Duck & Waffle London, a review.

A Quick Overview

Cuisine: Modern British

Price: £££

Location: 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY

Food: Luxurious, shareable, classic

Vibes/Aesthetic: Modern, expensive, buzzing glass high-rise with great views

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Duck & Waffle - London Restaurant Tour

Visited: 20/01/2024

Situated on the 40th floor of a central London high rise, Duck & Waffle presents a mostly classic menu in a vibrant atmosphere with an open kitchen. As you ascend, your ears pop, setting the stage for the panoramic views that await. Pro tip: Opt for a party of two for a better chance at securing a coveted window seat.

The restaurants interior embraces a dimly lit ambiance, evoking a bar or club vibe, with dots of neon lighting. But seating in the central area of the restaurant feels rather snug.

Our experience kicked off with the attentive service of a waitress, who happily explained the sharing concept, offered recommendations, and ensured our water glasses remained full - so a kudos on the customer service! For drinks, I sampled the "booze-free waffle" mocktail, it was refreshingly cold but it was very sweet and a tad pricey given you could finish the drink in approximately three gulps.

The initial courses arrived promptly, featuring rosemary garlic bread and nduja and gruyere bread. Both were just okay, with the former carrying a slightly burnt taste.

Moving on to the main sharing plates - the namesake Duck and Waffles, French fries, and mac 'n' cheese all delivered. The duck was tender, and the egg perfectly runny. With the maple syrup complementing the savouriness of the duck for a tasty salty-sweet experience. The fries were crisp and well-seasoned and the mac 'n' cheese was creamy, though it could have used a more pronounced cheese flavour.

The true star emerged in the second act with the arrival of the whole corn-fed chicken with wild mushrooms, truffle and potatoes. Served in a distinctive Le Creuset red baking tray, the well-seasoned, juicy chicken stole the show. Enhanced by generous truffle slices in the wild mushroom sauce, it left our table craving more.

For dessert I had the the Torrejas, a Mexican French toast with cinnamon ice cream, that leaned towards overly sweet and stodgy. The apples were well-cooked and the ice cream was nice and smooth but the cinnamon could have been more pronounced. The salted caramel tart was luscious with a good depth in the caramel and a crisp pastry.

In conclusion, Duck & Waffle offers a rather pleasant dining experience with great views. The unsung hero remains the whole roasted chicken, while the namesake duck and waffles and the salted caramel tart were also good. However, considering the price point, there are other establishments that offer more food wise so you really are coming for the view.

6.6/10