The Waffle House - The Teege Critiques!

So the Waffle House, a Norwich mainstay for the last 38 years, brings a unique style of food to Norwich. Priding themselves in fresh local produce and their crispy waffles. Each order being individual, their organic produce brings the palate to life - but as always, there is a catch. Most of the time in other establishments, this turns out to be the price, or the quantity... In the Waffle House of Norwich it's neither... just simply that you must be willing to wait.

When we arrived, the queue was winding out the door and it was 6:45PM on a Saturday night! The wind blew hard, but slowly and steadily we moved forward until the warm embrace of the delightful smells enraptured our senses. The greeting from a young gentleman of no more than 22 years of age offered us a table by the window, or round the back by the noisy tables. Naturally reviewing the food, we opted for the window seat to not just peruse the menu, but the chef... who notably wasn't running around, but as each order came through, it was dealt with in a swift manner. 

Modern, sleek black-clad staff trotted hither and thither through the swarthy, comforting waffle-fumes, and noticeably each held a smile and a fondness for their vocation that's so often lacking in the restaurants of today. The Teege's assertion that patience is necessary in order to enjoy the fine flavours of the Waffle House is by no means inaccurate in its veracity, yet the culinary delights that follow such a commitment are frequently worth the wait.

The ambiance of the place is that of a thrumming and quiet bustle, replete with light and welcoming decor and comfortable, sturdy seating. As such, waiting for one's meal never feels tiresome, and it becomes engaging to watch the chef conduct his craft and the waiters thread amid tables hosting families, couples, friends and acquaintances. Just another night for the staff, you might say, but a cosy event for all of whom have chosen to make the Waffle House their chosen venue.

Down to the main event - the order. Drinks of choice were the berry smoothie, refreshing and made thick with fresh Greek yoghurt and berries of the winter variety for oneself, and the chocolate malt milkshake for Mr White, of which he noted, "You can stand a f***ing straw in this! Wow!" ...So I believe he enjoyed. My order was the pan roasted duck with parsnips, kale and a beetroot and horseradish sauce. To test the staff, the replacement of the sauce with cheese sauce was quickly dealt with and they were never bothered in complying. Mr White's order was the ever-amazing bolognese with grated Parmesan to top. His delight was apparent as he began his journey into the intense herb combination and smooth sauce.

Attentive but not intrusive service, - though nothing to note upon - brought a very relaxed nature to the table, and the discussions of future endeavours crossed our lips. Again, no names to remember for the servers, but upon discussion we believed she was of an Eastern European nature with a beautiful accent. The main courses all round received were truly good, nothing to make them stand out nor hide away... just a good solid meal of profound succulent taste and textures.

Discussions of dessert arose, and we concluded in concert that we ought to appraise the namesake foodstuff of the business in earnest - that is to say, we opted for a plain waffle apiece, with maple sauce added individually to taste. Grand slabs of delicious square-flecked splendour were to follow, light and fluffy, yet with a delicately crafted crispness to the outer exterior that welcomed the teeth through into a white, soft interior.

As one would expect, the maple syrup was exquisitely delivered, and stood in the centre of our table in a stylish black receptacle for the entirety of our meal - a silent and vigilant arbiter of sweetness awaiting service. Pleased was I with the application of such liquid, flowing from the jug like molten gold and stirring the palate in its glooping dance amid the canvas of the waffle before me.

In short? A characteristically florid appraisal of a fine and delightful dessert - and one is already planning to try out the breakfast menu when able. The versatility of the waffle has been truly realised through this sojourn with The Teege, but let's be honest - you can't beat a bit of maple syrup, right?

In short... Mr White... Good all round experience, nothing too outstanding but nothing sub-par. I have encountered this restaurant before and had some quality meals... Maybe the standard has dropped over the years as they have begun to rest on their laurels, Time will tell - I'm sure we will return, maybe there will be a change of pace and it will bring a new passion forward, but for now the Waffle House maintains a solid 3/5 stars on the Teege's table.

Having visited the Waffle House for the first time in some years with The Teege upon the night hereupon chronicled, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by both the service and the food. The meals of both savoury and sweet natures were devoured with gusto, the milkshake was of an aplomb not so much inviting the boys to the yard as starting raucous celebrations at its creamy and delectable flavours, and the ambiance was notable in its serenity.

4/5 from Mr White, with the notion to return and consume at a not-too-distant juncture to come - will the Waffle House sustain its brilliance?

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