Duende Tapas Bar

My husband and I had lunch here today and it did not disappoint. The staff were all friendly and accommodating. It was really quiet and the chef came out to take our dessert order and have a chat. The scotch fillet steak was full of flavour and cooked perfectly and duck ragu gnocchi was amazing. We finished on their tiramadrid, a Spanish take on the Italian dessert 🫢 and it was hands down the best we have ever eaten. I didn’t take any photos but we will definitely be back again.

Delicious food and great service! So many GF options too. I like how the staff wear the same uniform, and are so friendly. I do feel like Duende perhaps needs a little "pick me up" though. The vibe feels a bit flat - almost like the restaurant is just cruising along, but lacking a bit of "spark." I feel like the frontage needs refreshing to welcome customers in (stacked chairs are not a good look at the front, for example), and the interior needs a little freshen up. Duende should have more buzz, and it really wouldn't take too much to create it! Duende is a Leederville classic and we'd recommend you go.

Food and drinks were delicious, the Halloumi & Croquetas de Maiz were stand out dishes. We'll definitely be back.

We had high hopes for this experience. Opted for the 4 course set menu. Unfortunately, we were quite disappointed with the taste, presentation and portions. There were 4 couples but one of the courses we had to share three plates between 8 people, didn’t make sense. The food tasted bland, the steak was cut up into pieces and closer to rare side. We were not asked how we like it cooked. The dessert was okay but nothing special. Also for 8 people, the table felt cramped. For that price, I wouldn’t recommend.

Very fun, welcoming place. Great traditional interior and easy, relaxed atmosphere. We've been here several times recently and it's always been good. Staff, especially the vibrant Natalia, look after everyone pretty well. We've usually just have small plates and find usually 3-4 is more than plenty for the two of us. And everything has been delicious. Good wine selection. Hats off to Phil and the gang.

Wow amazing Spanish food and lovely staff. Staff happy to explain the menu. Paella 5 stars ⭐✨

It has been many years since we’ve been back to Duende. Must definitely come back again sooner. The food and wine was fantastic. The tapas were great. Thank you to Phil for a great meal. Highly recommended.

Service is very good , ambience is decent But food in my opinion is lacking. The pork belly was ok. But the anchovies was very salty. The paella is not paella. It’s basically fried rice. I think paella need to be simmer in a pan till the Sauce dried up and cooked. But still it’s decent place to be at. Thanks

A really interesting place for some small bites. We were greeted by a friendly server who promptly seated us. The place was packed on a Saturday afternoon. The Soumah yarrow valley savarro wine is so good. We also snacked on garlic prawns, Marinated octopus, Chickpea saffron ragout and Kingfish ceviche. Oh my gosh the kingfish!!! Melts in your mouth. Love the energy of this restaurant. The food is so unique and flavorful. We had really good service on our visit.

Bad vibes from walking in with empty tables, substandard decor and cheap tables/plates/glasses/silverware. The service was fantastic and the Italian ?manager who corrected our order after the server screwed it up was phenomenal. Which is why it saddens me to say that this place is perfectly average. The standard of review seems to have dropped on Yelp so please take this with the way things used to be: The food here is edible without inspiration. Lacking enjoyment from my food I opted to doggy bag it and see if I get desperate enough tomorrow. This place is not at a price point to make me ever visit again.

Really funky little restaurant with inventive yet still traditional Spanish tapas. They have an extensive wine menu with a great selection of international wines as well. We splurged and ordered a nice bottle of imported 2008 Spanish Tempranillo, the perfect accompaniment to any tapas meal. We ordered the patatas bravas to start which were hearty and plentiful. They came in a terracotta pot that was an interesting touch. We had the sweet corn and manchego croquetas as well which were delicious, as well as the braised boneless oxtail. The oxtail was one of the best dishes of the night - it was fork tender, somehow creamy and melted in your mouth. It was served with a divine nut sauce that was the perfect complement. We had the alcachofas which was an amazing salad of charred artichoke hearts, crunchy shaved asparagus spears, piquillo peppers, all sitting atop a creamy eggplant puree. I can confidently say that this was one of the best salads I've ever had! Delicious. The pulpo con chorizo was a little disappointing though - I found the octopus overcooked and chewy and the massive slab of mayo was extremely rich. The chorizo slices were good though. We shared a cheese plate for dessert with a few Spanish cheeses and a nice glass of the Pedro Ximenez sherry. We had an amazing manchego and iberico and even ventured out to try a Spanish blue cheese which was interestingly salty and grey in colour. Not our cup of tea but we were glad we tried a new cheese! Come to Duende if you want a great meal that will continue to surprise your tastebuds, in a good way!

