Giggling Squid - York

We had lunch today to celebrate my birthday! It’s a beautifully decorated restaurant and has a welcoming feel! We have been to the Harrogate one, so know what to expect in terms of food! We like to have the lunch set where you can a bit of different things. Our server Pear was friendly and attentive! The food and drinks came in good time and everything tasted fresh!! I was given a birthday card at the end which was a very nice gesture!! We will definitely return again!!

We visited Giggling Squid for the first time and enjoyed a wonderful 3 course meal with cocktails on a Saturday evening in January. We were warmly greeted by a friendly gent on arrival and promptly seated. Enrica was our waitress for the evening and was the most attentive, friendly and chatty yet equally professional. With careers in luxury hospitality we were both incredibly impressed by the impeccable level of service. We felt very well looked after; orders were taken in a timely fashion, courses were well spaced out, drinks were offered efficiently, feedback was sought and each of the courses and cocktails were absolutely incredible; The Caramelised Pork Belly, the Golden Money Bags, the Samui Seafood, the Marinated Steak and the Chocolate pudding! The restaurant (and loos too!) are beautifully decorated. Each staff member we encountered were smiley, accommodating and polite. We had booked a later table but at no point felt rushed…in fact we were keen to leave (when we realised we were the last table) yet made to feel so comfortable and recommended to try the desserts & another cocktail-so we did! The team genuinely seemed happy in their work which really enhanced the overall experience and Enrica is a true diamond! Thank you

We were served by Nisch, who was friendly and attentive throughout our visit 💙💙 The food was outstanding, full of flavour and beautifully presented. The atmosphere really stood out too. The whole interior is lovely and stunning, so much so that even the toilet looks gorgeous! Our desserts took a little longer to arrive, but everything else was served promptly, and the service remained excellent. Given how delicious everything was, the short wait was absolutely worth it. A true hidden gem in York, very highly recommended. We’ll definitely be coming back!

I’ve been to this restaurant in York three times now: twice for dinner (including one pre-theatre early dinner) and once for lunch. Their customer service training is impressive - always very welcoming - though, depending on your server, the experience can occasionally feel less genuine than at some independent restaurants. The interior is beautifully decorated, full of pink and pastel colours with a sweet, almost sugary feel. To me, I prefer their lunch set menu, which features soupy noodles not available at dinner. The royal set is a highlight, as you can sample four different dishes at once - ideal for a, smaller eater like me who prefers trying a variety of flavours over having a large portion of just one. During a dinner visit I tried the Pad Thai, but found it a bit too oily for my taste. It’s worth mentioning that the company’s owner genuinely strives to bring the brand to different locations, with strong intentions to maintain quality control in both the physical restaurant experience and the customer service. That care and ambition can be felt in much of the attention to detail across their venues.

Wow! I’ve been wanting to try since it opened and we finally got here to celebrate my birthday. We received a warm welcome and were seated under the lovely birdcage canopy, just where my little boy hoped we would be when he clocked it on arrival! We had an amazing waitress, Pear, whonwas so tentative and excellent with my little boy. He said she was such a lovely lady 🥰 Taking some heat out of a dish was no trouble for the chef and all of our food was delicious. Nothing was too much trouble, I had even been left a birthday card on the table, which was a lovely gesture. Hands down the best service we’ve received in a long time. Can’t wait to return.