Fantastically cozy, funky wine bar with excellent food in Soho. AMEX concierge suggested this spot after we weren't able to get a spot at somewhere we'd initially picked. Wine selection clearly changes all the time; let the staff encourage you to try something new. Two of us shared several plates and left very satisfied. Do start with the bread and salted butter! read more

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Perhaps it's the menu for the period that didn't fit our palate, we didn't enjoy it as much as other people on social media did. The lamb's heart tasted a bit bland with just feta and lettuce. Well I can test use the lettuce.. and too much oil.. Seafood stew is great but personally feel a bit too watery. Steak was great but not cheap at all with the amount they give you. I guess it's too good we wanted more? The best part is the butter!! The butter tasted so good I almost want to pack it to go. But the wait staff give different table different amount of bread. I saw other table with 3-4 slices but some only has 2. Wine by the glass isn't cheap and they have a surprise wine which they don't disclose what wine it is when you order it and it costs you 14£ for it. Idk. Maybe I'll try again when they switch menu which is monthly. read more

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Fabulous food and excellent wines. A wonderful place for a date night or casual sitting at the bar is always a good idea !! read more

Ducksoup - Fabulous food and wonderful service, excellent wines. - Modern European Near Me - London, XGL

Ambiance is amazing. Restaurant is located in the heart of soho, though when you enter you can escape from the city noises and feel cosy and intimate. Food was delicious, they are seasonal as well. Lovely wine! read more

Ducksoup - Modern European Near Me - London, XGL

If you're looking for a chill spot with some unique vibes and a menu packed with tasty and slightly offbeat small plates, this place is a must-try. My buddy and I made last minute reservations for two and ended up sitting at the bar. It's a tight squeeze, but it just added to the intimate atmosphere. The food was freakin' amazing and the service was friendly and helpful. The wine selection is on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for and the staff gave great suggestions on what to pair with our dishes. All in all, it was a killer experience and easily my favorite restaurant in London so far read more

The customer is always right, that is unless you're eating at Ducksoup. The evening started out swell. The ambience gives off quaint neighborhoods vibes and the food is a Mediterranean fusion feel. It's clean, simple, and delicious. What Ducksoup fails at is the people, their wait staff are offensive. We ordered three starters, three mains, and a side. We were informed that the plates were all to share (we had planned not to), but no issues there. The problems arose when ~20 min after our second entree arrived that nothing else came .... We called over a waitress to enquire about the third entree and side. After some back and forth they apologized and said we could still have the third entree and that it would be comped if we still wanted it (we had already been there for 1.5 hours). Simultaneously the waitress began to stack our plates, knives and forks in front of us, which always completely disgusts me - the point is to remove the used dishes efficiently, not make us stare into the remnants of our dinner. Also, how were we to eat our remaining dishes with no utensils? We debated whether it would be worthwhile to have our missing courses, but decided against it as we were already so off put by the waitress. When the bill came everything was still included, nothing comped, and the waitress seemed completely undeterred by the fact that we were leaving so abruptly. Would not recommend for the simple fact that the wait staff ruined our night. read more

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Unfortunately I cannot in good conscience recommend this restaurant. If you're visiting London I wouldn't waste your time eating here when you could eat somewhere else. I would say this would make a charming wine bar with tapas, but a restaurant? No. We snagged some reservations on Resy and were excited given all of the rave reviews on eater, infatuation, etc. we got some wine and cocktails. The wine was the only good thing I had. Oysters were so salty. Labneh was fine but average- the bread and butter was okay. Our radicchio salad with pears and cheese was also salty and lacked balance and acidity and our cauliflower dish was nothing special. I took one bite and was just disappointed by the food that I wanted to have a second dinner around the corner. I'm giving it 3 stars just for the wine but for 100 pounds and not a single dish I will remember by tomorrow - I'm sad I wasted one night in London on this place read more

Ducksoup (which serves anything but ducksoup) has only four little tables and a bar, so you have to be lucky to arrive when there's a free seat. It's one of those places that has a changing menu every week and looks out for quality and original dishes. Exactly what I love! Although the restaurant/bar seems a bit exclusive, the staff is friendly and welcoming. My escort had the quail (it's supposed to be pink inside, don't worry) on a bed of lentils and spinach; I ordered a chanterelle mushroom barley-risotto which was very oily but exciting and yummy. There's a sophisticated wine list and even the ginger beer was distinguished. I'm defenitely recommending this small eatery to my gourmet friends. read more