I was at Duendé about a month or so ago with our daughter and enjoyed it immensely - so I was pleasantly surprised when the owner asked us to come back to check out the new menu - apparently it came into play only a few days after my visit. Who could resist? So this time - using Lady FWO's birthday as a convenient excuse to get out to Leederville again we hopped on a train and were soon sitting in much the same spot as before - in the little outdoor area chatting to Phil the owner and chef Johnny who ran through the new dishes - some completely new additions, others a little changed and some old favourites as they have been always. The drinks list concentrates on Spanish and Portuguese offerings, but not to the exclusion of some very good Australian and other European wines; and we kicked off with a glass of Weingut Brundlemayer L&T 2013 Gruner Veltliner for me - lemon and pepper on the nose, with a crisp, dry palate redolent of celery, lime and white pepper - and a drop of champagne - Jean Paul Paradel by De Sousa Brut NV for Lady FWO - floral and biscuity bouquet, crisp, citrusy and delicate palate, with a fine and sustained bead. A small bowl of oil and bread helped whet our appetite as we considered our order. In the end we decided on a couple of examples from the tapas portion of the menu - fried whitebait and chicken and mushroom cigar- before moving on to four larger (but not too large) dishes. The whitebait was some of the best we have had - crisply fried but not a drop of oiliness, and with a small bowl of mildly spicy chipotle aioli to dip, a great start. A Fidel Castro sized cigar of juicy and moist minced chicken and mushrooms encased in a spring roll pastry, fried and served with salsa rosa - a zesty mayo infused with tomato sauce - came then and also ticked all the right boxes. Now we moved on to the next part of our Spanish inspired culinary experience. Grilled haloumi sat curled on a bed of pepperonata, along with bell peppers, roasted and collapsing with sweet juices running freely - and surrounded by a swirls of chimichurri - with its characteristic fresh, garlicky, herbal notes - it was a wonderful amalgam of flavours and textures. Sweet, spicy, nutty.....loved it. Next came tender, succulent Goldband snapper, perfectly cooked, on a bed of farro, cauliflower cream and a smattering of bitter greens and flowers on top. It looked beautiful on the plate and the taste lived up to expectations - the farro provided a chewy, nutty addition to complement the sweetly flavoured, well-seasoned fish, and the creaminess of the cauliflower sauce - crisp, sharp flavours from the greens gave another dimension to this excellent meal. Spiced chick peas -buttery, nutty and starchy the chick peas were cooked in a delightfully spicy and zesty sauce of tomato and chilli, with wilted spinach and silverbeet folded through - scattered with fried shallots and capped with an exquisitely perfumed saffron infused labne. For me this would be, with flat bread, a perfect breakfast - and indeed since we visited I have cooked it up a couple of times just for that. Excellent! Finally we tried Brussels sprouts crunchily, crisp, well-seasoned with scattered sea salt, on a foundation of tender white beans, roasted heirloom tomatoes and a slab of creamy, crumbly baked ricotta. This was another well put together dish - salty, creamy, nutty, buttery and freshly flavoured. Naturally lunch would not be the same without a little more wine, and we moved, after our initial glass to a bottle of the wonderful 2014 Amber from Cullen in Margaret River. This was their first orange wine - a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, left on the skins for a time to impart a hauntingly golden hue with flecks of apricot at the edge - an intensely fragrant bouquet of orange marmalade, pears and dash of honeyed sweetness - the palate is creamy, full flavoured, with notes of dried figs, peaches and with a citrusy saltiness on the back palate that leaves you wanting more. It was another excellent meal at this Leederville icon - a pioneer of Spanish food in Perth it still ranks among the best -very good food, well cooked and an interesting wine list combine to make a visit an experience to savour. And our waiter was exceptional as well - friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and engaging. Disclaimer: We were the guests of Duendé - the food was complimentary, while we paid for our drinks.

Its so rare that I give 5 star reviews, but Duende, oh god Duende... You know that look girls get when they see Ryan Gosling on the big screen, and that sigh which follows promptly thereafter? That's how Duende makes me feel. Our waitress was a gorgeous girl, who reminded me of that girl who plays luna lovegood in the harry potter movies. She was friendly and helped me pick the perfect dishes, definitely some wise decisions. Classic Ravenclaw. I was captivated by the garlic prawns with Romesco and was seduced by the succulent scallops. I was impressed by the Brave Potatos - not just because they were cooked to perfection but the fact they were called brave potatos. I have to admit I was sold on the potatos based purely on my curiousity on how potatos can be quanitified as "brave". This place is a MUST on your to do list in leedy, and just so happens to be right near some of leedys other fantastic eateries. Duende... you are the Ryan Gosling to my inner fangirl. *sigh*

I hadn't been to Duende for a couple of years, as my first experience was pretty average and expensive. I ended up there last night for a friend's birthday, only because Kitsch was closed, and I am so glad we did. The food was phenomenal, with the crumbed cauliflower and the feild mushroom baked in a vinaigrette with blue cheese being the highlights. But seriously ALL of the food was show stoppingly good, with everyone at the table groaning with delight after each bite. Plus it wasn't ridiculously expensive and the service, interior and ambiance was fantastic. Will definitely be back soon and will certainly try the mini donut balls with condensed milk! Ps. They're now open for breakfast and the word on the street is that it's amazing.

