REVIEW | DUCK DUCK GOOSE

It was a lazy Easter weekend, and most of my usual brunch haunts were closed, so I decided to try somewhere new I had driven past a few times. And for the love of bao, I was glad I did.

With lots of bright sunshine courtesy of the high ceiling and neutral coloured, modern décor, Duck Duck Goose has a relaxed atmosphere to it. We ordered the pork belly and karaage chicken baos to eat. Both had meat that was tasty and tender, matched only by the incredibly soft bao dough sandwiching it. The texture was balanced with a deliciously crunch slaw and sprout salad, with just the right amount of Japanese mayonnaise, ginger and pickles on the side. I’ve been disappointed by bao burgers in the past, most of which have been dry and plain, but I would eat them at Duck Duck Goose any day.

I also ordered my first beetroot latte. I tried my first turmeric latter the previous weekend at another café to see what all the fuss is about, but found that there wasn’t much flavour. However, the beetroot latte at Duck Duck Goose, apart from being a beautiful pink colour, was delicious. You could taste the subtle earthiness of the beetroot and there was a good hit of spice.

In addition to the excellent food and coffee, the thing that makes this café stand out in my memory the most is the customer service. The staff were incredibly nice and attentive. Even though it wasn’t too busy, they never dropped the ball and were always alert in case a customer needed something. Both waiters on duty asked how the meal was and wished me a good day. Duck Duck Goose is on the same street as the more high profile café Major Tom, but at Major Tom I have to say the service was not great. Some of the staff were completely disinterested, and we got the feeling we were being rushed so that they could clear tables as fast as possible. If you asked me who the better café is, I would point you towards Duck Duck Goose, a café that shows bigger is not always better.

A charming café with warmth, staff who make you feel welcome, and excellent food. Duck Duck Goose is a winner.

Customer Service: Friendly, alert and attentive 5/5

Drinks: Great coffee 5/5

Food: Perfect bao burgers 5/5

Location: Rosedale, Albany

Photos are copyright to Storme Sen