Giraffe

I've been here a few times and have always thought it pretty good. The food is fresh, served efficiently and the service friendly. We specifically went here last time as it was one of the few places that were suitable for a diabetic friend; the staff were very accommodating of her requests and needs.

Giraffe Southbank serves great food in a great location. Never had any problems with service, re. the other review on here, there are no placemats and none of the staff hover over you. Very difficult to find a restaurant where the staff are welcoming, genuinely care and the food is excellent aswell - Giraffe have accomplished this.

Name: Steph
Location: London

The tables are covered in unnecessary placemats and plates that had to be rearranged constantly. Food was fine but service was bizarre; wait staff hovered uncomfortably and darted in the second we finished eating to take the plate. Overall, disconcerting and I would not go there again.

Name: Kate
Location: London

I'd never been to a Giraffe restaurant before and thought the menu looked interesting and the decor and ambience was attractive. However, after my meal the other night I'm not in any hurry to return. As for the Zumba Beach salad, if this is what they eat on Zumba Beach I'm not in any hurry to go there either!

The service was friendly, if a bit slow, the view is lovely, the salad was big and my rabbit would probably have liked some of it. However, it was also very bland with totally tasteless pumpkin, very little avocado or beetroot or seeds, in fact anything that would have made it interesting. The raw broccoli was freezing cold and tasted like it had been soaking all day in ice. The dressing was citrus but without any zing and the whole dish lacked any contrast in texture or taste. It is really disappointing to go out to eat in a supposedly good restaurant in a superb location and be served a salad that was not a patch on a take away from M&S, let alone something I could easily throw together. It also felt really mean for the healthy, veggie option to skimp on the pumpkin and avo - how much does it cost to marinate the pumpkin and cook it properly, add more than a teaspoon of seeds and more than 3 small pieces of avo?

Having said that, my companions enjoyed their dishes more than I did mine.

Went there today and was quite impressed with the welcome and the service to begin with. The first course was nice (prawns and endamame), but the second course was disappointing (chilli beef enchilada and BBQ ribs). The enchilada was served in a bowl/dish and was difficult to eat and the ribs were pale, sauceless and just plain 'muh'.

After we had finished our main course, we were then totally ignored for at least 15 minutes ... I had to stand up and put my coat on before our waitress stopped her conversation at the bar and brought our bill over (which automatically included a 12.5% tip natch :().

First and last time at Giraffe for me!!!

Name: LEC
Location: NW4

I also had one bad experience at Giraffe in Marylebone, found it dirty and expensive and would definitely not recommend it.

When plates were brought over they were dirty (still had bits of food on them), then when glasses were brought over to our table they were dirty too. The food in general was of a poor standard. We ordered nachos and the cheese was so burnt on they were brick solid and inedible. Our Garlic bread was also burnt.

All in all, the worst lunch I have ever had. When I informed them that it was the worst lunch ever their reply was 'oh'. No apology, no nothing.

If I did not have to leave to go to the airport I would have refused to pay for my lunch because it was of such poor standard and the service was also shocking.

I visited Giraffe for the first time in August and I was very impressed with the atmosphere created by the lovely food and music. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I am so impressed that I would like to open a similar one in Cape Town, South Africa.