Thursday, February 14, 2013

Eats : UK : England : London : Duck & Waffle

Eats : UK : England : London : Duck & Waffle

About Duck & Waffle
Duck & Waffle. It sounds like a pub name, but this new London eatery couldn't be further from either your traditional local beer-carpeted boozer or the lingering fresh paint-scent of the gastropubs that now litter the capital. This is a fairly literal statement, as distance-wise Duck & Waffle sits 40 stories above Liverpool Street's other examples of noun-coupled establishments.

The exhilarating pace with which you are whisked vertically upwards in a lift to reach its entrance atop the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate certainly lifts your stomach.  However, with such an epic view of London, it rather feels that your abdomen is performing a delighted skip than a terrified lurch. This introduction to your meal sets the bar fairly high (pun intended), but unlike so many rooftop restaurants in London, Duck & Waffle's floor number isn't reflected in the food prices - the menu is refreshingly affordable.

The signature dish here is of course the duck and waffle - a confit duck leg sandwiched between a fresh waffle and a fried duck egg, drizzled with mustard maple syrup. Other menu delights came in the form of scallops with apple and black truffle, octopus with chorizo, beetroot covered with caramel honey and pigs ears. The wine list is also excellent - the recommended Pinot Noir was the perfect accompaniment to the symphony of sticky salty textures on offer.

In short, Duck & Waffle, (both the dish and the establishment), is lip-smackingly eye-rollingly, hand-claspingly yummy. You won't go hungry, but definitely only go if you're very hungry indeed.  It is perhaps advisable to climb the 40 floors prior to dining in order to work off the menu's culinary treats in advance. Eating here is a little like consuming an enormous glazed doughnut - you feel wonderful and naughty, which is all tremendous fun when you're at such dizzy heights anyway.

Duck & Waffle Review By SBhatt87 : Ruislip, United Kingdom
The lift up to the floor where D&W is is exciting in itself. Being transported above the London sky line in a glass facing elevator is wonderful. 

The bar itself is very modern and hip, cocktails are trendy and expensive. My friends one with marrow bone was ok, nothing special. I asked for a mocktail as I was driving, and the waiter made one with a citrus focus, which was lovely. Very good service indeed. 

We were taken to our table into the main dining area- and the views are magnificent. It is wonderful for a first date. 

Service was less so. The restaurant seems to be waited on by people that think they're too cool to be there. No taking of jackets, continuous asking of where the food is or where drinks are. Seemed a bit lack luster compared to the bar where service was incredibly high. 

Starters:
BBQ Pigs Ears (8/10- Delicious, could easily have done another bag. I wish it was a little bit crispier)
Spicy Ox Cheek Doughnut- (6/10- Too much doughnut and not enough Ox Cheek. For £8, was a bit disappointing)

Mains:
Duck and Waffle (9/10- A wonderful mix of flavours. Needed more syrup- but otherwise, I licked the plate clean. Ingenious and delicious).

Overall, great experience. Great food and great location. If I could, I would give it a 4.5 due to the poor service in the restaurant, but as I can't, it was more of a 5 than a 4!

Visited January 2013


Contact Duck & Waffle
Address 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY London, United Kingdom | Phone +44 20 3640 7310 

Contact Vogue 


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