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Giraffe

4.0 (1 review)
ModerateSpanish, British, Mexican
Closed 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

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Baja

Baja

(2 reviews)

££

It's clean was my first impression. Now let me say I have given up in finding true Mexican food in…read morethe UK, so I was skeptical. And it's not true Mexican that I am use to back in the states and that is not a bad thing. The food is what I would call Mexican inspired food and done really well. The lamb taco was more like a small burrito. The enchiladas was also more like a burrito. Now both were done real well I thought the lamb tasted better. The bar area was nice and trendy. Overall a very good experience. Oh the "hot wing" the non fired ones was really really good.

Bedford has always been missing something when it comes to restaurant choice. Foregoing the obvious…read moreomissions of chains such as Ask or Cafe Rouge, there has been one giant missing piece which my taste buds have not thanks me for since moving to the town; the lack of a Mexican restaurant. Whilst many may not agree with me that Mexican food is some of the tastiest, loveliest, most homely cuisine you can honour your tongue with, I happen to absolutely love it. So as soon as I saw the sign, I was in like a shot to make a reservation (definitely something to consider if you want to go at peak times). Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment though. When you've been waiting for and wanting something for a long time, in the end it's more than likely to disappoint. So it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I entered Baja yesterday evening ready, as ever an Englishman tends to be, for disappointment. What I got was an explosion of spice, flavour and a sense that I'd been returning to this place again and again. I'd just found the best food in Bedford by quite some way. The restaurant itself is clean and modern, with just the right amount of colour to set the scene. A combination of tables and booths overlook, well not too much to be honest. The view outside wasn't spectacular (just some empty shops), but the view on my table turned out to be more than adequate. (As an aside, the bar at the back of the restaurant does have a better outlook, with the Castle Mound and river just in sight). I started with a bowl of Breaded Calamari and Tentacles, which was not only delicious, but also came in a portion that could feed a family of four. I'm definitely not complaining though; the squid was a perfect texture and the breadcrumbs gave a satisfying crunch. Spot on. There was the risk that after such a humongous starter, there wouldn't be any room left for the main course. That was until it made its heavenly appearance on the table in front of me. My Enchilada was stuffed with chicken, Mexican rice and beans, and sat on a bed of passata. Topped off with melted Monterey Jack cheese, salsa and crema, it practically melted in the mouth. There was a hint of coriander running through the dish, which set the whole thing off for me. As my Mexican-loving eyes are probably too big for my belly, I also chose Frijoles as a side. Black, pinto and kidney beans, refried and topped with crema and melted cheese. They were truly stunning. I could have happily sat and had a couple of those as a meal on their own. My dining companions' food was also very well received. In particular, the Big Baja Salad was a definite hit, coming in its own huge edible tortilla bowl and with more lamb than any one person would dare to eat in one sitting (again, not a complaint). Desert was a big no as we were all completely stuffed from the wonderful food, though next time I'll try and save enough room to sample a Sweet Chimichanga. The only real disappointment was with our cocktail. Our mojitos tasted of not much other than rum and definitely needed more than the single leaf of mint that had been put in the glass. But that's not really much of a complaint, when the meal itself was so well prepared. I made a point of saying before the meal arrived that I hoped I would finally find a restaurant in Bedford that I would want to return to frequently. I found it.

Torino Lounge - Matador Burger with sweet potato fries

Torino Lounge

(1 review)

I was initially hesitant to visit, but my husband and I met a friend there, and am I ever glad I…read morewent! The decor was phenomenal. Absolutely unique, and made one feel happy for some reason. The ambiance was perfect, the menu was hilarious, and there were board games and books to take advantage of, The service was absolutely phenomenal. The guy behind the counter was friendly, helpful, funny, and made our eating experience better for his serving us. The food was fantastic! We had some tapas, a chicken and avocado salad (and when I asked to substitute steak for the chicken and pay for the difference, it was done), and a Matador burger, all with drinks and dessert. The drinks were delicious, refreshing, and well thought out, the salad was perfect (though admittedly a bit on the small side for the price), the tapas were wiped-clean in a matter of 30 minutes, and the Matador Burger, though nothing to write home about, was filling and yummy. We did pay extra for the sweet potato fries, and were a bit disappointed by the amount of fries that extra $1.25 will get you, but with drinks and dessert it ended up a blessing in disguise. The sticky toffee sundae was something I wish I could eat every day of my life, and the churros (accompanied by two dipping sauces) were surprisingly good! (Being a Californian I have pretty high expectations of Mexican foods, expectations that Britain has managed to almost thoroughly crush, so these were a pleasant surprise). We look forward to coming back for breakfast and board games!

Pachanga - Girls enjoying fab Mexican food

Pachanga

(3 reviews)

As we are visiting from outside the area we arrived at 6pm on Friday evening and hadn't booked…read more Received a luke warm welcome from the foh manager and showed to a table by the front door. It seemed we were really a nuisance to them! Drinks were sent back as at £8.95 for a cocktail i expected something very much better, no ice, luke warm and little flavour despite pre- ordering spicy! Replacement brought with a huff! Plates for starters were dirty, olives fermenting and wings just ok. Mains were better but lettuce, cheese and add ons for fajitas arrived well before the food and got warm and were small and uninteresting. Mains were ok but the bill was extortionate for the quality. Wouldn't go back far better restaurants in town with much better front of house service.

In a town that has a dearth of good dining options I am so glad this Mexican restaurant is now on…read morethe scene. Pachangas offers truly authentic Mexican cuisine with imaginative recipes and great ingredients. A long fully loaded cocktail bar offers a large range of large and strong cocktails all made by hand to order. Kali the barman was great and clearly had a passion for what he was doing. Carlos the owner has been in the trade for several decades and his latest offering is a must try. If you like real Mexican food you will love this. I have lived and travelled extensively in Central America and this is as good as you will find in the UK. The restaurant although rather dull from the outside is wonderfully bright using some vibrant Mexican colours for the decor. Great up tempo music and clever lighting make a great ambience. Ely from South America served us and she was very smiley efficient and helpful. We ordered the Calamari to start which was tender and superbly presented. The pulled pork main was a highlight. A table next to us order the ribs and a huge rib-steak so there are a few dishes for those who don't want to do the full Mexican thing. A must is the fried planton as a side. If you want even hotter spicy food + ask Carlos he can really ramp it up or alternatively tone it down if you are the boiled cabbage variety. A nice touch they use corn flour rather than wheat flour so much of the menu is GF. For smokers there is an outside dining area. There is also ample public parking right behind the restaurant. Book at weekends as it is usually full! In summary vibrant, authentic, owner driven with a South American chef team, prices reflect quality of produce and authenticity of recipes.

Giraffe - spanish - Updated May 2026

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