This was an absolutely fantastic evening; I am a fan of great service and Duende delivered in spades we were greeted at the door, served drinks and entertained by the same waiter who was amazingly friendly, engaging and could provide personal space. So when you add to this great tasty food and lovely wines you are on a winner, the atmosphere was also lovely on the night we were here; you could here each other amongst the buzz and music. I judge a restaurant by how soon I want to return and Duenda I want to visit again very soon a very enjoyable experience.

Terrible service. First we waited about 20minutes just for a glass of water served with ice and lemon. Next our food takes over an hour to come. We alert a waitress who said she would check at the kitchen. She never came back to tell us what is going on or when to expect our food. We decide to leave the table, go to the till and no one comes to serve us. In frustration, we walked out. Then, someone rang us to ask us to pay the bill for food we didn't even receive. When I explained the situation, instead of apologising they threatened to 'alert the authorities'. I asked for the manager to call me. Instead, the manager sent a very rude and hostile text. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to my worst enemy.

We went to Duende for breakfast on a sunny Sunday morning. It was rather busy so we took a seat inside. The menu is fab! There are both sweet and savory options to choose from. I decided on the Eggs Bene and a coffee and Mr. T went for the Doughnut Balls and a coffee. Food arrived rather quickly and both dishes were well presented. Mr. T's Doughnut Balls were light fluffy sugary balls on warm heaven and everything on the plate complimented each other. As a self professed chocoholic, I loved the chocolatey elements and was more than happy to taste a little bit of everything. My dish was also flawless! The rosti was tasty and flavoursome. It was topped with perfectly poached eggs and a light,and creamy mustard sauce. We each had a coffee which was hot and rich in flavour. This establishment is 'bookmark now' kinda place!

I've been holding out on reviewing Duende for some time now, They have so many reviews, but I've decided it's time. I've been here a couple of times before and I've never faulted their menu or their staff, except price, your bill can get quite expensive pretty quickly once you start ordering the food. My last outing to Duende was with a couple of friends, it was a Saturday night and we were heading to a show nearby. I thought we could grab some quick tapas and have another dinner after the show so i suggested Duende. Since none of my friends were in a state to drink anything (we were all driving or had to wake up early the next morning) we decided on just eating. Upon arrival we were greeted by a lovely waiter in a nice business like attire, there were some empty tables and I told him we will be very quick and apologized for not having a reservation. He said it was OK, but he couldn't seat us since he was not the service manager. Now I know this is common practice for waiters to have sections and there is an over arching service manager who cross works in between the sections, but she was no where to be seen. So we waited awkwardly at the door staring at other people's food while the nice waiter in the business attire just smiled and waited with us. When a lady finally came, she asked us if we had been here before, I told her yes and before she could seat us I clearly said none of us will be drinking before she dropped the book of drinks on us! Duende has this system of always giving you the drinks menu first, but when a customer clearly says they have been here before and they just wanted to eat, then wouldn't it be logical to ignore the protocol and give us the food menu. I was ignored and we were seated at the table with drinks menu only which had a few cocktails which were interesting but really none of us were in a state to be drinking. I looked around our section and found our waiter and approached him since he wasn't intending to approach us. I asked him for the food menu and he said to me "You're not ordering drinks?" like I had just asked him to murder someone for me. The amount of attitude I got from him made us feel awkward and guilty. So I took one for the team and decided I'll order one drink as a way to bargain for the food menu. I ordered one cocktail ($18). We got our food menu and I flagged down our disturbing waiter again and he asked if we had been here before and I could sense he was getting his script ready to educate us all about tapas and what Duende was about. I stopped him in his tracks politely and told him we knew what we were doing, we were hungry and I know what tapas are. I've always known Duende to serve small plates some portion sizes not worth sharing at all so since I knew all my friends well I ordered 7 dishes. The waiter said "NO", that was too many dishes for 3 people and that 5 dishes would be enough. He had completely ignored what I had said to him and just because he think he knows better he decided how much we should eat. He pointed out the 5 best dishes out of the 7 I chose and told us he would get them for us. He didn't even write down our order, which in the service world I find very rude because it says to the customer that your just going to remember it and maybe forget it... When the food arrived my friends and I just scoffed it down and didn't want to complain so we just paid and left. Portion sizes are small and sometimes the plate has more space for air than the food being served. Price wise, Duende, like I said earlier can get expensive if your hungry. Wait staff can be a hit or miss and quite pretentious. And very greedy.

