Giraffe - Chelmsford - Greedy Gourmet

If you're tired of McDonald's and want to introduce the kids to better quality food and surroundings, look no further than Giraffe.

How do you know it's school holidays? Well...

You're faced with images of bored children...

Stroppy kids not having their way...

... who cheer up after you give up and give in to their demands... You know what I mean!

Luckily the wait isn't that long and once they have their Kids Beef Burger & Fries (beef patty in a soft toasted bun with baby gem, tomato and skin-on fries) and Bangers, Fries & Beans (Herby pork sausage and baked beans served with skin-on fries) you can be assured of 10 minutes of peace while they happily scarf down their food. 15 minutes max!

In order to save time and some of your sanity, order starters and mains together. Prepare yourself for a sprint eating contest.

The Tuscan Lamb Meatballs (In a tomato sauce topped with lemon yoghurt and gremolata breadcrumbs. Served with warm tortillas) was comforting and almost big enough for a main course if you're a light eater. No one would get up hungry after devouring a Chilli Beef Burrito (Soft tortilla filled with rice and chili beef, topped with smoked cheddar, adobe sauce, sour cream, pink onions and toasted seeds. Served with mixed leaves, salsa and tequila lime dressing). The show stopper was the Halloumi & Falafel Burger (With grilled red pepper, carrot, beetroot, mixed leaves, quinoa sprouts, hummus and tzatziki) which proves burgers aren't necessarily unhealthy and any vegetarian would be in his element.

The classic kids' dessert, Chocolate Brownie (With melting chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream), is available and was gone in 5 minutes flat. For those parents who are still fighting the losing battle of valiantly trying not to give their kids any excess sugar, the Strawberry & Banana Lollipops (Fresh fruit skewers with yummy chocolate dipping sauce) are fantastic. Even the adults nibbled thoughtfully albeit super-fast rabbit style on the Churros (In cinnamon sugar. Served with chocolate dipping sauce), thinking the meal quality was better than Café Rouge where they ate the day before.