08-01-2013
The view you can enjoy from the Duck & Waffle, on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower (on the right, you can notice the famous Gherkin) in London, +44.(0)20.36407310. Invaded at every hour of day and night, the restaurant’s signature dish is the Crispy leg confit, fried duck egg and mustard maple syrup
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.
Eggs: a signature dish, at breakfast mainly
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.
An interesting cocktail menu
Duck & Waffle Heron Tower 110 Bishopsgate, London, United Kingdom +44.(0)20.36407310 Menu prices Open daily, 24/7
Reviews, recommendations and trends from the four corners of the planet, signed by all the authors of Identità Golose
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A British citizen from Naples, obsessive scuba diver, digital marketing manager Monday to Friday, foodie at any given time