Ducksoup - The quail and the chanterelle-risotto dish. - Modern European Near Me - London, XGL

Pluses: The ambiance is really nice, the staff are sweet (the one hot waiter who looks like he could be full of himself -- was surprisingly efficient and not full of himself). Some of the food is inspired. This is a good place for a date. Cons: The portions are tiiiny. The wine list is outrageously priced, even by SoHo standards. Some of the food is terrible. I think the problems with the food stem from the fact that the extensive menu is handwritten. While I'm all for seasonal food, I do think that practice makes perfect, so if the whole menu is changing nightly, this could be a serious problem for quality. Also, there's a ton of stuff on the menu -- most seasonal places focus on a few dishes so they can get them right. We had the white peach, pecorino and basalmic starter which was an interesting (in a good way) combination. The portion size was decent. The leg of lamb entree was the tiniest portion I'd ever seen in my life. It was much smaller than the starter! It was more than £1 per tiny bite, I'm not kidding. But, it was also delicious and tender and juicy and truly inspired. The fritto misto was terrible. Underseasoned and fried uncrispy. The best thing on the plate was an orange slice that had been (possibly accidentally?) fried. I thought about getting dessert, but decided that I was too hungry and so went to Pret for a sandwich on the way home. No sense in throwing good money after bad. read more

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I loved this place. Fresh and seasonal menu items as it changes frequently. Organic and biodynamic wine list. Place is small and gets busy but I was able.to find resy reservations for two on a Friday night. Def worth a visit in Soho. read more

A very small, very hip (though I fear we immediately affected the hip factor to the negative) spot in a very happening area. Reservations are a must as there are only four small tables. If you are claustrophobic, pass. Having said that we were comfortable and felt snug. Do not conjure images of a quiet, intimate hole in the wall. This is a busy, loud, and crowded hole in the wall with 4 small seating areas. You can sit at the bar if you can find an empty seat. Our attendant Hannah was fabulous and guided us through the handwritten menu. I willmention a few items but they will likely not be there long. The Fried Pear first course and the "dip" of yogurt/goat curd/nuts were both magnificent. Charred cuttlefish hust okay, but the braised Ox cheek was bot only delicious, but perfect for a cold London evening. Wine list is good. read more

Went to Duck Soup a few weeks ago in fact my profile pic is taken there. I liked the fact you could all sit and eat the bar but we opted for a small table for two which on reflection was a good idea as it rapidly became very busy and there was not much arm room at the bar (though this did mean you had to get to know your fellow diners which is always fun) The food was superb. We both had the same seafood dish and some delicious cocktails. Even though it was busy and the staff was being run ragged they were on top of it all at all times and still kept smiling and paying attention to everyone's needs. It was a hot night when we went so the large window was completely open making for great people watching. Prices were fair and would definitely recommend friends in fact I have done- several times read more

Ducksoup - Modern European Near Me - London, XGL

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Well, this is a tale of two restaurants...from a food perspective, Ducksoup is outstanding; an imaginative, innovative, well-prepared menu tantalizes with excellent dishes like pork collar in oil, braised veal, deep-fried cod, "sand" carrots with beans, and house-made pickles. But everything else about the place is incredibly disappointing: bomb shelter-inspired decor, indecipherable hand-written menu, atrocious service and completely indifferent staff. You know you're in for a difficult evening when the server responds to your completely legitimate question - "Excuse me, but does the menu say, 'sand carrots'?" with a terse and impatient, "Yes...what's your question?" Couple that little outburst with he and his colleagues' refusal to either a) provide clean side dishes between courses - we ate all six on the same dirty side plates - or b) clear away used napkins (which are provided in those tawdry diner-style dispensers, a feature that doesn't befit a restaurant that cost me £120 for dinner)...we finally had to ask our disinterested bartender to remove some soiled napkins so we could finish our meal. So if your singular focus is great food and you don't mind being treated like an unwanted dinner guest, by all means give Ducksoup a try. Otherwise, just go to a pub and have a pint with some bangers and mash...the food will be okay, but you'll probably get treated well, and you'll save yourself a hundred quid. read more

