New Giraffe 'Bar & Grill' format to appeal to late-night market

Giraffe is to open a new restaurant in Soho's Frith Street, designed to appeal more to the late-night market.

The new "Bar & Grill" format, in a two-storey site (previously Bertorelli's), will open on Saturday 11 June.

The company, which has traditionally been associated with family-friendly venues, said this was the latest "grown-up" addition to its estate.

The new-look Bar & Grill will offer a late licence (1am Thursday to Saturday), separate lounge bar and a private dining room/events space for up to 80 guests seated and 100 standing.

The menu has been expanded and tailored to a more adult market. New menu additions, made possible by the use of a Robata grill, include Adobo marinated sirloin steak, West Devon lamb rump and beef short ribs with soy-honey and black pepper, as well as a selection of tapas-style world skewers.

The Bar & Grill will also offer a special late-night menu serving dishes such as pimento macaroni cheese and cobb chicken sandwiches up until midnight and there is a larger wine list featuring more than 36 wines by the glass plus wine flights.

Designed by founder Russel Joffe, in collaboration with architects Wells Mackereth, the 175-cover venue has an urban and industrial feel similar to its new Bath site, using raw concrete, galvanized steel and subway tiling finishes throughout.

The trademark orange logo has been replaced with subtle backlit metal signage, announcing this is a different Giraffe from its sister restaurants, while key design features include a lighting installation using recycled pickle jars and a tall sharing table formed from a single massive slab of cedar. Bifold doors open up the bar on to the Soho street with a timber dias allowing for al fresco dining in good weather.

The Bar & Grill is the 44th site for Giraffe which includes five airport franchises and Guerilla Burgers. A further five restaurants will open by the end of 2011.

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By Neil Gerrard

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