The Giggling Squid

I needed a restaurant to visit for a celebratory meal with my boyfriend. With this in mind we didn't want to go to our normal favourites, Pizza Express or Zizzi's. We wanted somewhere relatively fancy but a place that wouldn't break the bank. 'The Giggling Squid' had recently opened nearby but I hadn't had the opportunity to go, this was the perfect chance.

Upon arriving we were greeted by friendly staff and were seated very quickly, although the group in front of us seemed to have a problem with a large booking being forgotten. The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely; the cosy lighting, laughter and chatter filled the building but it wasn't crowded. You could be perfectly separate from everyone.

We spent a lot of time hovering over what to choose. I was really torn but eventually I selected 'Thai Duck Spring Rolls' to start and the 'Salt and Pepper Squid' with a portion of sticky rice as my main meal. I tend to stick to what I know at restaurants but these were two of my favourite dishes anyway! The drinks came very quickly, the service was very sharp and attentive but friendly. You're also constantly being provided with free refills of tap water which is great, particularly if you're being impressive and ordering something incredibly spicy. My starter was lovely, it was so flavoursome and delicious. The portion was very generous as well which made it incredible value for money. Now, for the main course. I've had this dish at several restaurants before and in the honest truth I can admit this was the best I'd ever had. This is listed as a starter on the menu but as I ordered it as my main course I think I was generously given a few more pieces than normal. The combination of the chilli's and spring onions gave a spicy but not overwhelming taste, the addition of this to the crispy texture of the fried squid gave the most exquisite meal possible. It was honestly one of the best Thai meals I've experienced.

The bill at the end of the night was reasonable. For two drinks, two starters and two main meals the price came to around £44, a service charge is also added on. But for the quality of the food, the delightful and welcoming atmosphere and the very friendly staff made it worth every penny. I will definitely return to 'The Giggling Squid' at some point, and maybe even try something I'm not familiar with! I couldn't recommend this restaurant enough.

Find the phone number and menus on the website:
http://www.gigglingsquid.com/