Firstly - what a bang-on name! Being only open for a month this London hotspot has been on my radar since I first heard mutterings of the fantastic food being plated with minimum fuss. And upon further investigation I found the website to be sparse - with only a dodgy photograph of the day's handwritten menu via a Tumblr link - the same menu which each day must be handwritten eight times to be used for service. Surprisingly, there is no duck soup on the menu. And I made a few laps of Dean Street looking for the actual place, finally finding a black sign on dark paint - hardly shouting your new arrival in the centre of Soho. Ducksoup is what I love about London - it is way more on trend than the rest of the world, customers have no problem with the no booking policy, and a relatively tiny amount of space is given mostly over to the bar running the entire way through the centre of the restaurant. As you might have noticed in a recent review of our Polpo crawl through Soho, London is in the throws of a Lower East Side-inspired revival at the moment and again hits all the marks. The guys in the kitchen have great pedigree working with a superstar chef in London - Mark Hix. He is famous for focusing on the basics of great steak and even better seafood. (You might not know, but we have another of his chefs currently stationed in Melbourne and he is looking to open something along the same lines in the very near future - we will be all over things once an opening date is announced - until then it is very hush hush.) Those lucky enough to have traversed Italy and Spain, but come back to roost in Australia, all seem to find the same issue with the tapas and share plates served down under often complaining of dishes being given a modern Australian makeover and lacking in soul. The food at Ducksoup is exactly the opposite of that and exactly as you would expect from a backstreet trattoria in Italy. Showy, precise kitchen technique is not the point; food here is about very good ingredients, which are presented thoughtfully, served to share amongst friends. They had two draft beers on offer and I ordered one of each to try. Each had its own twist as it wasn't just a straight beer - one had an addition of bitters added to it and the other had a dash of Campari - one sweet and one dry - so very Italian and it worked brilliantly. We started off with the bar menu and ordered the Pork Terrine with Pickled Gherkins ($6.25) which was unrefined but full of flavour, and showed that if the texture and taste is good then bread is not always needed. For less than the cost of a soft drink we got a small bowl of Chipirones ($4.25), deep-fried squid the way you would have it in Pescara. Beautifully fresh and popped in the mouth it is a great idea for a cheap bar snack. Since her last visit to Hix Oyster and Chop House in Smithfields Meat Market, where WordMonkey first encountered razor clams, she has been going on about this under-rated shellfish. There they were served grilled with breadcrumbs, here we had Razor Clams, Sea Purslane, Salsify ($9.30). When cooked the clams become firm, but if cooked for too long will become chewy. Not the case here and plenty enough to share between four of us. We moved onto the kitchen menu and a dish I ordered as much to enjoy as to show my brother and his partner something they had never tried - Mushrooms and Squid Ink Risotto ($9.30). I knew they would be concerned with the colour of the dish, but if they could look past it then they would be in for a surprise with a tasty plate of food comprising no meat or seafood, which they would usually expect from a risottos. Smiles all round. I am not a cheese buff but I can tell you that the mountain of Buffalo Mozzarella, Cavolo Nero, Fennel and Chili was second to none. The firm and milky balls were - again - what you would expect to get straight from a farm. The Beef Tagliata was shaved rare beef topped with rocket and parmesan cheese, seasoned with a dash of salt, pepper and olive oil. Simplicity shining through We grabbed the menus again and decided on two dishes from the kitchen menu's larger plates (all around ~$18.50). We were all in agreement that no matter what, we wanted to see what the chefs could do with Lamb Cutlets, Lemon and Salt. The freshly grilled smell and tenderness of that first mouthful sent shivers down our spine. Grilled Scallops with Guanciale (unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks) were served in their huge shells. Salty, meaty and tender, fresh and full of flavour, there was no fault to be found. Where the team did stumble was in the dessert. It may have just been our choice of dish but either way it was a clanger. The Rhubarb and Brillat-Savarin Cheesecake was semi-deconstructed in a small glass but the flavours just didn't seem to gel at all. A minor mis-step in the overall scheme of the meal. read more

