Restaurants in London - Inn the Park or Giraffe?

[abgirl]

Am meeting some old friends from university for lunch in London and am taking my 22mo DS. They have suggested the above two restaurants but neither of them have children and wondering if anyone has an opinion on which of these would be best for an excitable small boy? The Giraffe suggested is the South Bank branch. Have already ruled out Bank in Aldwych as not child friendly enough...

I think Inn the Park is nice, but I wouldn't have thought it particularly child friendly. Plus it is overpriced for what you get - teeny, tiny portions!! Giraffe is very child friendly and good size portions for reasonable prices...

Giraffe is good for children -- if you order one of the children's smoothies they come with a small plastic giraffe that kept DS happy for ages (although the legs do break off easily). Haven't been to Inn the Park.

having had an excitable 22m old myself i'm inclined to say there is only a least bad choice! any chance you could find someone to look after your little boy and have an unencumbered lunch with your friends?

abgirl, I visited a Giraffe restaurant yesterday for the first time - the South Bank as well - and it was brilliant.

V child friendly -

1. our 2 high chairs arrived straight away, clean!
2. kids were given colouring-in bits and bobs straight away
3. Kids menu wasn't 'everything-with-chips'
4. Kids foods arrived first
5. Decent adult food
6. Good service, unfazable waitress

I'd recommend you go there. The only thing I would say is book first as there were queues out the door.

Thanks for all the advice, we have decided on Giraffe. Am keen to take DS along as my friends haven't met him yet and I work full time so our weekend time together is precious.

Am not sure you can book tables or if it's first come, first served - can anyone advise?

I think that last time we went they asked if we had booked, which implies that you can. I wouldn't swear to it, though.

abgirl, we booked. Have a good time x.