If like me you had never heard of the Giggling Squid in Harrogate before, perhaps it is time to discover Harrogate’s new restaurant. The name can be deceiving though as the menu includes curries and beef dishes besides food that has come from the sea.
The Giggling Squid
The Thai-based restaurant is situated in the former premises of another restaurant, though the makeover they have given to the Giggling Squid is impressive: the lime green decor with flowers and arches creates a relaxing and calm atmosphere.
I was surprised to discover that by 6pm on a Monday evening the restaurant was practically full, though I was not sure if our fellow diners were repeat visitors or just curious to discover Harrogate’s newest restaurant.
With so much competition in the town a restaurant has to be exceptionally good and offer something different – the Giggling Squid scores on both counts.
Delicious food
The prices are not that cheap, but the quality of food and service was excellent. My partner decided on the ‘golden money bags’ as a starter, priced at £6.99. Crispy pastry parcels of Thai spiced chicken, herbs and vegetables served with homemade sweet chilli sauce. They must have been good: “I would come back here just for the starters, they were that moorish” was her verdict.
My chicken satay priced at £6.99 were tasty too, though at that price I would have expected five chicken skewers than the three that were served. My main of a chicken massaman curry had a unique flavour which was a combination of coconut milk, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and cashew nuts. The £12.25 price tag might not be ideal for many a wallet, though as a special treat it would be a good choice.
My partner went for the turmeric sea bass served in a banana leaf parcel from the summer specials menu. Now that was different! The robust flavours of turmeric and Thai spices gave the dish an extra kick. Served with a stir fry of broccoli, sweetheart cabbage and Thai shallots the price tag of £15.50 seemed reasonable for this particular meal, compared to what you would pay for something similar in other restaurants in Harrogate.
The dessert menu is not too extensive with only four choices along with four ice cream and sorbet options. My jasmine and toasted rice cream might sound an unusual combination, but surprisingly it worked well. The ice cream though was a little too watery for me and could have worked better had it been more creamy.
My partner chose the caramelised mango cake, served warm with vanilla ice cream it tasted far better than my dessert, so much so that I wished I had made the same choice!
A restaurant for Harrogate to be proud of
Like all restaurants these days the drinks menu at the Giggling Squid is impressive with a range of cocktails, wines, spirits and soft drinks.
Harrogate has a new restaurant to be proud of and is somewhere we would visit again.
Giggling Squid, 1–2 John Street, Harrogate HG1 1JZ
