After a grey day and the threat of showers, the sun peeked out of the clouds as we walked up Rosslyn Hill in Hampstead to go to Giraffe. Grabbing the opportunity to enjoy the balmy evening, we sat down at one of their tables on the pavement and watched the yummy-mummies walk by pushing designer buggies. The eaterie is a fun place to grab a bite, snatch a coffee or have a meal. Inside, lively music played in the background and there was a family with young children taking up the whole of one of the long tables, outside on a table near us, there were friends meeting up before going on somewhere else. We were popping in for a pre-theatre meal. As we perused the menu we were impressed with the vast choice - with dishes from all over the world - American burgers, Chinese stir fries and, Middle Eastern falafel. And for the diet conscious there were delicious looking salads.

We went for wok fried edamame for starters - a Japanese bean, rather like a broad bean, in soy, chilli and ginger sauce, which was quite delicious and fun to eat. Our friendly waitress told us that when people order this dish for the first time, they don't know what it is but then it becomes a firm favourite. I also had, what they termed as, a 'Nice Little House Salad' which was mixed green leaves, vine tomatoes, grated carrot, beetroot and artichoke with a delicious herby house dressing.

For the main course, I went for the special, which was fresh grilled snapper on a chilli egg noodle and vegetable slaw, the cold slaw was a great summer twist to the normal stir fry and had all the zingy flavour of a hot wok. My companion tried the Thai duck stir fry which was melt in the mouth and very delicious full of spices, he announced that it was the best one he had ever had. In fact, all the dishes were well flavoured with bursting spices.

Although we were quite full, we could not miss out on the desserts, so we shared Bramley apple and honey oat crumble pie which was piquant and sweet - just right.

Giraffe is a fun place to go and perfect for a quick meal with family or friends. And you can be sure of getting a dish that is tasty and slightly different to the main fare of this type of cafe-cum-eatier.

The three-course meal with wine came to £48. The average price of the starter is £4.95 and a main meal is £7.95.

Giraffe restaurants

46 Rosslyn Hill London NW3 1NH Phone Number: 020 7435 0343

29-31 Essex Road London N1 2SA Phone Number: 020 7359 5999

The Boardwalk Lakeside Shopping Centre West Thurrock RM20 2ZN Phone Number: 01708 866 646 348

Muswell Hill Broadway London N10 1DJ Phone Number: 020 8883 4463

Spitalfields market Crispin Place Spitalfields E1 6DW Phone Number: 020 3116 2000

Behind the Royal Festival Hall Riverside Level 1 London SE1 8XX Phone Number: 020 7928 2004