Duck and Waffle, Heron Tower – Restaurant Review

Duck and Waffle – strange name, top restaurant – literally. Opened just two months ago, it has quickly cemented itself as a firm favourite amongst London foodies following a social media storm.

Duck and Waffle is located on the 40th floor of Heron Tower, just upstairs from Sushi Samba, one of London’s latest fusion restaurants. Sufferers from vertigo beware – it’s a long way up. The last time I have been up so high was the Eureka Tower observation deck in Melbourne. Upon entering the glass elevator, we were transported towards the sky at the speed of light. I felt like Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory but fortunately for us, the elevator didn’t burst out of the top of the building.

I was literally gob smacked by the view. Three hundred and sixty degree views stretched as far as I could see over our glittering city making the usually imposing Gherkin look like its much smaller brother.

The venue itself has a hip modern atmosphere with a clientele to match. It has a cool, lively vibe yet it isn’t pretentious. The spacious surrounds and design make the dining experience feel private and the acoustics are great.

The service was impeccable. Friendly, polite and very keen to please. Our waiter was knowledgeable and even took the time to explain the menu, encouraging a shared experience through its tapas-style menu. The menu itself has a playful twist, head chef Daniel Doherty has definitely had fun inventing this.

The yellowfin tuna was served raw and topped with watermelon and a balsamic glaze (£7). All elements of the dish worked well and the balsamic glaze with fresh basil topped it off perfectly.

The rabbit rillettes were served with a combination of berry chutney and pistachio. The dish had a great texture particularly the rabbit and the chutney gave it the touch of sweetness that it needed. The sourdough was slightly toasted and served at room temperature.

The bbq-spiced crispy pig ears ( £4) were a deliciously naughty snack. Presented in a brown paper bag , they were crispy, slightly chewy and perfectly seasoned. Something tasting this good couldn’t be good for you. My only complaint was the timing. Since it was on the snack menu I would have expected it to arrive first. However this didn’t stop us eating them all.

Next came the bacon wrapped dates with linguiça sausage and dandelion salad (£7).  The contrasting flavours of the sweet sticky dates with the crispy smoky bacon were a pleasure to the palate. This was definitely one of my favourite dishes of the night.

The spiced herdwick lamb cutlets (£12), cooked medium rare had a great depth of flavour and were cooked perfectly. Being a big fan of Baba Ghanouj, I loved the tanginess and rich flavour of the smoked aubergine sauce.

I couldn’t go home without trying the signature dish – the duck and waffle of course. If the thought of a crispy leg confit of duck, fried duck egg and mustard maple syrup served on a waffle isn’t enough to make your stomach turn, the lift plummet on the way down may. Despite this, the elements of this dish worked surprisingly well and left me craving more. The duck was well cooked and had a crispy outer skin which worked with the sweetness of the maple syrup. The dish may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it. Reminded me of a Canadian breakfast with wings.

For the location and unparalleled views Duck and Waffle is great value for money. The only downside is the price of wine, starting from £6.50 a glass and £30 a bottle.

Post dinner cocktails can be had in the glittering ‘inside out’ bar. I quite like this concept. The absence of a bar top makes you feel remarkably close to the action.

Dining at Duck and Waffle was overall a truly unique dining experience. It’s nice to see a good quality restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously and has fun with its menu.  Will definitely be back.

The Damage?

Approximately 80 pounds for 5 dishes to share and 3 glasses of wine.

Food: 9/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Service : 9/10

Bookings recommended. Open 24/7

www.duckandwaffle.com