giraffe Restaurant Review

I'll be honest, neither of us had eaten at giraffe before our review last week, and I don't think we'll be rushing back anytime soon. 

We visited the Stratford branch and were initially greeted by very friendly staff. After a few very strong cocktails (which were half price as we visited during happy hour) we started to study the menu. 

We were a little confused - there was every type of food on the menu, from Japanese inspired Katsu curries to American style Burgers and Greek influenced mezze. After a quick Google we discovered the restaurant offers food from around the globe in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. 

We remembered reading that Tesco recently acquired giraffe to transform their larger stores into destinations, and soon realised giraffe is aimed at families with varied tastes, allowing them to all dine in one restaurant.

In true restaurant review style we ordered three starters to share (pictures from the restaurant website above vs what we were served below).

The Halloumi Skewers (£3.85) were very tasty, and paired with the courgette, pea & mint salad was super refreshing. 

 The "Firecracker" Chicken Tenders (£5.35) were overpriced for what they were. Coated in a sesame crunch coating and served with Asian slaw and a wasabi aioli, they didn't really taste of much  - which was a surprise as the ingredient list promised a flavour explosion. 

The mini mezze (£4.25) compromised of three falafel balls, tabbouleh and a smokey red pepper relish. Simple, but satisfying. 

We ordered a main each and an additional vegetarian dish to review. The Firecracker Chicken Katsu (£11.25) was disappointing - the same chicken was used as our bland starter, the noodles were smothered in a VERY salty teryaki sauce - the drizzle of peanut and coconut curry sauce was so little it was absorbed by the coating of the chicken, making it mushy.

Russell's "Rodeo" Chicken Burger (£11.60) was good, but wasn't something you wouldn't write home about. Featuring grilled herby chicken breast, an onion ring, melted cheddar, grilled mushrooms and bbq sauce, the dish certainly filled him up.



Probably the most disappointing dish of the meal, the Green Veggie & Kale Enchiladas (£9.65) were a poor excuse for a vegetarian option. The menu stated they'd be packed with broccoli, kale, roasted sweetcorn and feta topped with tomatillo salsa, sour cream & crunchy seeds. I didn't come across any feta cheese or salsa throughout the dish, making the filling extremely bland. I couldn't help but feel jealous of those dining at Las Iguanas opposite, who's veggie options are full of flavour.

Would we go back? No, It's just not for us I'm afraid, but we can see the appeal for families.