices (GBP6.75, though adding extras is costly). There is also a separate dinner menu, which seems to have similar pricing to the main menu.
As Giraffe operates as a chain, there is little individualistic charm, but serving staff make all the difference as they are incredibly friendly and circulate the area to check on patrons unobtrusively. The restrooms are unisex, echoing the modern trendy feel to not just the menu, but the interior decoration as well. There is a counter upstairs where staff can be approached, emphasising the casual nature of the restaurant. Giraffe is perfect for casual outings of any kind, and works especially well when catering to groups, though it is probably best to notify them in advance in such a case.