The Waddling Duck Bistro in Torbay

Had a cancellation last minute and called us back to book the table. Excellent service and superb food. Our server, Ella, was fantastic. Would highly recommend

Good food 😋 excellent friendly service .

Outstanding! Food, service, comfort, menu, all simply wonderful.

We went for our wedding anniversary and couldn’t have enjoyed it more. It was quite quiet initially but quickly filled up. The atmosphere was lovely. The fillet stake was amazing, perfectly cooked for our individual taste. Lovely potatoes and vegetables. Had the apple crumble, again so delicious. The staff were so courteous and friendly a big thank you

We visited the Waddling Duck in their new home and were unsure what to expect. We were delighted with the new restaurant and the food was amazing as ever. This counts in our top 5 meals out - ever. The food was delicious, staff friendly and a lovely atmosphere. We will definitely visit again when next in the area.

Just visited for Sunday lunch and cannot praise highly enough. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the restaurant is lovely and the food excellent. It was the best Sunday lunch we’ve had in a long time. Excellent value for money too.

Excellent food, but poor value. At £19 for a carvery you expect to go out and indulge yourselves, instead we shared one veg dish between 4 and precisely 3 half potatoes each. Don't get me wrong the food was well cooked and well presented but we just expected more of it.

Great atmosphere, amazing staff coupled with excellent food. Highly recomend.

Great meal good atmosphere and little Ella was a star

After 10 days of pub food we enjoyed a very tasty dinner here with good service. All the dishes were of good quality and very well prepared, but we particularly remember the broccoli from the vegetable side dish: absolutely perfectly cooked and excellently seasoned.

What a taste sensation. I wish I had taken more photos. I emailed in with a special request. I had been so disappointed by Sunday Roasts around the UK that I requested fish if possible. On arrival when I saw the plated lunches coming out of the kitchen, I thought I would give a Sunday roast one last try! I had the smoked duck starter, chicken breast as the roast and Eton mess for dessert. The starter was exceptional, filled by succulent chicken breast, and the accompanying vegetables, roasties and giant Yorkshire pudding were outstanding.

Best restaurant in the area, in my humble opinion 😀

Most delicious meal! HIGHLY recommend.

Friendly staff. Food looked good.

We had a very good meal and everything was perfect.

Fantastic service, the host is really charismatic and friendly, almost feels like a friend welcoming you to their home! The food was exceptional, delicious and well portioned. Could not place a fault on anything. Was definitely worth booking and eating there! They don’t have a dedicated children’s menu, however upon suggestion from the host’s suggestion they made a penne pasta with homemade pesto off the cuff for our toddler. This was greatly appreciated!

Fabulous meal, with my partner and our daughter last night. The staff were excellent and although no children’s menu available they made pesto ravioli for our daughter followed by ice cream and strawberries. Highly recommend for a special meal.

A great place if you like your meat under cooked.. A place that also is dog friendly and a place where all the meat the cook is pink its disgusting to eat any meat pink and there should be options to have your meat the way you want it weather that be pink medium rare or well done.. I believe they follow up too much on t.v and believe everyone like they meat taken off the cow and just put on the plate raw rather than cook it too perfection 🥰... I have no clue why you english people love your meat pink its not even cooked just looked at a pan and shoved on the plate no skill in that what do ever...

We visited the Waddling Duck at Hamiltons on Wednesday 3rd July to celebrate our daughter’s 21st Birthday. All I can say is ‘Frst class!’ for food, service… & cocktails… a night we shall remember. Thank you to all the staff who made my daughter’s evening so special! Highly recommend, you are in for a treat if you haven’t visited this restaurant before. 5 ⭐️ restaurant without doubt.

We had evening meal, absolutely delicious, returned two nights later and enjoyed it just as much. Food, ambiance, service and price were excellent. Highly recommend this stunning restaurant.

The staff were very attentive and polite. The food we had was excellent. I will be returning to sample the other menu choices and specials on offer.

You will not be disappointed! The food is on a different level. Quite easily the best steak I've ever eaten. Celebrating our daughters 18th Birthday was only enhanced by the attentive staff, a big thank you to Douglas who was just amazing and really did put the cherry on top of a perfect night.

We came across The Waddling Duck when doing some traveling and fancied some lunch. The restaurant was shut until 5pm but they were still serving food in the bar area. The atmosphere was great and across the road was stunning views of the sea and cliffs. The food was outstanding and the gentleman that served us was very friendly and attentive to us. Would definitely recommend here and we hope to come back again to dine in the restaurant.

Excellent meal in lovely surroundings. Quick, polite service with friendly staff.