I meet up with a friend on a weekday night for a drink and decided to try this place. It was very crowded when we enter the restaurant and there's only available seats at the bar. It doesnt matter to me as i like sitting at the bar cos you can have some interraction with the bartender that serve you and give you some good recommendation. This is a tapas place, so of cos, you cant runaway from Sangria (that's what i think). When our bartender approach us for drinks, i asked him if their Sangria is good, or he can made me something better. His response was "i've not tried our Sangria before, let me try." LOL, so immediately he get 2 glasses and pour some of the Sangria for himself and me to try. The next thing i hear is "Ok, i'm going to made you my proudest drink". Me and my fren was like, OK, go ahead, we love to try. So he made us some cocktail with cherry in it. I don't even know what's the name for it. He's right, she should be proud of the drink. It was awesome!!!! i've been to a few mixology bar before and I should say the drink he made was sooo good. My guy friend love it so much he ended up getting 2 of those. So, with the good cocktail recommendation, i ask for food recommendation from him as well. This time, i have high expectation on it since he did well for the first recommendation. I should say we've made the right choise of sitting at the bar that night. We ordered 2 tapas for share and both were very good. I left Duende with a satisfied tummy, definitely enjoyed my dining experience here. Tips: Sit at the bar, Don't bother to waste your time cracking your head on what to eat.

Very cosy little place! I can't believe i'd never been until my friend took me last night to wash away the disappointment of some bland mexican down the rd. We just went in for a glass of wine but ended up ordering some desert. I'm not a huge fan of donuts but these homemade donut balls with vanilla bean icecream was the bomb! That cinnamon sugary melt in your mouth taste was there, and I savored every bite. Our bar man was a very enthusiastic, friendly guy who knew a good red which he recommended wisely to us. Was a very cosy place, perfect for a date or a winter meal with a bestie. Must be back to try the food!

There are a lot of reviews for this place - do you really need to read one more? Probably not, but just take it as a recent update; this place is still rocking. Had one of my best waiter experiences in Perth with the young man working the terrace seating on a Saturday night -- I wish I had gotten his name so I could publish it. Rest assured, I did compliment him well on his work. He was fantastic. Dishes (we had five of the tapas plates) were all pretty much licked clean. Will only offer these tips for you, dear readers: book, or get in early. Terrace spots are warmed by gas heaters, but gaps in the plastic curtains on a cool Winter night means you need your cardies and long pants. Inside seating is warmer, but it's very noisy. No good for intimacy. You have been advised! Two thoroughly satisfied diners, five dishes, three alcoholic beverages, bill about $130.

I had heard a lot about duende and was disappointed by my experience there as the food was expensive and average. The service is fantastic and the waiters very friendly when you ask them for assistance. Their drinks menu is massive but the prices insane. One small jug of sangria is 24 dollars and barely squeezes out four drink glasses. My fried had a 21 dollars watermelon cocktail. They have an extensive sherry list. Between the 8 of us we each ordered an appetizer - the paella ball with prawn and chorizo and a shared platter. Between two people it is recommended that you get two share platters and an appetizer. Share platters range from 17 dollars to 34. I tried the garlic prawns (they are great and come with around 10 prawns for around 17 dollars), duck liver parfait (this tastes very strange) , chicken pimento (very bland despite the sauce), lamb and pork meatballs (these were good) and pork belly (four square pieces which were ok). They do split bill which is amazing. I went on a Thursday night and it was fully booked. Make sure you book in advance.

Another home run for the little Spanish restaraunt. All dishes were executed with a deft hand and all in timely fashion. The mushrooms with Gorgonzola cheese was the hero dish today. The cheese that was melted gave a wonderful punch of flavour that lifted the humble mushy into the higher echelon, that combined with the sweetness of the walnuts produced a wonderful mouthful every time ps please let the cheese melt a little more To wrap it up, fantastic food, great service in a funky establishment is what you will receive if you choose Duende as your hunger stopper. Food 8.5/10 service 7.5/10

I absolutely love the atmosphere at Duende. I think "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" by Neil Diamond was playing when I arrived here the other week. Stylish, warm and intimate, its great for a romantic dinner with your significant other, or a leisurely catch up with a small group of friends. Recently revamped, the restaurant now makes a better use of space. Gather around one of the Iberian design tables or perch up on a high chair at the horseshoe marble bar. Duende serves superb Spanish tapas, which you could 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. I recently caught up with a long time friend at Duende, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish eats. The stand out dish for me was the Mushrooms. A mix of fleshy mixed shrooms, vinegar, blue cheese and herbs; they were divine! I could eat a whole bowl of these. The sweet corn and Manchego (Spanish cheese) croquettes are tasty too; 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 panna cotta with yoghurt sorbet. It was sweet and light; a perfect end to a fantastic meal. All the tapas range from $2; 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 European staff are well-informed on the menus offerings. A request for a tapas or wine recommendation is met with a thoughtful suggestion. Buzzing, sensual ambience, informed service and amazing food, this place ticks all my boxes. I can't believe it took me so long to try.