Found this place when I went to Violet Bakery, they had their cookbook, guess they're friends. Since I knew the baker knew good food, I told myself I would eat at Duck Soup if I could get in tonight. We rode our great London city bikes to soho and got a table at 6:30. It was one of the best meals we had in London, though Bao, and Dishoom were a treat of their own, I felt home and comfort eating here. I'll post some photos to support my review, but everything we ordered was really good. read more

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Quick glance: + cosy environment + friendly waiting staff + menu changes daily - menu could be clearer - poor portion size for the price - food quality varies I came here for dinner as a group of four on a Friday night. We met up at 7pm and thankfully there were plenty of free tables, although that might have been in part due to the Olympics. Nevertheless, the place filled up quickly and was full by the time we finished our meal just before 9pm. The handwritten menu is a great idea, reflecting their changing menus everyday. However, deciphering the handwriting and the actual items led to an entertaining endeavour, as we sometimes couldn't work out what was written, and other times didn't know what the dish actually was because the titles only contained the Spanish names and no English explanation. But this gave us the opportunity to quiz the waiter, who was friendly and patient, taking time to explain the items we didn't understand and giving us time to mull over our food choices. Instead of calling the dishes starter, main, etc., they were called small dishes, large dishes, etc., which implied a tapas-style meal, confirmed by our waiter. Unfortunately, the size of the dishes weren't really made for sharing and made more sense as courses per person. Although the ingredients were of high quality, I feel the ingredients weren't used to their full potentials. For example, we had the anchovies and cured meats (under a Spanish name which we previously quizzed the waiter about). Two slices for £8 (or thereabout) seemed extravagant, and I felt that there could have at least been a bit of crouton or bread to complete the dish. Another example: we also had the scallop risotto; it was one of the the best risotto I've had in a London restaurant, cooked to perfection, but it was under-seasoned, the scallops were over powered in flavour, and there was literally only four mouthful to the dish. I would recommend Ducksoup for a romantic date particularly given the cosy atmosphere, the decor, and quite an intriguing menu, but just not really a restaurant for me! read more

3.5 - I'm a little sad I had to give this a 3 because most of it was good enough for a 4, but there were two booboos behind the demotion. With that said, I would still come back, so I do recommend people try Ducksoup! Atmosphere: The space is small, but that gives the restaurant a cozy feel---half the seats are at the bar, and there are 3-4 two seater tables. I think there was also one big table in the back for larger parties. I really liked the set-up; it felt very casual, but the candles and dim lighting made it very "hyggelig," as the Danes would say. Service: I was pretty happy with our waiters, who were a friendly, attentive, and energetic bunch. I did have a little criticism for the hostess though, who turned us away a few minutes (literally) before the restaurant officially opened for dinner. I didn't understand why we couldn't just wait a few minutes with a glass of wine at the bar until the staff were ready. It seemed silly to make us leave and come back in 5 minutes---they would have made at least 10 more pounds from us. Food: I love small restaurants with daily menus. You can generally check on Ducksoup's website to see what the menu is for the day. We had duck confit & mozzarella with chile and fennel for starters, seafood risotto & parpadelle with rabbit ragu for mains, and finished off with creme caramel and lemon curd cheesecake. Everything was really delicious, except for the creme caramel, which was not sweet enough & clearly burnt. The burnt taste in the syrup and the bottom of the custard was so overpowering---it was not possible to taste much of the custard or caramel. I was so disappointed because I love creme caramel (or really any variation of cooked cream dessert). Aside from the burnt dessert & being initially turned away, I think Ducksoup was very good and not too expensive. With 2 starters, 2 mains, 2 glasses of wine, and 2 desserts, the bill came out to around 70 pounds with tip included. read more

Intimate, cosy spot in Soho. I went with a friend but definitely seemed like a good date spot. The menu changes daily and is always full of unrecognizable words. In the past, I've like their vegetarian options like polenta and aubergine. Very friendly and nice waitstaff! Also, be sure to try the orange wine! read more