My wife and I dined their last night excellent meal will go again.

Went for evening meal ,to celebrate a birthday, from when we walked in, until we left ,the service was excellent even ordered a taxi for us to get back to our hotel, the food was lovely, we had the fillet steak and the duck ,both dishes were amazing, and the chocolate delice for dessert just completed the lovely night we had ,I would definitely recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a relaxing meal in pleasant surroundings with very knowledgeable and helpful staff

Waddling Duck hosted a meal for our party of 24 on Thursday 9th May and it was simply superb. Thanks indeed to Lydia for accepting our late changing numbers and menu choices with professional courtesy. Every member of our group loved the food, thank you!

Excellent meal last night. My husband said his risotto starter was the best he had ever had. We couldn't fault anything about our visit. This is the first time we have eaten in their new venue and, whilst their food was always fabulous, the chef has gone one step further. I just wish we'd had room for desert. It is a shame we live over 200 miles away, or we would be visiting this lovely restaurant on a regular basis.

Our first visit and we were really glad that we had made a reservation. A prompt and friendly welcome and all staff were friendly and efficient throughout. The food was beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. I chose the ravioli as a starter and it was delicious. My husband had the moules from the specials board and really enjoyed them. I had the belly pork for my main course and it was scrumptious with unusual spring veg including cooked beetroot. My husband had Tournedos Rossini, perfectly cooked with a delicious pot of gratin dauphinois. A cheeseboard with a port was a great way to finish the meal. Cocktails were a must have!

Faultless! It's such a breath of fresh air visiting a restaurant that provide the traditional approach to a high standard of service, incredibly delicious dishes & drinks at reasonable prices. The attention to detail is impeccable and the servers are delightful. I've only heard awesome things since the Waddling Duck moved up from Wellswood to Hamiltons and it was everything we'd hoped for. They're amazing!

Great food and great service. The only negative for me is that there’s not much on offer for vegetarians. I believe there was only one main which was suitable, so good thing it was delicious!

One of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. I rarely take the time to write reviews but this restaurant absolutely deserves it. The staff were absolutely fantastic and so friendly and welcoming. The food was sublime, so tasty and cooked to perfection and has to be up there in the top 3 meals I’ve ever eaten. My only regret is that I don’t live close enough to eat here regularly but I will definitely revisit whenever I’m in Torquay.

Excellent all round Great food and service recommend to visit food was lovely also good value for money well worth a visit

Incredible food, good prices, and lovely staff :)

Moved from a nearby location into the cliff-top space formerly occupied by Hamilton's. Two courses $27/3 courses $32, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. . New art installed (and some still to come). Menu highlights: Risotto alla Milanese w. duck confit perfectly al dente, Creedy carver duck breast, cooked pink, exactly matched the description. The texture easily chewable, the accompanying blackberry purée and duck jus enriching and affirming. Especially notable were the gratin potatoes, creamy, rich and heart-warming with assertive nutmeg. Beef cheek braised in Guiness, with bubble and squeak, topped with beef fat crumb was submissive, crumbly meat with intense umamy flavors embracing the starch and vegetable crack-house addictiveness of bubble and squeak. The wine list breaks convention in being a marquee of esoteric wine styles. One good choice, more mainstream, is a 2017 Rioja Reserva. with a greater than usual maturity on a restaurant wine list. Attentive service. This is a new top gun for Babbacombe, a town where humans require a 60-year age statement and a Westie companion for residence. Recommended.

An absolute gem. You need to visit this restaurant and keep a close eye. The Waddling Duck in welswood was amazing but now they moved location all the stars are aligned for a gastronomic excellence of service and food delivery. Watch this place a stunner

Went here for the First time to celebrate my wife's birthday and it was amazing, I have been eating out in Torbay for over 25 years and this was the best meal I have had to date. We had 3 courses, all the food was delicious, service was excellent, very friendly and tentative. The atmosphere was great, I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great night out.

First time since the move to Hamilton's. Everything cooked to perfection and the usual friendly service. Starters of scallops and souffle, followed by tornado rossini and beef cheeks with bubble and squeak (veg served separately so not in pics). Couldn't resist dessert of chocolate delice with honeycomb, Bailey's tiramisu and an interesting cheese board. Just perfect.

We always loved The Waddling Duck so when we heard it was moving venues we were really excited. We've visited them in their new home a number of times and haven't been disappointed. The Sunday Lunch is amazing and fantastic value... likewise the weekday menu is equally as good. There's always a warm welcome, attentive service and just the best food around. You definitely need to book!!

