Cantina 663, 6050

Cantina constantly turns out wonderful rustic Mediterranean suppers (and amazing scrambled eggs, but that’s another post). I dined here the very first night they opened (hell yes I just claimed that), and the food was as sumptuous back then, as it is now. The menu changes almost fortnightly, but three favourites stay. Gnocchi, duck liver parfait and gnocchi. 

Pan fried gnocchi, tomato sugo, roast carrot, olives, buffalo mozzarella, $25.5

The gnocchi at Cantina is worshipped by just about anyone who has tasted it. Little clouds of soft potato dumpling, lightly pan-fried, and arranged with the season’s best ingredients.  The delicate gnocchi pillows are so soft you don’t even have to chew them. Last week the kitchen paired the gnocchi with tomato sugo, roast carrot, olives and buffalo mozzarella, $25.5. A lovely rustic presentation of full flavours and supple textures. I have ventured outside of ordering gnocchi for dinner at Cantina many a time, and whilst I’ve never been disappointed with my choices, I’ve also never been quite as satisfied. Forget the meat, order the gnocchi. Have I mentioned the gnocchi yet? #gnocchi. 

The Holy Grail

Oh “I don’t like gnocchi”, I hear you exclaim? "Stodgy and gluggy", you say? Even if you despise this so often butchered Italian staple, I can promise you will enjoy Cantina’s creation. This gnocchi will erase all previous memories of starchy gnocchi. 

Oh and we also dined on...

Smooth and creamy duck liver parfait, onion jam, $15; a tin of the Ortiz anchovies, lemon, charred bread, shallots, parsley, $19.50; some of Rosa’s famous chorizo, house pickles, $14; and dunsborough whitebait fritters, tomato orange relish, aioli, $15. The parfait is the stand out of the entrees. The whitebait fritters were a bit doughy and not light and crisp as one imagined.  For mains we enjoyed the sweet and allspice'd jerk chicken, charred corn, sweet potato, spiced dates, $31.5 - a scrumptious nod to Creole cuisine. And also baked veal loin, mustard, crumbs, eggplant caponata, pine nuts, $33.5

Clockwise top left; duck liver parfait, whitebait fritters, baked veal loin and jerk chicken

Dessert time called for chocolate fondant and banana caramel tart with peanut butter ice cream. The tart pastry and melted centre was nothing spectacular, but the mild peanut ice cream was a treat!

Chocolate fondant and banana caramel tart

Food: 4.5/5 (Never been disappointed. Cannot get enough of the rustic Italian and Spanish eats here!)

Coffee: 4/5 (Fiori, always delicious)
Ambience: 5/5 (A little bit Tuscan, a little bit rustic and a little bit Melbourne, great location that soaks up the energy on Beaufort St.)
Service: 4/5 (snappy and knowledgeable, wait staff well versed on the menu and wine list)
Value: 3.5/5

Duende, 6007

What a sexy place! I absolutely adore the atmosphere; you can’t help but be consumed in the Iberian, nighttime mood. I recall "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" by Neil Diamond playing when I arrived, which was so fitting.

Stylish, warm and intimate, Duende is great for romantic dinners among couples or leisurely catch-ups in the company of old friends. You and your posse can gather around one of the Moorish design tables or perch up on a high chair at the horseshoe marble bar. 



Duende serves superb Spanish tapas, which I’d liken to any pinxtos bar in San Sebastian.  I'd say it is the closest thing I've tried to the amazing MoVida in Melbourne.  



Mushrooms, px vinegar, blue cheese $14

 I caught up with a childhood friend at Duende a little while ago, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish eats. The highlight dish for me was the Mushrooms; a mix of fleshy shrooms, vinegar, blue cheese and herbs; they were divine! I would gladly eat these for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snack times too!  

The sweet corn and Manchego croquettes are scrumptious; finely crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside. We also ordered the prawn, potato aioli, chimmichurri dish which comprises two large WA prawns with a lovely spicy mayonnaise like sauce.   For dessert we umm-ed and ah-ed, before settling on the raspberry pannacotta with yoghurt sorbet. It was sweet and light; a perfect end to a fantastic meal. 



WA Prawns,  potato aioli, chimmichurri $12

Sweet corn & Manchego croquettes $12

All the tapas range from $2 for spicy popcorn to $28 for the beef fillet.   3 tapas plus a dessert was enough to satisfy my (*note: petite) friend and I.  

The quirky, mostly foreign staff are well versed on the kitchens offerings too. A request for a tapas or wine recommendation is met with a thoughtful suggestion. 



Raspberry pannacotta, yoghurt sorbet $12

Buzzing, sensual ambience, informed service and outstanding Mediterranean food; this place ticks all my boxes. I can't believe it took me so long to try.

Food: 4.5/5

Ambience: 5/5

Service: 4/5

Duende

662 Newcastle St 
Leederville, WA 6007

08 9228 0123