London – Duck and Waffle

This was definitely more of an expedition than a casual meal. When my friend told me she was making a flying visit back to London from a year-abroad in Paris, getting a table at the Duck and Waffle, (which has a recommended 2-month booking time), was like a scene from Mission Impossible. (Although obviously a scene that was far too dull and so was cut). After some frantic searching we succeeded in getting a table at 10.15pm. Right…. A two-supper evening it would have to be.

We stepped out of the lift into its sister restaurant, Sushisamba, a razzmatazz of colour that was reminiscent of an Austin Powers party where everyone seemed to know each other. We swiftly scooted up the stairs by the bar into the far more sedate world of the Duck and Waffle.

When we told the waiter our order he gently tried to tell us that the Duck and Waffle was a ‘sharing’ kind of a restaurant, so perhaps we would like to share some of these dishes, as opposed to having one each…? We had just been discussing how ONLY with Chinese food is it ok to share, and possibly Indian, although that is still in contention. So at this suggestion we inwardly laughed, no, we scoffed, and politely declined. Yet we were fools.

 What arrived when the ‘spicy ox cheek doughnut’ came were two of the largest and most alarmingly sized doughnuts I had ever seen in my life. Although fun to try, the amount of dough was huge and the ox-cheek in the middle was very non-descript. So, a word to the wise, if they recommend you to share a dish, just share it, you’re not big enough to do it alone.

The absolute highlight of the meal was the signature dish, ‘Duck and Waffle’, which is a confit duck leg on a waffle with a duck egg and mustard maple syrup. Oh my, it was good. However, to be honest, I would probably only go back for that, and the views.

It’s definitely an experience, and it’s open 24 hours, so next time you feel like having a night out in two-months time, and just know that you’ll fancy a duck dish at exactly 2 in the morning, well then, give it a book! I mean, what could be easier…?

However, for me, next time it’s Sushisamba.

J