When a friend and I first visited Giraffe at the beginning of the year, we were impressed by its ambience and drinks menu. The spacious restaurant is set in a glass house in the middle of Istana Park, with ratten furniture and brightly-coloured cushions giving it a cosy, laid-back air. The wine list is rather extensive, with over 30 kinds of wines. I must admit that one of the reasons I like it is because it carries one of my favourite wines. The drinks menu also offers a wide range of cocktails, mocktails, beers and other drinks, making this a very pleasant spot to chill out with friends.
Giraffe has two signature cocktails - For Him and For Her ($14.90 each). For Her - a mix of orange juice, peach schnapps and Midori - is a smooth and sweet concoction glides down the throat easily. It is quite a strong drink though, so do try not to over-imbibe!
While my friend and I liked Giraffe's ambience and drinks menu, we were singularly unimpressed by its food then. This was the main reason why we never returned to the restaurant after that first visit in January. For me, a restaurant's name is built on the quality of its food, and everything else is but peripheral.
When I learnt that Giraffe was overhauling its menu, I was rather eager to check it out. I had reason to be optimistic - Giraffe is after all part of O.B. International, the company behind Fish & Co. and thesimplelife. If the latter two eateries are able to dish out good food consistently, I see no reason why Giraffe couldn't do likewise.
I tried the Giraffe Salad ($11.90) - a mixed salad with soft shell crab. It came with a slightly sweet dressing, which was thankfully not overly creamy or cloying. The soft shell crab was coated in a very light batter which had the slightest bit of crispiness to it. A better salad option is the Thai Seafood Salad ($12.90, below, left) which, as its name suggests, is a Thai-style mixed seafood salad with green mango. I preferred the spicy, tangy taste of this salad, which had a refreshing crunch thanks to the thin strips of green mango. The prawns and sotong were quite fresh, and gave the salad more substance.
The Seafood Laksa Spaghetti ($17.90, below, center) was sweetly fragrant, with a touch of spiciness. I enjoyed the laksa gravy, which was almost as enjoyable as the one at thesimplelife. The serving portion was quite large: you might wish to skip appetisers if you intend to order this.
Next was the Giraffe 7oz. Burger ($17.90, above, right). When it arrived, I was stunned for a moment. How could anyone finish such a big burger was beyond me - but I suppose that those with larger stomach capacities and heartier appetites than mine would have little difficulty. The thick patty was flavourful, but would have been better if it had been more juicy. It went well with the tomato bread though, as well as the coleslaw which was cold and crisp. I also liked the accompanying fries, which were long, thin and not overly salty.
I enjoyed the Salmone Pesto ($16.90) for its basil pesto which was savoury and herby at the same time. If you prefer beef to fish, there is the NZ ribeye with Gorgonzola cream sauce ($22.90, right). While the beef was a bit tough to cut, it was alright to the bite, being slightly chewy but not tough. It was actually quite juicy, and the Gorgonzola sauce was a unique touch.
The tiramisu ($6.90, main picture) was sweet, dense and sufficiently creamy, with a light chocolate taste. Those who want something different can opt for the Semi-Fredo ($6.90), which is a sweet and creamy pistachio parfait with a mild chocolate sauce.
Giraffe's new menu is certainly an improvement, and has transformed the eatery from being merely a good watering hole to a restaurant worthy of the name.
Giraffe Orchard Road, Istana Park
S 238823
Tel: 63344653
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (Sun - Thurs); 11am - 1am (Fri & Sat)
Lunch and dinner hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm and 6pm - 9:30pm
Giraffe has two signature cocktails - For Him and For Her ($14.90 each). For Her - a mix of orange juice, peach schnapps and Midori - is a smooth and sweet concoction glides down the throat easily. It is quite a strong drink though, so do try not to over-imbibe!
I enjoyed the Salmone Pesto ($16.90) for its basil pesto which was savoury and herby at the same time. If you prefer beef to fish, there is the NZ ribeye with Gorgonzola cream sauce ($22.90, right). While the beef was a bit tough to cut, it was alright to the bite, being slightly chewy but not tough. It was actually quite juicy, and the Gorgonzola sauce was a unique touch.
