40 floors above the Thames

On my first visit to the Duck & Waffle, what impresses me straight away is seeing the building in which I work, a nice glass structure 14 floors tall, quickly shrinking and disappearing in the breath-taking panorama that you can enjoy from the lift that takes the clients to the 40th floor. We’re on the Heron Tower, one of the recent buildings that, despite the credit crunch, continue to appear here and there across the city. On the “lower” floors (38 and 39), there’s Sushi Samba, the latest branch opened by the Japanese-Brazilian group: sushi echurrasco, al fresco terrace and dizzying prices.

Last summer, the same company opened, on the 40th floor, the more accessible Duck & Waffle. A casual and friendly environment (designed by architects CetraRuddy), luminous even on cloudy days, it soon became a favourite spot both for local suits (the City’s employees), foodies and gourmets. It’s difficult to find a table without booking a few weeks in advance. Of course, the scenery alone is worth the visit: towards the East, the view ranges from the Olympic stadium to the Velodrome. Looking towards the South-East, Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers stand out. In the North-West portion, you can spot Wembley’s arch, while all around there’s the City. Even the Gherkin, close-by, seems tiny and short. The river, and further up the Eye, complete the 360° scenery. You can’t avoid being charmed.

But we’re here for the food! For breakfast, the offer is diverse and satisfies every palate. Some try the signature dish, available at every hour, Crispy leg confit on a Belgian waffle, with a nice fried duck egg and maple syrup mustard. The waiter advises to add the syrup little by little, in case you don’t like it. However, without this ingredient you can’t appreciate the completeness of a dish that on paper seems a crazy idea but in fact, when tasted, matches every ingredient and texture. If you don’t feel that brave, we recommend the Toast with scrambled eggs and fresh avocado with a nice cappuccino.

At other times (the restaurant is open 24/7) it’s best to take a leap and choose some of the dishes that the young head chef Dan Doherty prepares with ingredients as local and sustainable as possible. Dan has found in the beautiful open view kitchen of the Duck & Waffle his playground, where he can experiment with ingredients, flavours and techniques. We found the Roasted Essex beetroots, with goat curd and honey coulis truly special; the Jerusalem artichoke ravioli with Pecorino will make the less adventurous happy.

The fried doughnuts with braised and spicy ox cheek is the dish that (for better and for worse, judging by some reviewers who do not appreciate too many eccentricities in the kitchen) has the whole table talking. It’s an explosion of flavours, from the soft and sweet dough of the doughnuts to the extremely tender meat of the filling and the smoked ground spices that envelop everything – it surely is a memorable dish. A meal at the Duck & Waffle is an experience to be shared, just like the dishes: you can try, taste, smile, without forgetting in the meantime, to give a look at the scenery. Before returning with your feet back on the ground.

Duck & Waffle
Heron Tower
110 Bishopsgate,
London, United Kingdom
+44.(0)20.36407310
Menu prices
Open daily, 24/7