A regular spot for us whether it's just a coffee, light lunch or dinner. With friends today for as ever an excellent lunch of small plates from thier changing and reassuringly short menu. Our favourite table with a view over beautiful Babbacombe Downs. Lovely Marie in attendance. Doggy friendly now in the more informal Hamilton's Club bar area.🇬🇧🇳🇿

Highly recommend. This is a wonderful place to go for Sunday lunch. The food was absolutely declious, the service was fab, the price was great and the setting/ambience were lovely.

Great quality food at reasonable prices. I took the photo before a huge quantity of veg arrived!

We came for my husband’s 60th birthday. We had cocktails in the bar first which were delicious. Then we went through to the restaurant. It’s so stylish and spotless. The food was just superb all 6 of us had a perfect meal. We have been many times for lunch in the bar area, the lunch menu is so tasty. Definitely the best restaurant, it was totally full too, in the bar and restaurant that says it all. Thank you for a great evening.

We came for dinner on a Wednesday night for a date night. What can we say it was amazing from start to finish. Excellent food, amazing service, amazing wine. An absolute must try ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a hidden gem!!!!! Recommended by our host at ‘The Rooms Babbacombe’, we walked to the venue in the pouring rain. Despite being busy, they fitted us in. The food was SUPERB. Staff were second to none. We will definitely be returning. Highly recommend the cheese soufflé and the mushroom tagliatelle!!!!!

This was the first time we visited since they changed premises, absolutely fantastic in every way, could not find any fault whatsoever would thoroughly recommend

Fantastic meal on Saturday night. This is a very special place. Excellent service. Very attentive happy staff. Food superb. Relaxed but smart restaurant. I really liked it. Thank you 🙏

25 of us celebrated a friends birthday. Food was delicious all came out at the same time. Service was brilliant they couldn't do enough for us. Highly recommend and I will definitely be visiting again

We went for my mum's 70th birthday party. The service was above and beyond; decorating my mum's desert with a happy birthday sign and candle, giving us extra chips when a few fell on the floor (we hadn't even asked for this), making my mum a little napkin flower and giving her some chocolates to take home with her ❤️❤️ honestly it was superb! All the staff were lovely! And to top it off, the food was AMAZING! My belly pork was incredible! Will definitely return and highly recommend for special occasions 🎉

The Waddling Duck may have moved venue but still delivers on all counts , great atmosphere , service and food . In an area where fine dining is a little scarce the Waddling Duck stands head and shoulders above the average offering..I am looking forward to my return visit soon … I feel it is a perfect example of observe the masses and do the opposite..

we visited yesterday for lunch as a group of 9 and it was fantastic the service and food was amazing all staff very friendly and attentive. I had the pork belly roast and it was the best i have had , the vegetables were all fresh and delicious and the yorkshire pudding was massive!! we will be 100% returning as this is by far the best Sunday lunch around. Every one in the group had a great time and could no believe how reasonable the price is for the quality of food and service you get.

Visited as a group of 6. Service was incredible, food was incredible, wine was beautiful and Marie made the best espresso martini I’ve ever had. We will definitely be returning! Thank you :)

We found out about The Waddling Duck from the Guest house we were staying at locally- we were not disappointed and would fully recommend a meal here if staying in Babbacombe ( or anywhere in Torquay)

Absolutely delicious what a great Sunday lunch . If you’ve been to the waddling duck bistro before you will not be disappointed with their new venue it is brilliant overlooking the sea/Babbacombe Green it’s got the same amazing food and personal service just on a bigger scale. Thank you for making our visit special.

Absolutely stunning best meal out in Torquay by miles, worth every penny and gorgeous decor too

We came here last night for dinner for the first time. We were warmly greeted by Douglas who provided outstanding service throughout !! The food was superb! The ambience was perfect. We are definitely coming back here again and would highly recommend!

Super food, service and whole experience!!

Fantastic food and service. Went here for valentine's, the venison was the best I've ever had, absolutely brilliant! We will be back.

First time for me at the Waddling Duck at The Hamilton, I never got to experience the Wellswood venue. To be honest I found the large room at the Hamilton a bit lacking in atmosphere, and the loudish musak offputting. But that is the only non-positives about the experience. So I took my mother out for a meal there after reading lots of positive reviews. The food was excellent and the service very good - so nice of the owner to take time to talk to us. At first sight it seems a bit pricey, but when you consider what is included it is not that bad at all. I started with scotch egg with picallili which was gorgeous - the outer nice and crisp, the yoke just slightly runny, and the picallili gave it a nice tang. It was steak night so I had the Rump and it was a beautiful piece of meat, cooked nicely. With steak comes a drink (I had a local real ale), chips (I had the chunky chips) and a sauce. Mum had mushroom tagliatelli which she said was very tasty, and it came with a glass of wine included in the price. There was none of this paying extra for drinks sides and sauces, it was all included in the price which was very refreshing. And for desert we had Afaggato which was ice cream with a shot of espresso and I had an Amaretto with mine. It was beautifully presented and delicious. The overall price was very good at £72 for the two of us including all the food and drinks, which gave plenty of scope for a well deserved tip in addition. An excellent experience overall which I highly recommend to anyone wanting a nice meal out.

