The Duck and Waffle is one of the most celebrated restaurants not just in London, but across the entire UK. Located near Liverpool Street Station, it once held the title of Britain's highest restaurant, though that accolade has since been claimed by Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High in Bishopsgate. It is also among the handful of restaurants in London that operate around the clock and boasts truly breathtaking views from the 40th floor of 100 Bishopsgate.
A Late-Night Visit
One visitor curious to discover what all the hype was about was well-known food blogger Gary Hanna, who shares his culinary critiques on the Gary Eats YouTube channel. For the complete experience, Gary opted to visit at 1am. But before he had even settled down for his meal, the food enthusiast faced one significant challenge: his fear of heights.
After shooting up from ground level to the 40th floor, Gary took his seat to sample the restaurant's signature offering: crispy duck with a duck egg atop a waffle, accompanied by a generous drizzle of maple syrup. He described it as an "incredibly strange combination" but was stunned to find it "actually works."
Review of the Signature Dish
Gary said: "I'm not convinced this combination is going to work, but there's only one way to find out and that's by diving in. That is an incredibly strange combination as I said, you're not going to believe it but it actually works. That waffle is a good waffle. That duck is so tender. The thing that makes it is the tenderness of the duck then the rich duck egg. As a combination I really like it. I like it here, I really like it here."
While the YouTuber relished the food, he confessed it was "an amazing experience" that he will remember "for the rest of his life." He said: "I think the food was quite good but it's all about the view. What do I think? That was an experience. That is one restaurant I will never forget for the rest of my life."
Three Words to Describe the Experience
Summarising the early hours adventure in just three words, he described it simply as "an amazing experience." He continued: "Was it amazing food? It was good. I did think it was a combination that worked."
Despite thoroughly enjoying his time at the Duck and Waffle, which first opened its doors in 2012, he did acknowledge it was somewhat overpriced. However, he argued that diners are paying "premium prices" for an experience they will cherish for a lifetime. This was evidenced by the restaurant becoming increasingly packed at 2am with guests from "all different age groups, a real cross section of people."
Other Menu Highlights
Beyond the signature dish, Gary was particularly taken with the starter (crispy duck ears) and dessert (lemon meringue tart). Gary gave the Duck and Waffle an impressive 8.5 or nine out of 10, calling it a restaurant he will "never forget."
