Duck & Waffle Local to launch at St James's Market
A new fast casual Duck & Waffle is set to open in London's new St James's Market development in May.
A more informal offshoot of the 24-hour Duck & Waffle restaurant on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, the new 120-cover restaurant will focus on duck dishes.
Like its parent brand, it will emphasise local, rustic, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, but with a more accessible, speedier and cost-friendly format where guests can order at the counter before being shown to a table, or opt for takeaway service by collection.
The restaurant will also be overseen by Duck & Waffle's chef director Dan Doherty, with current Duck & Waffle chef James Gould as head chef. New menu items include the duck burger with crispy duck leg, and a duck jam doughnut. The original duck and waffle will also be on the menu, as well as signature Duck & Waffle dishes BBQ spiced and seasoned crackling pig's ears, and the Full Elvis, a peanut butter and jelly ‘buttered' waffle with vanilla cream, peanut brittle, fresh berries and caramelised banana.
Accompanying the ‘duck centric' menu will be fresh and seasonal vegetables such as grilled sprouting broccoli with chilli, garlic, lemon and almonds, or baby spinach with peas, avocado, grains and seeds.
Doherty said: "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, whilst being as accessible as possible. Whereas duck is a core part of our offering, I feel vegetables are just as important so we will have the other half of our menu based around the best the seasons have to offer us."
Situated on the corner of Haymarket and Piccadilly and designed by O1 Creative, the interior will take inspiration from farm-to-table dining, merging polished concrete flooring and timber fittings with contemporary sculpture and handmade bespoke glazed tiling. The curved corrugated metal ceiling and red open kitchen offer a nod to Duck & Waffle while farm machinery hangs overhead.
The site will also offer a range of unique on-tap cocktails and local brews such as the Holy Duck IPA and Local Lager, in addition to a wine list.
Shimon Bokovza, founder and managing partner of Duck & Waffle, said: "We've served over one million guests and almost half a million Duck & Waffle dishes since opening in July 2012. We are now harnessing the energy of the brand and bringing it to the street in a more casual atmosphere that works for those who want the same high quality food and drink they are used to from Duck & Waffle - but want it to be quick and accessible."
Head of spirit and cocktail development Rich Woods added: "This new ‘Local' concept will see the same core structure adapted in the style of ingredient-led, iconoclastic serves, engineered in a faster yet still casual environment, sometimes through a tap, other times through a pre-prepared ready to serve cocktail bottle."
Chef profile: Dan Doherty, Duck & Waffle >>
Chef's Revelations: Dan Doherty, head chef, Duck & Waffle >>
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