We loved it here! A great place for a splurge on date night. Delicious food, beautiful and cozy ambience, and super kind waitresses behind the bar. They helped us with the menu, gave us some tasting of the lovely "skin contact" wines, answered all our questions and chatted with us when the night was a bit slow. The coffee and chocolate slab for dessert was truly heaven. Excited to return when the season changes! read more

One of the joys of working in Soho was (sniff...) the proliferation of small but excellent reservation free eateries that, while rammed with the bridge and tunnel brigade on a weekend and late week evening, could be sampled with ease by the resident workers. If I hadn't spent most of my career to date (sniff sniff...) in the area I wouldn't have sampled the joys of Koya, Polpo, Moolis, Spuntino and others. Just before I left for pastures suburban (well, Hammersmith anyway) Ducksoup opened. Rammed with rabid crowds of get there first reviewers for the first couple of weeks (yes regular readers, I am aware of the irony) I didn't manage to get past the door. The handful of wooden tables soon filled and a queue developed for seats at their long bar as the buzz spread. Descriptions of their back to basics food are scrawled on a small handwritten daily changing menu that gets handed along the wood top counter, like receiving wafers from a priest. They don't try and turn water into wine though, the former arrives in earthenware jugs, the latter - seemingly with a preference for the natural and biodynamic - is detailed on a chalkboard beside the bar. There's the sense of a small Presbyterian chapel as you walk into the calm light space through casual blue drapes, though if churches were able to generate the bustle and hype of Ducksoup, Richard Dawkins would be fighting a losing battle. It's not that dissimilar in style to St John, though without the obsession with offal. There's a fashionable austerity in the 14 or so small plates (£5-£7 each, you'll need 3 a head) which proudly celebrate cheaper cuts and left field ingredients like a teenage music fanboy demonstrating hipster credibility. "You've never heard of puntarelle? Wow. We've been working with it for years, getting bored with it now." Hangar or skirt steak is another obvious example. The loose tasty fatty roll from the side needs to be slow cooked to tasty oblivion or, as here, flash charred on very high temp to deliver its bloody juices into a small pungent salad of the aforementioned puntarelle (a seasonal variety of chicory found only near Rome, quizhounds). Elsewhere there are oft-forgotten leftovers from wealthier plates; duck legs confit, a big earthy terrine, pig cheeks and other rustic butchers cuts made good. Thankfully it is done well, there's a deftness of touch in the tiny kitchen. Grilled pecorino; rindy, nutty and salty, is a grown up halloumi here softened with honeycomb. I pass on glorious looking roast potatoes that come with a thick roast tomatoes and caper sauce (my kind of vegetarian side dish..) opting instead for a simple, refreshing blood orange, pine nut and fennel salad so good I can still taste if I think hard enough. It's a world away from the well padded and ribald bonhomie of the Dean Street Townhouse opposite, and would be perfectly suited to an aesthete's second date rather than a good time gang up with friends. If you can get a table, or are willing to wait on the depressing Soho street for a seat at the bar then do, just make a back up plan for possible disappointment. read more

I came in, had filtered coffee for £2.70 and 8 slices of salami for £4, flicked through their menu (several times), waited for my friends to arrive and left. This is my Ducksoup experience... I am sure it is different story during warm days, but sitting at a cold restaurant? Not the best of experience.. It seemed they don't even have radiators.. I can ensure you, I am one of those people who wears a vest, top, cashmere jumpers, warm socks and shoes with thick soles in winter, but I was cold.. Really cold! Menu-wise, having a main course with average price of £15 (the calculation includes veggie pasta dish for £11) and a lunch menu in Ducksoup is translated as a bowl of soup and a small glass of house white wine for £10... My only reaction was: 'Excuse me? You got to be kidding me...' I mean, I don't mind paying if there is something worth the money, but this wasn't the case. In fact, I felt outraged... Only plus sides: - tasty salami - super friendly service - cute looking place read more

Ducksoup is where we had our very first lunch in London. My wife and I both had salads with drinks and both of our meals were delicious! The mozzarella, tomatoes, and fruit were all very fresh. Wine was tasty and the gin mule or moscow mule that i had was also very tasty and I loved the fresh mint in it. Not a lot of room and kind of pricey considering what you get but definitely worth checking this place out! read more

