Duck & Waffle Local could expand if successful
The first Duck & Waffle Local will launch at London’s St James’s Market this May after two years in development.
Dan Doherty, chef director at Duck & Waffle, told BigHospitality that he hoped ‘a few more’ restaurants could open if the brand’s first foray in to the fast-casual space was popular.
“There’s never going to be more than a couple of [high-end] Duck & Waffle’s in the world, maybe a few others in different cities, but we hope there will be a few more Duck & Waffle Local’s,” says Doherty.
“If the first Duck & Waffle Local is absolutely rammed then it means we’ll be doing a few others, but it all depends on how it’s received.”
Duck & Waffle Local will be the first fast-casual restaurant with a duck-focused menu, with snacks such as duck hearts and gizzards, and what Doherty describes as an ‘epic’ duck burger.
Diners at the 120-cover restaurant will order at a counter based in an open kitchen and watch chefs create their food.
“It’s about making duck more accessible, fun and creative,” says Doherty.
“Generally speaking the two perceptions of duck are Chinese duck and Duck à l'orange, so we’re trying to do something more interesting.”
The original Duck & Waffle opened on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate in the summer of 2012.
It is the brainchild of Doherty and Shimon Bokovza, owner of the Sushisamba restaurant brand.
Watch out for the full interview with Dan Doherty in next month’s edition of Restaurant Magazine.
