Giraffe say they aim to create a friendly welcoming restaurant where guests can explore world food while enjoying a selection of exciting international music. They deliver on all counts and there really is something here for everyone.

The Venue
Giraffe can be found at the end of George Street opposite the bus station and, unlike many of Oxford eateries, car parking is available at the large car park on Park End Street.

Its location is central but possibly suffers because prospective diners have walked past several other restaurants on the way. There's a large number of pubs, clubs and attractions within a five-minute walk which makes Giraffe a great place to start or end your evening.

The restuarant is decked out in a welcoming orange earth tone colour scheme with simple design features that give it a modern look and feel. The front section is open plan with tables for smaller parties but there are several cosy looking booths which would be ideal for larger groups.

The People
Inside, the trendy but welcoming vibe continues. You'll find all sorts of people enjoying a relaxed meal or after work drink. Children are welcome and the early evening tends to be more family orientated with birthday parties and family get-togethers.

As the evening progresses you'll see groups occupying the booths at the back and couples or friends enjoying a meal together. Staff are attentive, friendly and efficient without being too smothering. they know their job well and can help you to choose from their varied menu while recommending the specials with confidence.

The world music adds a pleasant backdrop and a really welcome change to the droning muzac that's thrust upon you in some other establishments.

The Food
The menu is extensive yet manageable and offers dishes from Japan, Mexico, Thailand and Italy to name a few. Starters are around £5 and include chicken potstickers - light and crunchy fried dumplings served with a tangy soy dip. The open chicken and mango taco is worth a look - a fresh and simple salad with lightly seasoned chicken and juicy bits of mango which complement the chicken.

All starters are light and simple and set you up perfectly for the next course. Nine out of the 13 starters are suitable for vegetarians.

Main courses are also varied and creative. Prices range from £7 to £13 with the majority of dishes around £10. You can choose from baked tortilla lasagne with artichoke and ricotta or hot duck stir fry. The chicken schnitzel kiev is beautifully cooked, with moist, well seasoned chicken inside a crisp parmesan and breadcrumb crust. The only criticism of this dish is the mashed potato isn't up to scratch.

There's a great selection of salads to choose from and they're create and fresh. Sunshine powerfood salad is a mix of spicy roasted pumpkin, spinach, beetroot, edamame beans, broccoli, green beans, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts and mixed leaves. It delivers your five-a-day if nothing else!

Their range of burgers suit any taste with a fishfinger tartare burger, cajun chicken burger and of course the traditional beef burger with a range of toppings that allow you to personalise your meal. The daddy of them all is the excellent falafel deluxe burger - a barnstormer of a meal stuffed with grilled peppers, hummus, beetroot, rocket, halloumi, tzatziki and harissa. If this doesn't make a significant dent in your appetite, nothing will! Whatever you choose, be sure to sample the range of hot sauces.

Even if you're full, you'll be tempted a dessert menu designed for the hardcore pudding fan. Chocolate chunk brownie, steamed sponge pudding and pineapple and passionfruit salad are difficult to resist, but the roasted banana waffle split is almost impossible to ignore. Roasted bananas coated in cinnamon and sugar are served on a freshly made waffle and covered with lashings of organic ice cream and chocolate sauce.

The Swiss mountain chocolate cheesecake is a particular highlight for the chocolate lover. It's milk and white chocolate cheesecake served in a lake of chocolate sauce with large chunks of Swiss chocolate on the top. All desserts are around the £5 mark.

And if you can't make it for dinner Giraffe also offers a breakfast/brunch menu. Choose from stacks of mouthwatering pancakes, bacon and eggs or even the full Mexican breakfast of eggs, chorizo, black beans, cheese, adobe-style tomato sauce, avocado and tomato salsa on warm tortilla.

The Drink
The wine list is just as international and extensive as the main menu with no less than 10 different countries vying for your attention. It's a well thought out wine list and there's something for everyone with new and old world wineries well represented.

A particular highlight is the Spy Valley Sauvignon, a crisp fusion of passionfruit, gooseberry and melon which goes very well with many of the chicken and vegetarian dishes. You'll even find some pudding wines to enjoy with the sweeter desserts.

Something that really stands out is that 19 of the 20 wines are available by the glass, a thoughtful touch that encourages you to try something different.

There's also a fab range of cocktails which cost around £5 and include familiar classics and some more creative choices such as a Pomegranite Caiparinha. To make the most of the list, head to Giraffe's happy hour from 5pm-7pm, Monday-Thursday. The usual selection of soft drinks is extended by some healthy smoothies and their coffee is uncommonly good.

The Last Word
Giraffe is by no means haute cuisine, but it doesn't try to be. This is a fresh and exciting eatery with crisp clean flavours and fresh ingredients. Its intriguingly creative menu and great atmosphere ensure that Giraffe stands head and shoulders above the competition and is well worth a visit.

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