Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: 40th Floor, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY

Telephone: +44 (0)20 3640 7310

https://www.duckandwaffle.com/

It has been a few months since I last reviewed an overseas restaurant. Readers who have followed my blog for a while will know that I was working in London when I started this blog (it was really cold and miserable in winter and there was nothing to do after work, except eat and drink!), and now I still go back to London every 1 or 2 years. You can check out my London restaurant reviews here, or my other overseas restaurant reviews here.

One restaurant that is located within walking distance from where I used to work 3 years ago is Duck & Waffle, a hip eatery which is most famous for their strangely delicious combination of duck confit served on waffle. Besides their signature dish, they are also renowned for being the highest restaurant in the UK and for being open 24/7.

The restaurant has its own dedicated glass elevator which will swiftly transport you to 40th floor of Heron Tower, as well as, as you can see, a very happy doorman.

The bar area resembles a funky, eclectic kitchen, while the main dining area, with its leather seating, marble tables and wooden panelling, is warm and inviting.

The large windows offer a stunning view of the city skyline. If you have a small party, be sure to request a window table!

The kitchen is helmed by award-winning Executive Chef Daniel Doherty, and the menu offers a selection of rustic, sharing dishes that emphasise on local, seasonal and sustainable British ingredients.

(1) We order a freshly baked N’duja sausage and Gruyère bread (£6), and it arrives within minutes. The bread is nicely hot and fluffy and the toppings are rich and flavour-packed. My only complaint is that it is a tad too salty.

(2) Next, the bacon wrapped dates (£9) arrive. The salty-sweet sensation is surprisingly tasty,  and the crispy bacon also forms a nice contrast with the soft, sticky dates. This dish, however, is also very intensely flavoured, to a point which is almost overwhelming.

(3) The bbq-spiced crispy pig ears (£5) comes in a neat brown paper bag, and are crispy and moreish. Perfect to go with cocktails!

(4) The foie gras crème brûlée (£16) is spectacular. The taste of foie gras is strong and enticing, and the crème brûlée, thick and velvety, is irresistibly delicious on the toasted brioche.

(5) You simply cannot come to this restaurant without ordering the duck & waffle (£17)! The duck leg confit has a sharp, delightful crunch, and the dish is drizzled with an attractive mustard maple syrup, which forms a provoking salty-sweet taste. This duck & waffle is certainly delectable, but admittedly there is no “magic” resulting from the combination – imagine taking a bite of half duck confit and half waffle, and this is exactly what it tastes like.

(6) For desserts, we share a vanilla baked alaska (£9), which is not our favourite. The portion is rather petite, and it is cloyingly sweet.

We enjoy the unparalleled city view from the restaurant, the keen service and the innovative, modern offerings. However, while the dishes are daring and ruthlessly creative, they are also fairly hit-and-miss, with some of them being rather overwhelming on the palate. If you haven’t been to the restaurant before, I would certainly recommend coming here for a special occasion or just to try it out, but I am not sure if I will come here regularly for the food!