π€ A Long, Long Wait β But Was It Worth It in the End? π€
Itβs been a decade since the first Duck & Rice opened on Berwick Street in Soho, introducing a bold concept: blending a classic British pub with authentic Cantonese cuisine. The brainchild of Alan Yau, founder of Wagamama, it promised a unique dining experience β complete with shared tables and a lively, communal vibe. ππ» Fast forward to now, and weβve been eagerly anticipating the second branch, located in the stunning Turbine Hall at Battersea Power Station. Originally scheduled to open early this year, its launch faced delay after delay. A soft opening was set for late June β only to be canceled just two days before. Then, our reservation for the third day was also canceled due to issues with kitchen equipment. ποΈπ« Finally, later that week, the doors opened β and we joined a lunch service, hopeful and hungry. But the waiting wasnβt over yetβ¦ We ordered: Crispy Duck Rice Pot for two π¦π Venison Puff as a starter π₯ Pork & Prawn Dumplings π₯ Only the venison puff and dumplings arrived with one portion of the rice pot β the second portion came much later. To add to the confusion, we ordered a glass of Prosecco but were served a full bottle! π₯π Despite these early hiccups, letβs talk about the star: the Crispy Duck Rice Pot. The duck was tender and flavorful, served with beautifully crisped skin and slices of meat, along with a piece of bone-in duck for extra richness. That clay pot, with its fragrant, savory rice (crispy at the bottom β just like home!), made the long wait almost worth it. #DuckAndRice #BatterseaPowerStation #SoftOpeningStruggles #CantoneseMeetsBritish
