REVIEW: Giraffe restaurant reaches unexpected heights

By Ben Fitzgerald - 5 October 2018

CommunityFood & Drink

Chain restaurants in shopping centres have changed beyond all recognition.
It wasn’t so long ago that the best you could hope for in such a place would be a weak interpretation of ‘Full English Breakfast’ complete with suspiciously pink looking sausage, watery baked beans, and bacon with traces of blue ink on the rind where the unfortunate pig’s number used to be.

Perhaps shoppers’ tastes have grown more sophisticated of late, or maybe restaurants are working harder to lure potential diners inside but the food offerings in shopping centres are actually pretty decent if not downright excellent...

Take Giraffe, for instance.

This chain established in 1998 now boasts more than 40 stores scattered across the country (and mainly based in shopping centres) which serve up a menu drawn from almost every continent on the globe - it’s a weird concept… but it seems to work.

I visited the Swindon Giraffe, in the Designer Outlet Village, where I was presented with a menu boasting a bewildering banquet of eclectic delights such as Edamame, Nachos, Huevos Rancheros, Katsu chicken noodles, Thai duck stir-fry, Malay Curry, Indo-Coco curry, Tagine and Sirloin Steak… I could go on.

And I will… Texan BBQ Brisket, Vada Pav, Penang Bang and The Ultimate Giraffe (not actually giraffe you may be relieved to hear, but I don’t blame you if you thought otherwise)

I randomly chose the Enchilada Salsa Verde - described as follows: Spicy rice and mixed vegetables in a wrapped tortilla baked in a cheese sauce. Drizzled with a salsa verde and topped with pico de gallo (fresh salsa) and sour cream. And you know what.. it was just as good as anything you might order in Wahaca or a similar high-end Mex restaurant.

Piping hot and properly spicy - I couldn’t fault it.

My dining companion went for the Smoky Joe: Grilled beef with special burger sauce, smoky bacon, smoked cheddar, mixed leaves and a tomato slice.

Between mouthfuls, he reported that it was: “It was a fine quality burger with what obviously was a freshly made patty. Really excellent.”

Giraffe seems to be able to pull off a clever trick - the diverse range of their menu was pulled off with flair and confidence. And they even passed the true test of a decent eaterie - to be able to serve a genuinely good espresso coffee which most places interpret as just a small coffee. I was stunned to be served with a correctly pulled shot - full marks Giraffe!

 

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