Many of us have already noticed the bright red hues of the mega-famous gastro diner Duck & Waffle while walking through Leith Street. Opened in February of 2023, it was the brand’s brand’s first UK branch outside of London, so, unsurprisingly, Edinburgh was the chosen one to become a new home for Duck & Waffle.
The critically acclaimed restaurant is famous for its creative effortless take on British cuisine, with playful touches from fellow European cuisines. The venue is open until late and is not only a breakfast and brunch spot, but also a place for that post night out fill we just sometimes need. The gastro diner opened its doors on February 1 at St James Quarter on Leith Street side, and guests have been delighting in all the trendy spot has to offer.
Duck & Waffle is most known for its signature dish, which (shockingly) contains a buttermilk waffle topped with a crispy duck leg confit and fried duck egg doused in mustard maple syrup. Those of us who have visited New York City will recall of the amazing chicken and waffles dish at Sweet Chick, but duck on a waffle sounds even more delicious.
The main menu is delightfully wholesome nonetheless, with vegan, gluten-free, breakfast, brunch, all-day and late-night sections. For a filling brekkie, go for the Duck Benedict with braised duck leg, waffle and hen’s egg, topped with hollandaise and sriracha sauces.
Guests can also choose from freshly baked breads and snacks, to small and large plates such as Porcini Mushroom ravioli or a Lobster Roll with spicy Marie Rose sauce and brioche from the All Day Menu. What is more, their cocktail list is astoundingly mouth-watering: the Duck & Stormy, for example, is a true Duck & Waffle signature serve, with Bacardi Carta Negra rum, coconut, lime and ginger juice. Plus, the spot boasts a swanky outdoor terrace for guests to enjoy the warmer days, overlooking the rooftops of central Edinburgh.
The two and three-course set menu
However, Duck & Waffle has been busy introducing brand-new set menus for guests to enjoy. A chef-curated Set Menu featuring a multi-course selection of dishes for brunch, lunch, pre-theatre dining or a Sunday dinner. The option is available every Monday to Friday from 11:30am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 5pm to 11pm, costing only £23 for a two-course meal and £28 for three courses.
Guests can choose from starters like the well-balanced Atlantic Prawn Roll, or appetising mains such as the vegetarian Wanna Be Duck & Waffle with crispy tempura hen of the wood’s mushroom, fried duck egg, mustard maple syrup and a gluten-free buttermilk waffle. For dessert, go for the Cranachan Waffle with whiskey cream, raspberry sorbet and honey oats in between a gluten-free waffle.
Sunday Roast
What a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with a proper Sunday Roast. We are obsessed with Duck & Waffle’s newest menu addition, with a two-course Sunday roast available. Guests can choose between braised Ox cheek, corn-fed Chicken or Mushroom & Camembert Wellington with a choice of dessert to complete the experience. All roasts are served with spiced carrot purée, maple mustard glazed parsnips, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and lashings of gravy, culminating in a satisfying food coma. The two-course menu is £30 per person and is available every Sunday from 11:30am – 16:00pm, just before the Set Menu kicks off.
Thanksgiving at Duck & Waffle
As a cosmopolitan city, Edinburgh boasts a colourful international community. For those missing home in the US, Duck & Waffle is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on November 23, 2023 from 12pm until 10pm. For one day only, guests can enjoy a selection of Thanksgiving specials featuring Roasted Bronze Turkey with all the trimmings, Mushroom and Brie Wellington, Sweet Potatoes with marshmallows and candied pecans and of course, Bourbon Pecan Pie to finish.
Plus, groups of 8 or more will be treated to a family-style feast, which includes freshly prepared classics like Pigs in Blankets, Cheesy Polenta Croquetas, and Buttermilk Cornbread followed by a traditional full roasted bronze Turkey, or the Mushroom & Brie Wellington with all the trimmings to share.
If you’re just as excited as us for the new Duck & Waffle Edinburgh, you can book your tables here for when it opens.