The yummy mummy haven has opened in yummy mummy central, bringing its ever-reliable, family-friendly formula to the well-to-do on Haverstock Hill.

The Venue
Funnily enough, this particular location isn’t hugely dissimilar to its other incarnations, with all the usual Giraffe gubbins set on the same nicely sedate olive green background that doesn’t really keep the nippers quiet but does look very nice. There’s the brand ethos emblazoned across one wall encouraging you to ‘love, eat, live’, which is worth considering, whilst another sees a huge jigsaw of the world letting you know of the global influences you’ll find on the menu.

A large service area at the back plays host to hundreds of bottles of wine teasing those with toddlers, whilst the front is made up of doors that open out in the summer for some very pleasant al fresco eating. There must be something of a draught though, as there’s quite a bit of gaffer tape unceremoniously covering the gaps. The toilets are worth mentioning too, purely for the fact that the gents’ hosts the world’s most powerful tap – capable of drenching one’s groin within seconds.

The Atmosphere
Anyone who has been to a Giraffe before will know that it’s a chain which has made itself perfect for young children and their parents – there’s plenty of decent food for both and they’re likely to find themselves in similar company. It’s exactly the same at this location, so don’t go there expecting a nice quiet meal.

Giraffe is unashamedly child-friendly, and that’s why it’s such a success. Even in the evenings there are kids in their pyjamas, babies sleeping and toddlers toddling about, but it somehow manages to remain civilised enough to attract couples, girls catching up over bottles of wine and even a few lone diners doing a bit of reading. The staff do their bit too, making things go smoothly with friendly attitudes, helpful suggestions and good knowledge of the menu.

The Food
There are bits and bobs from all around the world on the menu, with enough choice to keep both milk teeth and second sets chewing away happily. It’s all pretty well done too, with prices that are certainly unlikely to put off those Belsize Park locals, or indeed those coming from further afield, with most mains coming in under the ten pound mark.

Starters are perfectly fine, with plump and tasty tiger prawns (£5.25) earning their ‘crunchy’ moniker thanks to a gently deep-fried breadcrumb coating. They’re accompanied by a sweet chilli and lime dipping sauce that’s mild enough not to put the kids off and sweet enough to keep them coming back. The chicken potstickers (£4.95) are okay too, with four soft little dumplings filled with chicken, deep fried briefly and served with a similarly harmless soy-chilli dip.

Mains carry on the reliable theme, with the Mexican options being particularly worth a go. The turkey enchilada (£10.50) is generous and authentic, with a fluffy tortilla housing tender turkey, black beans, cheese, chorizo, sour cream and a very tasty guacamole. It’s served with aromatic Mexican green rice and a couple of large tortillas nicely lined up at the side. The (evidently very popular) BBQ chicken quesadilla (£7.95) is good too, with a toasted tortilla containing melted cheddar, shredded chicken and black bean chilli. The little pots of very tasty chipotle aioli and salsa picante give it a bit of extra heat, but they could do with being a little bit bigger. But then they wouldn’t fit on the very swish wooden slab of a plate, so perhaps that’s why.

Desserts are numerous enough, with a pleasingly wobbly panna cotta (£4.95) being surprisingly good – it’s velvety, airy and rich, and served with a sweet and bitty berry sauce. If you want something a little simpler then they serve the ever-reliable Jude’s Ice Cream, with three scoops (£4.50) of very vanilla, chunky choc or strawberry tease all being deliciously creamy and flavoursome.

The Drink
With everything from fresh fruit smoothies (including a very refreshing Fruitasia (£3.50) – raspberries, passion fruit, strawberries, banana and apple juice) through to organic juices, carbonated favourites, decent coffees and a good selection of teas, there are plenty of soft options, and you get the impression Giraffe does something of a roaring trade in them.

But if you’re looking for something a little more adult then bottled beers include Red Stripe, Corona, Brooklyn and Cusquena. They can knock up a few good looking cocktails and they also have a pretty good selection of wines from around the world. The most expensive option is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at £22.95, so you can’t exactly break the bank, but the house red, a simple South African from Acacia Tree is really good value at £13.75, and shows that they’ve put a bit of effort into what they’re offering.

The Last Word
Aside from the gaffer tape and the tap that makes you look like you didn’t quite make it, this is another good example of why Giraffe is such a success. And the fact that this location is rammed to the rafters every night of the week is really all you need to know.

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