On London's rooftop - breakfast at the Duck & Waffle

Spectacular way to celebrate one's 60th birthday! Breakfast at the Duck & Waffle in the new-ish Heron Tower in the City of London, erected in 2011.  Thanks to Tod's buddy, Mike, for the gift certificate!
We arrive on the 40th floor via glass lifts travelling a smashing 5 kms per hour!  The ads highlight the UK's largest privately owned aquarium holding 1200 fish, but we never see this.  What we do see is the spectacular view of London, stretching in all directions.

Street level, on Bishopsgate, a doorman greets us.  We flash our printed reservation, a requirement before we enter the private lift. Once up we join the crowd of early diners. Getting up on a Thursday for a 7:30 breakfast date seems popular.  Why is church on Sunday at 11:00 too early?  Ah, priorities of the young and those with cash to spend.



We studied the menu yesterday, sent upon request when I made the reservation -- from Duck Egg en Cocette to the "Full Elvis" Waffle, to Ox Cheek Benedict.  Sauce and sides seem to fill the items.

This morning I go for my standard order --two poached eggs on toast. We marvel at the Duck 'N' Waffles delivered to the next table (too shy to take a photo).  That, literally, involves a chunk of roasted duck perched atop a dark waffle!

Happy Husband goes all out, as it's his birthday, with the Full English Breakfast: pork & herb sausage, two organic eggs, organic Duroc bacon, grilled tomato, field mushroom, hash browns, scottish black pudding, and sourdough toast.  Baked beans are notably missing; we wonder, "Is this is a class thing?"

The presentation is plain -- I guess I expect lovely china or a flower garnish.  My two little white balls of egg nestled between two toasted white bread slices look lonely on the extra large sparkling white platter.  Perhaps they are urging me to re-think my choice and order more to fill up all that white space. Happy Husband shares a bit of his black pudding and hash browns that my eggs might look less forlorn.

We watch the morning haze burn off, and the outlines of the city sharpen. The ribbon of the Thames sparkles as it winds timeless through the urban construction, past Greenwich, past the Tower, past Whitehall, past Parliament, on to Richmond.

We probably won't return for breakfast, it's a bit crowded and loud for us, but we will return to use the rest of our gift certificate to sit in the peaceful glass atrium area and enjoy a cup of coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice while gazing out upon the spectacular city view below.   Ah, London!

Thanks Mike!