Perfect place for a birthday lunch! Would eat here again for sure

Very good.. will go back next time we are in Devon.. xx

I found The Waddling Duck by looking on Tripadvisor in the first place. The atmosphere was great - it had full covers on a Tuesday night in November - and the food was incredible, and plentiful. Service was friendly, personable, knowledgable and impeccable. The decor (and even the WiFi password!) was great fun and the food was the best I have eaten in a restaurant for quite some time (did I mention the food was great?). You must go here - if in any doubt, set it aside and book and go. Thanks for a memorable evening - and that Eton Mess.....

While on holiday we popped in on off-chance they had a table and we’re lucky they managed to squeeze us in. Food was delicious & good quality. Service was great, staff were very friendly and welcoming. My partner said it was the best steak he had & my pork belly was delicious. Would recommend booking in advance as limited tables.

Well, where do we start. This is by far the best place we've eaten in Torquay. A hidden gem. The atmosphere is perfect . The staff amazing , service was excellent with a big smile on their faces. The food simply stunning. My wife had the double baked souffle, I opted for the confit duck tartlet. Both full of flavour and perfect sized starters. Mains we had loin of cod and 10oz rump steak . Both cooked perfectly . Delicious sides of homemade chunky chips and local vegetables. The wine also complimented my steak. Desserts homemade of course, baileys tiramsu and chocolate brownies again amazing!! . We had a perfect evening and can't rate this restaurant highly enough!! Thank you xx

Amazing as always. Menu changes with what is in season, and ingredients are super high quality. The venison is to die for, melts in your mouth. Fantastic place

A superb evening meal in a wonderful setting. Calm and quiet we were amazed that one person could provide such a high level of service. Attentive and knowledgeable whilst making dealing with allergy requirements a dream. Food was also amazing with generous portions of hearty, tasty food. Definitely recommend.

Discovered this lovely bistro a couple of years ago and it has become a firm favourite. Its not huge so has a lovely intimate atmosphere, whether a celebratory meal or just meeting friends/family it suits all occasions. Menu has a good selection and chages with the seasons. Chef produces great dishes, consistently and Lydia is excellent front of house. Recommend you book to guarantee a table.

Amazing service, lovely food, especially the starters. Will come again!

Great food, the belly pork especially. Staff were attentive. It was chilly in the restaurant.

Went here for a meal on my birthday. It's a small, friendly Bistro run by a lovely woman who was our waitress on the night. Food was excellent and as we were there midweek it was very reasonably priced.

We have eaten here twice now and both times everything has veen excellent

We come here every time we come to Torquay for a holiday at least 3 times a year menu fantastic as I’m a coeliac have a brilliant range for me to eat I would highly recommend 😁😁

We booked to go for dinner our wedding anniversary. A great place, amazing food and a really warm welcome. We were made to feel very special

We have had the pleasure of dining here many times and the food, service and ambiance has always been first class. Lydia is so professional as front of house and Russell’s cooking is without question the best in Torbay.

Fabulous little bistro serving lovely selection of food. Varied menu and all local produce. Really top end food at a very reasonable prices. Lovely staff who were friendly and attentive . Would definitely recommend and will visit again when we are visiting family in Torquay

This place is wonderful!! Quirky little spot that has some of the best food I’ve eaten! The pork belly was so soft and moist 🤤. Also the service was outstanding they were left short staffed and the waitress was incredible attentive to everyone. Thank you for a wonderful evening and dinner.

A real hidden gem. Great service from front of house. Good choice of wines at low prices. Stand out dish for me the twice baked cheese soufflé light fluffy with a great depth of flavour. My main - slow cooked pork belly to me was lacking in flavour but was well cooked. The rump steak again lacked a depth of flavour but the pepper sauce was good. Sticky toffee pudding was another tour de force, not too sweet very flavoursome. All in all a lovely dining experience.