Awesome place. The atmosphere is very relaxing, warm and cosy. I like the seats inside best. There are tables that fit 6 people comfortably so its a good place for groups. The menu is tapas with an extensive wine selection. The staff are friendly, welcoming and helpful. I really appreciated the great wine suggestions from the staff.

Duende is a Spanish restaurant with a classy, modern vibe. From the outside, it seems small and unimposing, but looks are deceiving - the interior is roomy and there is ample seating. For those who want to eat alfresco, outdoor seating is also available. The decor of Duende is upscale, yet intimate. There is a good match of dark colours that add warmth to the interior, without appearing too claustrophobic or gloomy. At night, candles are lit at every table, giving off a whimsical atmosphere. Duende has a range of delicious tapas available. The white anchovies, potato, salsa verde is an interesting take on the concept of "fish and chips", with the anchovies placed on top of a potato chip. The sticky pork belly bites are wonderful, with a generous slice of fat on top of a sliver of meat, topped with a lovely sweet sauce. Their paella is also very nice, and served in a metal dish. The portions of paella are very generous, so bring your appetite. The paella changes each evening, so it is a good idea to ask the friendly staff what ingredients are being served. Duende is a great Spanish restaurant serving fantastic food. While the prices are somewhat on the steep side, the food is quality. Duende is recommended if you are in the mood for some Spanish fare.

Frequent this great little place. Love the fit out, seating arrangement and the plethora of artwork that adorns the place. My favourite is the painted art piece that tells a little story of it's own (loop up). The food tops everything else in Leederville and unlike most sharing plates these are all extremely filling. Top it off with Sangria and a walk along the cafe strip and it is a night in heaven. Perfect for small groups or that special romantic evening by candle light, will leave the sense satiated.

I enjoyed sitting about the bar sipping my sangria just as much as the tapas. A Leeverville gem.

When I go out for dinner, I like to order a meal, and know that it is (a) listed as the full price I'm going to pay and (b) is going to fill me. That's why I don't like tapas, and despite what many people told me (and hence why I tried out Duende), Duende is just the same as every other stupid tapas restaurant, except even more expensive than most, if that's possible. Sometimes I think tapas restaurants are a practical joke, and the whole world is in on it but me. I opened Duende's menu to see such whimsical listings as 'cold meat and pickles - $12', 'paella balls (i.e. not a full plate of paella, just a few fork-fulls) - $14', '3 pieces of cheese - $20'. I mean, come on, is this for real??? Are we in wartimes? Do we pay with ration books?? And then we get to the other dishes where they just list a collection of random ingredients that in no way go together to make up even a portion of a meal - 'beef, raisins, spinach and mushrooms ($28!!)', 'scallops, sausage and apple puree', 'musrooms, vinegar and blue cheese ($14!!!!). It's like a terrible episode of Ready, Steady, Cook! You'll need at least three of these stupid dishes to even start feeling full and you won't be able to pay rent after it. Keep your cash and go to Jus Burger down the way - you'll get a burger and a portion of chips for less than the price of one tapas, and at least brugers and chips go together!!

What an excellent place for breakfast! There is definitely a warm welcoming vibe that oozes out of this place when you walk in and the food does not disappoint! I went for the vegetarian breakfast with scrambled eggs, this featured avocado, mushrooms, spinach, beans and asparagus on my plate. Delicious!! How anyone can mess up that combo, I don't know. But to make that combo tick all the boxes? They did it! Another great find in Leedy, I'm just disappointed in myself that I hadn't ventured in here sooner! (Sorry a star was lost due to slow service, but they really are friendly enough!)

A favourite spot in Leederville that never disappoints. From their brunch to their drinks, tapas to full meals, I always leave happy! Fantastic wine list that has a lot to offer by the glass & bottle, interesting cocktails, cheese boards that change the featured cheese regularly and delicious tapas. My favourite are the corn croquettes (yummmmm) and potatoes bravas (although I recommend sharing these or else they're a bit much). Gets busy on weekends so might want to book ahead. Last time in I had the asparagus with roasted pepper which was delicious and of course corn croquettes. And lots of wine.

