There’s no place like Hampstead for one of the most picturesque areas in London, and Giraffe is situated right in the middle of it all.

The Venue
The restaurant's Hampstead branch boasts a brand new decor of shiny wooden teak floors, fitments and tables. The result is a suave, sophisticated look. Like other Giraffe restaurants, there is a large photo of beautiful people from all parts of the world on the wall.

The Atmosphere
By day the venue is very lively, often full of Hampstead families with young children – by night you join with Hampstead’s glitterati and the atmosphere is very quiet and peaceful so you can relax to the sound of world music played at a low volume.

The Food
The food is excellent because it is very fresh and healthy. For starters try the bang bang chicken salad, excitingly textured with peanuts and pieces of chicken along with grated carrots, spring onion, radish and snap peas which pop in your mouth. The salad is has a sweet fragrant flavour due to the chopped up herbs and greens and the sweet chilli lime dressing. Also good are the spinach and halloumi cakes with smokey tomato and currant relish. The cakes are very delicate, soft and light and not too sweet or sharp.

For a main course the teriyaki Angus beef stir fry comes highly recommended – it is served with mangetout, red pepper and spinach and egg noodles. The result is a very soft smooth dish – the meat tastes sweet because of the teriyaki sauce, and seems to melt on your tongue like butter. Vegetarians who want a noodle stir fry can try the tofu and veggie noodle option which is not too heavy or greasy.

For dessert opt for the banana waffle split, which is very sweet without being overpoweringly so, and served with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate and butternut sauce, which marries very well with the banana.

The Drink
The house white is crisp and fresh with a hint of green apple and is served at the perfect temperature. Wines are listed according to the mood they will put you in so there are happy wines and cheerful wines as well as fab wines. Cocktails such as a mango lime daiquiri are also on the menu and there is a pomegranate caipirinha with cachaca, fresh mint, sugar and pomegranate juice. The coffee at this restaurant is certainly up to continental standards, so you might want to visit Giraffe for breakfast.

The Last Word
The ethos behind the cuisine at Giraffe is all about healthy eating, and as giraffes have one of the largest hearts of all mammals, perhaps the restaurant is aptly named.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (3) image gallery (2)