Had a 3 course meal here tonight with my wife while on holiday on the Torbay area. It was probably the best meal we've had in many many years! We simply could not fault anything at all. The service was warm and friendly, the ambiance was lovely and the food was simply fantastic! We wished we lived closer, but next time we are in Devon we will make sure to book way in advance. We popped in on Sunday on the off-chance and managed to get one of the only slots they had available this week. There is just one chef in the kitchen and how he turns out such brilliant food is amazing. Thankyou for making our stay so memorable.

Being on holiday in Torquay we were looking for a good Sunday lunch - well we found an immense Sunday lunch - Lydia and her colleague was so welcoming to this lovely Bistro, the food was delicious. A good choice of menu and very well priced- good value for money. Lunch was very tasty, very good quality of ingredients and presented lovely, the shared veg was just perfect. I would highly recommend this lovely Bistro and I wish Lydia and her partner years of success, they deserve it.

Family dinner at The Waddling Duck Bistro. Took visiting family along who had never visited before. Staff very welcoming and service was great. Food arrived without any delays and tasted amazing. Menu had a varied selection to suit all tastes. Cannot fault anything. Fab evening at The Waddling Duck again….thank you

Dined here while on a short break in Torquay and the food was excellent. Highly recommend it but it's advisable to book.

What an absolute belter of a restaurant! Lovely owner, staff! Stunning menu with either gluten-free meals or GF options. Its an absolute must if you're taking a break in Torquay

Lovely Bistro, tucked away in Torquay. Very welcoming with a relaxed ambience. The food was fresh and light, very well seasoned, and well balanced. Going back for Sunday lunch!!! So many restaurants of late are a disappointment but the Waddling Duck is a winner. Great white Rioja on the wine list by the way!!

Really loved our dinner last night. Delicious food matched with excellent service.

The food was absolutely delicious. Loved the décor Service was outstanding too. Highly recommend.

Nothing short of excellent - Attentive service, superb food - we were recommended to go to this bistro and it didn't disappoint! I would highly recommend a visit if.

Amazing value when you consider the prices charged by both national chains and alternative places to eat. Great service and lovely setting in Wellswood. The food is well cooked and absolutely lovely food. Very highly recommended.

Lovely meal, great service and exceptional staff. We visited on a busy evening and were impressed with the service given by the whole team. The food was great and decent sized portions, we will be coming again

First visit to this highly rated restaurant, as a group we were all impressed with the wonderful food & value for money. The mid week set meal is certainly that & had a good choice of dishes which were all beautifully cooked & presented. Excellent wines at very reasonable prices. The young lady front of house was most welcoming & informative. We will definitely book again on our next visit to the area.

Dined here midweek with friends, immediately made to feel welcome and that set the tone for an excellent evening, restaurant has a good relaxed ambiance, a small but quality menu of varied dishes all superbly presented, and full of flavour, refreshing change from the standard fayre you get in so many places nowadays. Good drinks choice and explanation of the various wines on offer, the service throughput was top notch and the place is a credit to the family owners, it’s reasonably priced too, will definitely return.

What a little gem, amazing little restaurant. Excellent service, excellent food.

A wonderful cosy bistro with an excellent menu and fabulous drinks selection. We were made to feel extremely welcome, including our little dog. Really great food, it’s obvious the staff take a lot of pride in the food they’re making and serving you. Lovely attention...

Came across this place online while looking for somewhere to have a fancy meal, while holidaying in Torquay. I'm so glad we decided to book as it did not disappoint! I highly recommend The waddling duck! The food is divine with perfect, generous portion sizes....

The food is so good. I have lived in Torquay for three years and missed this gem of a restaurant. The Staff are lovely , food so well cooked and atmosphere pleasant. Try the Chicken Kiew and Cheeseboard. Although everything was just good. This place...

Just superb as always. Lydia and Russell pride themselves in excellent food and service. Always a delight to experience

Having been regulars at the Duck for special occasions, this visit was not up to the very high standard we have been used to. While the food was as superb as ever, the amount on the plate for main courses was less than generous. The...

Last meal in Torquay and it was worth the wait! The front staff were lovely, chatting to us when they had the time. We had starters and main course, too full for dessert sadly and each course was delicious. We will definitely be back to...

We had never been before but had an amazing evening. We are foodies but the food was excellent and the service friendly and efficient. Highly recommended and we will be back next year. Thank you Nick and Gill

We had a lovely meal. Menu had good variety, including vegetarian options. All three courses were delicious and the midweek offer was great value, for really good quality food.

We have been dining here regularly since the restaurant first opened and have never been disappointed. The food and service are an excellent standard and the menu changes frequently so there is always something a little different to choose. Looking forward to our next visit.