It was my first time at Duende today and, while the food was nice, I am not sure if I will be rushing back. From the moment we sat down the service was slow and after 10 minutes of sitting we had to ask to see the drinks menu (it was maybe only a quarter full too). After another wait we ordered drinks and some food. We had a few different dishes, the highlights being the albondigas and the scallop with morcilla, but none of it tasted particularly authentically Spanish. They did have an extensive menu of wines and cocktails but with Pintxos right across the road I'm not particularly tempted to visit Duende again.

If the prices were a bit lower, I would be a big fan, but given it's Perth, that won't happen, so I'll just have to take a deep breath, accept the prices, and move on. That aside, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall tastiness of the tapas that we had. Having heard that Duende used to be expensive and provided average, if not worse, food, we decided to revisit several years later. Overall, it was a good experience, despite the fact that some of the tapas missed the mark. Worth noting, many of the wines by the glass were Spanish wines, which isn't always the case at restaurants that specialize in one nation's form of cuisine. Although I am not as familiar with Spanish wines, especially Spanish whites, the owner made sure I found a wine I liked. Luckily, the third time was a charm and the white wine I chose tasted great with my meal. Most memorable were the stuffed peppers, which were in a delicious sauce that was great for dipping bread in afterwards. The chorizo was tasty, but a bit salty. Do not order the nuts, they were not tasty and were nothing special. Unfortunately, the patatas bravas were grainy, tasteless, and left much to be desired. The jamon also was disappointing--it tasted like plastic. Bottom line: Be prepared to enjoy some tapas and dislike others at Duende.

Amazing food, atmosphere and staff.. I rolled out of that place after the most scrumptious tapas! I highly reccomend going there on a somewhat empty stomach, the portion sizes are definitely not tapas size (who's complaining really) ;)

The food was nice however, the service was some of the worst I have ever experienced. I pre paid for the degustation $80 per person. We never received the wine pairings. After raising this with the manager he mentioned that "sometimes these things get overlooked" we had to order a bottle of wine and he refused to give the bottle of wine to us free of charge due to their mistake and we were forced to pay for it. The staff and manager were some of the rudest people I have come across. There was no apology, nothing. We refuse to go back there.

Have tried many of the dishes available here and I have to say they're delicious. Authentic Spanish tapas in the heart of Leederville, wonderful knowledgable staff, great service, nice restaurant and bar. The food is tasty and fresh with great flavours.

Duende is a Spanish tapas bar in Leederville. I came here a couple of weeks ago for my anniversary with my boyfriend. We arrived around 7pm and it was completely booked out by they took down our number and we went and had a drink elsewhere until they called us which was only about 30 minutes. It was really busy inside but I still really enjoyed the atmosphere. We ordered a jug of sangria (yumm!), chrizo and prawn arancini, pumpkin and feta salad, duck and chicken meatballs and the salted caramel dessert. Everything came out quickly and was delicious and we left very full and satisfied! Overall the price wasn't too bad, about $40 a head but that included drinks so we thought it was fairly reasonable!

I went here for the first time for dinner during the week with friends. We rang to make a booking for 4 but were told they don't do bookings ( I think the info on here says they do ) however we easily got a table. The interior is warm and dark, exactly how i was expecting it to be with soft lighting and a large central bar that you can sit at to eat and drink. The waitresses were very attentive, constantly topping up our waters and taking new orders. Through-out the eveing we ordered 2 bottles of Spanish red which were very nice. It's a "share" type of place so we ordered a bunch of different things, chicken croquettes, squid, potatas bravas that came with a nice relish, a salad of pumpkin, beetroot, feta etc. All very tasty. We ordered about 5 dishes which was enough for 4 people without feeling too full afterwards. For dessert we ordered the doughnuts with condensed milk & ice-cream ($14)....so good! I have to make these at home! My friends ordered the flour-less chocolate cake ($14) which although they said it was nice, the portion was a tad ridiculous in size (sooo small) It's definitely worth checking out, good for small groups and couples. Apparently the breakfast is amazing so I'm going to have to try it

So much Love for this place. My boyfriend treated me to a lovely dinner here on Wednesday afternoon. As soon as we arrived one of the lovely waitresses showed us to a nice table out on the terrace. We placed an order for 500ml jug of Sangria, some olives & oysters to start. Everything came out so quickly and was amazing. We then ordered a few more dishes, including the white anchovies, prawn & chorizo paella balls, goat & couscous and the mushrooms with gorgonzola. I cannot remember a time recently when every dish ordered has been so delicious! There was not a dud in there. My stand out was definitely the mushrooms! We left with full tummies & little boozey and only $100 down. Very impressed with the food & service, we will be coming back to try the breakfast & desserts.

