Words Helen Brown
THE CONCEPT
Duck & Waffle Local is the latest offering from London super-chef Dan Doherty and his team. This casual offshoot of the iconic 24-hour, sky high eatery eludes the energy of the original. This time they’ve taken to the streets, still placing the mighty duck at its culinary core.
Duck & Waffle Local – like its parent brand – will emphasise local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Fans will be pleased to hear though that this branch follows a more accessible and budget friendly model. Here you can order at the counter before being shown to a table. Or opt for a new takeaway service by collection for time-pressed customers on the go. They welcome guests from early morning to late night with breakfast and an all-day menu.
THE FOOD
Award-winning Chef Director Dan Doherty has created a menu centred around the unsung hero of poultry: the duck. New items include The Duck Burger with crispy duck leg, and a Duck Jam Doughnut, which reimagines sweet-meets-savoury cravings. Fans will be happy see several signature Duck & Waffle dishes on Duck & Waffle Local’s menu. The Full Elvis will be available, along with the much-loved, original Duck & Waffle, of course.
Accompanying the ‘duck-centric’ menu will be fresh and seasonal vegetables such as baby spinach with peas, avocado, grains and seeds. Dan Doherty explains, “Duck is something we have always loved and we wanted to focus on even more. It’s a wonderful ingredient, and we intend to showcase all the great cuts and offal as best we can. Whereas duck is a core part of our offering, I feel vegetables are just as important. We will have the other half of our menu based on the best the seasons have to offer us.”
THE DRINKS
Duck & Waffle Local takes this same experiential approach to its bar philosophy. Award-winning spirit and cocktail connoisseur, Rich Woods continues to push beverage boundaries with a clever Taps & Tails menu. It delivers a creative range of on-tap cocktails that are nostalgic and inventive. Local brews include the Holy Duck IPA and Local Lager, in addition to a select list of wines.