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All-in, the food was good and our girls night out yummy and memorable. I have to admit, the company I was in salvaged the evening as it was an otherwise rather neutral experience for me. The Good: The food was tasty and the environment (we were seated in the basement) was intimate but not too cramped. Wine pairings were also yummy. The Not-So-Good: The service was spotty, our server was not familiar with the wine list (we had miscommunications twice about which bottles we wanted) nor able to make recommendations. One dish was not delivered, and when we prompted the server for it, it took a long time to arrive. The restaurant opted to leave it on our bill instead of taking care of it, which was disappointing (but may be London convention, we weren't sure). Taken together, I would go again if someone invited me there for dinner but would be unlikely to organize a gathering there myself. read more

This rustic nook between Tottehham Court Road and Leicester Square is the prefect spot for a casual lunch or laid back dinner. The narrow space is flanked by a record player on one side of the entrance and a white tiled board of wines by the glass. In between the two, are simple European flavours - think Italian country garden fare or lazy summers in the south of France. Dishes like the pork cheek (melt in the mouth, accompanied by broad beans and hazelnuts in perfectly salted broth) exemplify why this place is familiar to local foodies. An apricot galette, potentially straight from nonna's oven, and surprisingly for most London variants of pastry cooking, loses none of its traditional charm. The wine list stretches the palate from the ponot-drenched Loire to the Garganaga infused plains of Veneto. There's something here for everyone - and by everyone, I mean you. PS: if you feel inspired at the end of your meal, pick up one of their beautiful cookbooks - they're 20 quid. read more

I actually did enjoy my previous visit to Duck Soup and was happy to return there last Friday, however - the level of service I received was one of the poorest I can recall, in any restaurant. As we were eating our main course, one of the waiters, spilled, by mistake, water on us and on our plate. While he did apologise, no help was offered to dry our clothes. We asked for a replacement of our wet dish, and when this arrived, were amazed to find out that we were served only 1/2 of the portion. To our question, we were answered that since we already ate some of it, we were only reimbursed by part of it. And I am asking - is there no shame in that??? and after having the waiter arguing with us for the reasons we were not entitled to enjoy a full portion, we were told that the level of service we received was of the highest quality. NEVER AGAIN WILL MY FOOT STEP IN THAT PLACE. read more

I was super-disappointed actually (this is a low 4) after eating at the newest Brooklyn-inspired counter dining spot in Soho. I was pleased that at 9pm on a Saturday eve we were able to get in and there was no queue, but then it took a while to get service after sitting at the bar and it became a matter of hailing down a waiter. And--here is a story worth repeating. When we sat down there was bread and sausage in front of us. My friend that they were freebees and grabbed a piece of the sausage when the waiter told us no they weren't for us--so she put the piece of sausage back and he served it to another customer--so yes, my friend's hands were on someone else's meat. Not cool or very professional of the waiter for what should be a top restaurant. The menu written on someone's spiral notebook paper and there are many 3-5 quid "bar" tapas (cold) a section from "the kitchen" not sure exactly what was the difference and then a selection of mains. The menu is not as descript as it should be and no one bothered to talk us through, so hangar steak on toast was actually a tartare which would have been nice to have known up front. We ended up having a nice and affordable wine, an excellent cheese, some nice tapas and a main, but nothing that screamed for me "oh my goodness". The atmosphere was good--records playing in the background but I wish they paid less attention to the records and more attention to the service. My feeling--go to Spuntino! read more

While it's a bit crowded inside, the food was worth it. I thought the wines were a bit pricey for quality as well, but the service was friendly and the food was worth all the short comings. Would go back just because the food was so great. Be warned: the menu is hand written and they have what they have that day, but everything we had was delightful. Clams with grilled leeks, Lamb with cheese and quince (one of the best lambs I have ever had on record), Octopus, Celeriac gratin (also absolutely amazing), and veal ragu with homemade pappardelle. The clams and lamb were worth every bit of crowding and whatever less than awesome wine I had. read more