Average at best. Decided to go here on a whim for a late night meal. Having never been there, my wife and I ordered five dishes to get a taste of a variety of things and nothing really stood out. The chorizo was the best thing but I've never had a bad chorizo before. We ordered the paella bomba and the cerdo y queso, the latter was good but the first was average for something that's $5 each. We then had the Plato de embutido, a selection of cold meats, peppers, chorizo. Again, the only thing with mentioning is the chorizo. The patatas bravas were good, the pulpo con chorizo (octopus with chorizo and potatoes) was average as a dish and I was expecting more. The costilla de res (beef short rib) was very disappointing, it was falling off the bone but very dry at the same time, how? I don't know. Would I go there again? I wouldn't be running back. If you eat the number of dishes we did with nothing that impresses, that's saying something. But who knows, I may be wrong, and perhaps we tried all their worst dishes, a lot of other reviewers seem to like it.

Called in here for an early morning (8am) breaky on Sunday. Service was great! The food - again fantastic. Fresh OJ is great, and the coffees are spot on.

interesting décor, i'll give it that, and the service is very welcoming. however $12 for a pot of soy chai, which wasn't brewed very strongly and not very hot, was disappointing. I've never paid that much for a pot of chai, so that had me and my girlfriend rather perplexed the chocolate dessert we had was nice, but for $15 it seemed rather pricey. I have had some nice fruit toast there before on a breakfast visit, but otherwise I don't think I there was something interesting I saw on the menu, $5 fritatia, so may perhaps visit again to try that, as I have got quite an interest in the whole Spanish food/tapas scene after Restaurant Revolution with La Linea for Perth. So at this time, it's a 2 out of 5 for me.

Rye with guacamole and tomato salsa that comes out smaller than the size of my palm shouldn't cost $15 and the add on of 2 poached eggs taking the price to $20 is just shameful. I walked away from breakfast hungry. The guacamole and salsa were beautifully seasoned and balanced but the eggs while cooked well had very little flavour. My orange juice was also pretty blah, it might have been freshly squeezed but those oranges needed to be thrown out days ago. Next time I'll go to Catina instead.

Duende serves tapas. If you know how I feel about tapas, then you know how I feel about Duende. Despite being here previously about two years ago, I forgot how meager the portions are (1 bite for 1 person = $12... not enjoyable math). However, that one morsel was absolutely delicious. I raved about it when I got home. This deliciousness is bittersweet - so good yet you only get just one. The olive and chorizo appetizers were far more "bang for buck". The crowd here was definitely of the 40+ on a Friday evening, arguably those that can throw down. Duende is one of the more refined establishments in Leederville, especially if one wants to sit outside and not in a bar. Service wasn't bad but not great either. One of our servers came across very abrupt/stern, however, the other server was very nice. The place does get packed early on so make reservations accordingly.

I kept hearing about this place and how amazing it is so I finally decided to try it out for a girls lunch the day before my wedding. Great choice! The service is fantastic and the wine selection wonderful, we got a delicious bottle of white wine perfect for the occasion. Tapas is my favourite kind of food and the dishes were so good, especially the prawn and chorizo balls. The only downside was they forgot the vegetarian dish and the one vego on the table was hungry and had only bread. Loved the atmosphere and the location and will definitely be returning.

This tiny restaurant is intimate but great for friends too as sharing tapas is the best way here. Delicious food and sangria made it a great night!

It was Sunday and that means - lunch. Somewhere. As luck would have I had won a freebie double to Nick Caves 20,000 Days on Earth at Luna Leederville and after such a spellbinding, seriously - go see it, movie the Uber Blonde and I were both a tad peckish. Duende has been on our radar for years and has changed hands at least once since we said "we must go there" and, well, never did. Well today was the day. So after strolling through a largely empty Garden at the Leederville we actually walked straight in to a table for two across the road. It was heaving indoors and noisy so we sat at a footpath fringe table outside. A menu was in our hands immediately and it was pretty impressive. Just like being in Spain really - Spanish, Italian and even the odd Mendozan tipple and lots of beers. Being a Sunday we decided on one each of the Frassinelli Conegliano Prosecco from Valdobbiadene, one of Italy's premier sparkling regions. It arrived, after a while, frosty and fab. Meanwhile we had decided on the pumpkin and goats feta salad and the char grilled ocky and chorizo. The menu is actually very good and the wine list approaches Rockpool proportions - without the 4000% mark-up. All very exhausting that reading and luckily, as the food arrived, so did my Azul y Garanza "Funamble" Cava near frozen and beautiful. The service was picking up and the salad and squid were ab fab - note perfect in texture, presentation and taste. So while we had the lovely waitresses attention we ordered the px mushrooms and scallops on shredded pork. Well I must say I have had mushrooms tapas style many times but not like this. Fat juicy fungus nestled in a wonderful px jus with tart blue cheese and candied walnuts. Show stopper! They were a perfect foil for the scallops. Marvellous food. The Blonde had spotted a 50% off sign at the funky little shoe salon across the road and she was off. I settled back with a chilled Maetierra "Guerilla" Verdejo from Rueda and watched the world go by.

