KEEPING everyone sweet during a family shopping trip is a difficult task at the best of times.

If you’re intent on sticking together then it can involve much negotiation (an expensive business when you have teenage children) and long spells where at least one member of the party’s boredom threshold depends entirely on the strength of the 4G signal.

This familiar tale played out when my wife, son, daughter and I visited the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet recently. The renovated Great Western Railway Works provide a fantastic backdrop and there’s always a bargain or two to catch your eye. The mood relatively harmonious in truth, but our collective hunger was about the only thing upon which we were all agreed.

As the finish line slowly made its way into view after a couple of hours of retail ‘therapy’, so did Giraffe. The restaurant is not exactly hard to spot as a 10ft replica of the world’s tallest mammal stands proudly outside.

The BRG-owned chain's mission to share recipes from across the world promises a menu that has something for everyone. It seemed like the perfect place to silence our growling stomachs, and nobody needed to take the bribe of a new Superdry top or stationary from Neon Sheep to set foot through the door.

We didn’t have to wait to be seated. The restaurant was quiet by the time we visited at 6pm, with the shops closing an hour later and visitors making their way home the centre to enjoy what was left of a warm and sunny day outside. The number of tables both inside the restaurant and out suggest it is likely to be a lot busier at lunchtime, particularly given the opening times of the venue and the number of day-trippers it attracts.

Choosing what to have required plenty of deliberation (we'd been given plenty of practice, after all). In keeping with the restaurant's surroundings there are good deals to be had amid a diverse offering that ticks boxes for fussy and adventurous eaters alike.

The set menu provides more bang for your buck and is a good way of keeping the cost down if you’ve indulged a little too much at Jack Wills or Joules earlier in the day. Younger guests can eat for free with a full-paying adult and will also be kept happy by a safe, safari-themed play area outside.

Giraffe has a definite feelgood vibe and the staff we met were cheerful throughout our visit. My son, 15, and daughter, 14, took advantage of the happy hour with two-for-one mocktails, and we tried to expand our horizons by sharing four dishes from the global tapas selection of appetisers.

The smoky chorizo, served in a delicious sweet honey and cherry vinegar glaze, was the clear winner, but special mention goes to the very generous helping of garlic flatbread topped with rocket. Japanese offering chicken gyoza – dumplings in an orange glaze – also proved a wise choice but the two chicken tacos locos were a bit light on shredded meat.

Two of us went for Giraffe’s renowned burgers for the main course – the Classic and the Ultimate. The latter was an absolute treat – the beef was juicy, cooked to perfection and complemented by smoky bacon, mature cheddar and skin-on fries. My son went for a healthier option and devoured his katsu chicken noodles, Giraffe’s twist on a Japanese favourite, while my wife’s 8oz rump steak was tender, just as she’d asked for, and was made even better by a tasty peppercorn sauce.

Four clean plates told their own story yet we were still swayed by the tempting dessert options. A salted caramel sundae, chocolate brownie, Spanish churros served in an orange zest and Whoopie Cookie (biscuit ice cream sandwiched between chocolate cookies) rounded things off in style.

The bill, including drinks, came to £102.80. I felt that was decent value but was surprised to see 10 per cent gratuity had already been added when presented with the bill. Call me old-fashioned if you like but I’d always prefer the onus to be on the customer to make that call.

That the friendly and efficient service merited a such tip isn’t in question, though.

We’d enjoyed quality family time in a relaxed atmosphere – and discovered that finding common ground in a shopping centre isn’t such a tall order, after all.

FACT FILE:

Giraffe, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet,

Unit 100, Kemble Drive

Swindon, SN2 2DY

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

Our rating:

Food 8/10

Service 8/10

Ambience 7/10

Trip Advisor: 4

Parking: Yes (Designer Outlet car parks)

Disabled access: Yes