Ever since Duck and Waffle opened to fantastic reviews I’ve wanted to go and if it costs £30 to go up the Shard why not go eat at one of the best restaurants in London and get good views as well! So one day I finally plucked up the courage to pick up the phone and make that advance reservation; to secure a time that a sane person would eat at.

Once you ascend up on the glass elevator (like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and pass through corridor after corridor; taking you first past, oddly enough, the WC then the bar before you are greeted by the hostess and led through another corridor where finally you get to the ‘main event’, the dining room. The layout is done in a way that gives diners’ in pairs the best views. Whilst small groups’ get comfy booth seats how can you compare that with a panoramic view of London! So I’d definitely recommend coming in pairs or getting a big enough group to snag the long tables.

It would be a lie to say that my eyes weren’t already set on the Duck and Waffle but to appease the blogger in me we chose a selection of BBQ-Spiced Crispy Pig Ears, the eponymous Duck and Waffle, Roasted Octopus, Spicy Ox Cheek doughnut and the Torrejas to finish the night.

The BBQ-Spiced Crispy Pig Ears has received almost equal fanfare as the Duck and Waffle. A handful of them come in this brown paper bag with a wax, Duck and Waffle, seal. Personally I’d suggest an extra layer of paper might be necessary as the oil blotches on the paper bag were a little unappealing. The pig ears’ themselves were delightfully crisp with a layer of BBQ flavour, almost akin to opening a bag of BBQ flavoured crisps, though with a meatier taste. I would prefer these to have more of a bite though, maybe halfway towards being a jerky?

The Roasted Octopus paired with the Chorizo worked really well. The octopus tentacles were cooked just right allowing it to maintain a firm consistency without being rubbery whilst the chorizo added the earthy flavours to balance things out. This is a good choice if you’re looking for something else.

Do not share the Duck and Waffle! There are some dishes that were not made to be shared, either easily or simply because they are just too good to share, the Duck and Waffle sits in both! I could easily have eaten only this and be a happy diner. The combination of crispy confit duck leg works so well with the doughy waffle. The runny egg gives it the necessary moisture which is then picked up by the subtle sweet kick of the syrup. This is one of my favourite dishes in London!

From highs to lows. The one dish that let things down a bit was the Spicy Ox Cheek Doughnut, the filling didn’t have enough taste to warrant that amount of dough, the ox cheek meat was slightly lifeless and maybe some things just weren’t designed to be paired like ducks’ and waffles’!

Despite all that food we ploughed on with the Torrejas, possibly the heaviest of the desserts. It was a classic pairing of cinnamon and apples and who can resist ice cream on a warm dessert!

Duck and Waffle pairs two great things into one, great views and great food. Order the Duck and Waffle and you’ll have one hell of a night/lunch/dusk/dawn, whenever you decide to go. At least I know I will!

Address: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY

Telephone: 0203 640 7310

Mind The Gap:

You don’t need to! It’s open 24/7!

Reservations Recommended

duckandwaffle.com

/10

Panda ate, shot and left.