Why am I writing a review for a restaurant that's got so many positive reviews already? Simple, it's so that I'm reminded that there are great restaurants around that I've enjoyed. The food here is really good, clever and well presented. A good selection of tastes and the menu has a wide cover for vegetarians. If you want a more bar like tapas venue then there is better, (as long as you aren't a vegetarian - I'm looking at you Andaluz!) but I'll probably turn up here more often than not.

Very good tapas bar. Nice to eat there for something really outside the box. Wasn't expecting the meals to be so interesting. I guess I don't have sangria much :) Try it for a change. Very affordable meals too. Waitress was talkative and helpful which is always nice.

This place has had its ups and downs for me over the last few years... That said, it's got brand new owners and a brand new head chef so I'm definitely keen to head back for some food. I hang out regularly for meetings and a glass of wine but I'm keen to see where the food goes. Due des has great people watching and an inviting atmosphere. I'm excited to rediscover this delicious destination.

Service is shocking. Waitress was so rude. For a restaurant that serves great food and wine, it's disappointing that your staff let you down. Doesn't make for a pleasurable dining experience. Certainly makes it difficult to recommend.

My mother, sister and I went for dinner this evening, we were given a wine menu only and had to ask for a food menu, when we ordered the waitress explained my meal in great detail, each meal came out at different times but mine never arrived. When I asked how long my meal would be, she checked the system and advised it had never actually been ordered. She was apologetic but zero discount for the inconvenience. Lucky my tiny entree was ordered but I still had to get takeaway on the way home.

I love tapas it has to be one of my favourite dinner options. You usually get a nice array of different nibbles and I think it is quite intimate, sharing food with your partner. The spanish olives are just to die for as well as the beef fillet yum yum! I think the whole spanish tapas idea is great and although the prices could be a little bit cheap I think you are paying for quality.

I love sharing a meal with friends. Tapas is a great way to share a communal meal and get to taste a bit of everything. Duende get top marks for atmospher and decor. It is stylish, comfortable and cool. With modern furniture and a horse shaped marble bar. Their is also an alfresco area to sit and enjoy the ambience. What lets this place down is the prices of the food. For what you pay, there is very little food. The food that is there is brilliant. Full of flavour and the right blend of textures.

"Le Guernica revisited" My son chose this restaurant for his birthday, my reaction was well if you can visualise the main character to the right in Picasso's Le Guernica, screaming with his hands up that was me on the inside. The concept of tapas originating from Spain is associated with Tapas-Bars, and small plates of tasty morsels served with drinks. Cost $1.41-$5.41 (Madrid 2016). Its a great concept and very enjoyable, and hence encourages people to linger and socialise in the bars. Duende (not exclusive in all fairness) interpretation is a tad cynical and business driven, portions have been increased, the concept of sharing has been introduced, and the price point increased with the justification viz a vie novelty. I just cannot justify the prices charged for what amounts to short order dishes. The menu boasts 10 courses for $65, amazing how a tapas plate becomes elevated a course. Anyway having endured a swim in the sea of gastronomic mediocrity, that is Duende, I ended up paying for the party of five ( I know serves me right). That wasn't what left bitter taste in my mouth its was the Trabanco 'lagar de camin' (cider), at $9 for 150ml (is that a seven ouncer). Note a 750lm bottle of the same from Sabor De Siempre is 3.75euro plus shipping and import tax to Australia. In conclusion save your money for a trip to Spain, experience the cuisine in situ, head to Granada where the tapas is still mainly free (a bit harder to find since the GFC), feed your soul and walk the Camino de Santiago, or attend a La Liga game. Desayuna mucho, come más, cena poco y vivirás.

Duende is a great spot for dinner and they also offer breakfast and lunch. This visit was for dinner with the girls and it was a great night (and that wasn't just due to the champagne!). We chose a range of dishes including meatballs, lamb, patatas bravas, and a eggplant salad. It was all delicious and the service was amazing and very personal. It is well worth a visit :)

so i haven't been here before and i've heard lots of foodie rave about it. so on my RDO i ventured there for some late brunch.. there was only a few tables full but the service was poor. the girl threw down the menu at me. when i asked her about some items on the menu what they were cause i didn't know what it meant she looked at me like i was an idiot. the food wasn' t that great - no flavour - the scrambled eggs was slimy in texture in the bad way. the coffee - couldn't taste the coffee - too much milk to coffee ratio price - expensive for blah food i should have gone to sayers instead.