Orbit Tower

The Heron Tower is the square blocky one opposite Liverpool Street Station at the Bishopsgate exit. The one with the extra mast sticking up from one corner to make it even taller. Well did you know there’s a restaurant up there that you can book and then enjoy the views from the 40th floor while eating breakfast or lunch?

The restaurant is called “Duck and Waffle”, which sounds a bit like the old noun/verb pun – “duck or grouse” seen on low beams in pubs. But Duck and Waffle is actually a menu item, and a breakfast menu item at that.

duck ‘n’ waffle : crispy duck leg confit, fried duck egg, mustard maple syrup / £13

Another item reads: smoked trotter-braised beans on toast, bacon jam, and the rest of the menu is similarly creatively themed.

The Heron Tower under construction

But the main attraction is always going to be the opportunity to take a lift up to the 40th floor and enjoy ultra high rise dining with views over the City of London. Ever since the Pst Office Tower revolving restaurant in what is now the BT tower closed, Londoners and vistors have been intrigued by the idea of sitting at a table and looking down on the city from a great height. Maybe its something to do with out evolution from tall forest-dwelling primates, or our facination with air travel and space exploration, but attaining a sufficient height to tower down over the surroundings seems to be an almost instinctive ambition.

One day there may be a restaurant at the top of the Orbit Tower, and there will be several up at the Shard next year probably, but the one you can go ahead and book right now is the Duck and Waffle resturant in the Heron Tower.

The Duck and Waffle – 110 Bishopsgate, Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY

http://duckandwaffle.com/

A new restaurant on the 40th Floor of the Heron Tower in London’s Square Mile.

I really like the idea of going there for the panoramic views but the interior also looks bright and open, and the cuisine is called “The best of British comfort food” which strikes a certain chord.