I wanted to like this place more than I did. Staff were eager to please and seemed genuinely interested. The place is tiny, so you will be sitting very close to your neighbour. We had a decent bottle of biodynamic wine, prices ranged between £26-£36. It was quite hard to see the rest of the drinks menu, as it was written on a small part of wall by the till. We ordered artichokes, good, with a delicious vinaigrette sauce. Then we had a small plate of mushrooms, nothing special and another of duck liver pasta, delicious. Our main was a pot of pheasant; it was good, but overcooked, and dry. Mushrooms were overwhelming, as they were also in the pasta and pheasant courses. The bill came to around £100, quite hard to work out if it was correct as items were listed in plate sizes. Style over substance for me. Good place if you are eating in solo or a pair. read more

Duck Soup, one of the newest restaurants to open in Soho elicits thoughts of the Marx brothers but actually had its name chosen because it's a funny sounding name. The place is slightly anonymous from the outside and the inside is quite relaxed and casual. Not really shabby chic, but not far from it with its bare brick walls and stripped down interior. There are only a few tables but also quite a few seats around the counter. When entering Duck Soup the first thing you'll notice is the record player spinning away, filling the place with music. They have a BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl) policy which leads to some quite interesting (and mostly good, in my opinion) music being played. Whether by design or the fact they opened only days earlier the menu came out handwritten on a small scrap of paper. Even though the menu has two sections with different prices all items in a section are priced the same they will cook all dishes and bring them out as soon as they are done. There is no concept of starters and mains, only different sizes of dishes. First out came Belly of Pork, Clams and Fennel with succulent, strongly flavoured pork and lightly cooked fennel that lifted the dish into something very tasty. Next was the Fritto Misto Artichoke, Squid, Mullet, Scallop, Orange and Saffron Mayo, which is the reason I decided to take a star off this review. It just wasn't the same quality as the other dishes and to be honest felt a bit uninspired apart from the orange + scallop combination that was really the highlight of the dish. The artichoke was extremely dry and tough. The smaller of the dishes, the Half Poussin, Burnt Lemon and Tahini was the best of the three, a delight to eat. The poussin was cooked to perfection, the lemon a perfect complement to it and the tahini to round the whole flavour off into a great work of simplicity and tastiness. As they have only recently opened I am sure that they will find their footing soon and produce a nice, refined menu. It just doesn't seem to be there yet. I'd still tell people to try it if they want as I have a feeling this review would be quite different if I had gone in a couple of weeks' time. read more

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Loved this cute cozy little spot. Yummy small menu. Perfect music played throughout our visit which is played on the corner turntable. Our waiter was so nice as well as other staff. I could have stayed for hours in this perfectly lit little spot. read more

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I came here for a quick weekday lunch with a friend at about 2pm, so it was pretty quiet - didn't have any of the issues with busy service that other yelpers seem to have come across. I absolutely loved the decor - once I was sat at the bar it was very hard to believe I had just stepped in from busy, smelly Soho as I felt like I was in a little bodega or bistro. Clearly a lot of time and effort was spent on the decor to create this vibe as there were lots of little details that made it perfect, from the tiles to the napkin dispensers. My friend and I shared the fried courgette flower starter - two big juicy flowers fried in a light batter. They really had a nice fresh flavour and despite being friend weren't greasy, just a little crisp on the outside. They came with a sauce that resembled the offspring of aioli and hummus - rich garlicky flavours with a slightly grainy texture. The handwritten menu had a selection of small plates and about five mains - my friend had a fresh seasonal fish which came out whole on the place, face and all and looked like a cross between a skinny eel and a swordfish. I was a little frightened but it tasted good, especially the sauce it came with, a red pepper salsa. I had ricotta and herb ravioli with tomatoes and morels which was very enjoyable, especially the mushrooms. I'd definitely go back - the food was fresh, simple and tasty (simple being a compliment!) and the environment was lovely - it really felt like a refuge from the West End. I can imagine due it it's small size it might feel a little claustrophobic in a busy weekend night but as a place to drop into for a special lunch it was delightful. read more

I loved this place. Tiny and informal atmosphere where the emphasis is on the food. Lovely waitress from Lisbon could not have been better. Food was extraordinarily well-prepared and inventive. Amazing beets and wilted beet greens. Grilled shallots and goat cheese on toast. Mozzarella and fresh figs drizzled with olive oil. Everything so fresh and tasty and beautiful to look at. Duck Soup is FRESH! Loved it!!! Thank you! read more

