Many of us have 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 is located 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 (shock) 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.
Lunar New Year
Between February 4 and March 3, guests can indulge in a three-course dinner for £29.50, including Chinese-inspired dishes. Secret Edinburgh got the chance to try out the menu for ourselves, and yes, there are fortune cookies that are also absolutely banging. The star of the show is the Rice Pudding with poached rhubarb and honey – just what one needs on a cold winter evening. To start, guests can opt for Prawn Crackers served with crispy chilli oil, Smashed and Fermented Baby Cucumbers with chilli, or Tea-Infused Duck Eggs paired with a peanut dressing.
The mains include Crispy Duck Confit Pancakes served with cucumber, spring onions and hoisin sauce, a plant-based “Wannabe” Pancakes with crispy oyster mushrooms, tofu and traditional accompaniments and a Fillet of Sea Bass cooked with pak choi, chilli, ginger, soy and oyster sauce. There are no gluten-free options available for the mains, so the menu is not suitable for coeliacs.
You can find the full details here.
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 £29.50 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 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, Glazed Pork Belly or Mushroom & Cheddar 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 also includes dessert and is £30 per person, available every Sunday from 11:30am – 16:00pm, just before the Set Menu kicks off.
If you’re just as excited as us for Duck & Waffle Edinburgh, you can book your tables here for when it opens.