I love this place for dinner. They have a downstairs section which is really cozy and romantic. Perfect for a deep conversation with your date/friends around a bottle of wine while eating nibbles. The food is good, the wine is great, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Make sure to arrive early though, especially on weekend nights as it gets very busy. read more

I know it seems silly to write such a scathing review, but like many of you my husband and I work so hard during the week and really look forward to a rare dinner out once and awhile. I've never written a review in my life, but feel compelled to do so tonight. The food was good (B+), but the service was so bad (F-), it's not worth the frustration and disappointment. The staff was horribly rude and inattentive. My husband and I waited 25 minutes for someone to even bring us water (we had to flag the waitress down for water). After we finally ordered food and a bottle of wine (the waitress said "it'll taste better after the wait!"), our appetizer came after 20 minutes ... and still no wine. After we asked to scrap the bottle of wine and just bring us two glasses of wine, we still waited 10 minutes (and two plates of food!) before our glasses finally came. The waitress said she was sorry and the manager was aware of the situation, but ultimately it did not change the service or the attitude we received the rest of the evening. After another 30 minutes waiting for the rest of our food or for our server to ask if we wanted another glass of wine ... we were fed up. We asked to cancel our remaining food and for the bill. They brought the bill with no compensation or apology. So they lost at least £60 tonight on a bottle of wine, more food, desert, coffee, etc., plus the recommendation to our friends. Avoid at all costs. There are so many other fabulous restaurants in the area to choose from instead. So disappointed on a rare night out for us. read more

Wish I could give zero stars! The food was fine, nothing special, but the service was unfortunately quite horrendous and absolutely ruined what was otherwise a lovely night with friends. One of our servers was attentive enough, but the other was rude and pretentious (she told my friend that /his/ taste was off when he complained, rightfully, about a bad, overripe, cloudy, apple-juicy white wine) - and the manager was even worse! We had over two bottles of rose but he refused to give us the bottle price for /any/ of those many glasses because, in his own VERBATIM words, "we make more money off you when you buy by the glass." !! I was appalled. This was after a +£200 meal that we happily paid the vast bulk of, we just wanted to be charged fairly for drinks and he would not be at all reasonable about it. He wouldn't budge even when we declined to pay gratuity, showing his true colors in stiffing his staff for an extra 5 or 10 quid profit! Ridiculous. TL;DR: awful, rude service, worse prices, and mediocre food to boot; wouldn't wish it on an enemy! read more

I came here with a friend on a Friday night after we couldn't even put our name down at another restaurant; the weekend restaurant scene in Soho is so aggressive and we were lucky to get two seats at the bar here. It's a cozy little restaurant with about half the seating on the ground floor at the bar and the other half at small 2 or 3 person tables. The menu changes daily and is written on a whiteboard on one wall of the restaurant. We ordered a cold eggplant starter, some great cheese and cured pork shoulder, which I thought was very unique, and roast lamb and veal for mains. Everyone else in the restaurant had also ordered the lamb and the veal, and it was perfect. The menu has a lot of surprises and our waiter had to explain half the menu but that's all part of the fun! read more

Really like this low key joint in Soho. In fact, I like it so much that I went there two weeks in a row. And the best part about it is that I just walked in both times without a reservation and got seated immediately. It is quite small and cozy, and there are a few bar seats, which are the best in my opinion, as the bartenders are very friendly and fun to talk to. They hand write the menu everyday, though the dishes don't change on a daily basis. It is a nice touch, but can be hard to read. The food is very delicious and I like everything I tried. My favorite starter is the cod fish with tomato. The fish is lightly cured with salt in house and works perfectly with crushed tomato and garlic. It is a great summer dish. For main, the hanger steak is outstanding, very tender and juicy. The desserts are not too memorable. Overall, it is a great spot for a casual dinner. read more

Great spot for lunch - nice variety of fresh cal/ital sort of food and a GREAT list of all-natural wines! I was there on an uncrowded, sunny afternoon, so I have no idea what it's like in the evening. read more

Really good wine list if you're into natural wine. Decent food (gastropub style, the poshy version) but very tight & crowded.

Great wine, friendly staff, and delicious food. If you're looking for a cozy dinner in soho, this is the place.