Words By : Ben Lamothe

With a hearty helping of old-timey charm, Duck Duck Goose serves up an exciting new tapas option on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon. The latest brainchild of Sushiro owners Megan Macdonald and Todd Gronsdahl happens to be a mere 15-steps across the street from their revered sushi restaurant. The warm, rustic interior of DDG is a refreshing change from the English-style pubs that are typical along the street.

A perfect match for the historic Empyreal Building, DDG creates a cool, relaxed vibe to enjoy some upgraded bar snacks and tapas beginning at lunch and extending into the evening. Those intent on sharing some small dishes along with a couple after-work pints won’t be disappointed by the clever assortment of Spanish, Italian and French/French-Canadian appetizers and carefully selected beers and wines on offer.

The décor and tapas enchanted, and left us wanting more. We ordered 3 separate times, which added to the fun of our stay. Despite a handful of menu items feeling a bit small portion-wise, the generous selection and big flavors more than made up for it. Menu highlights include the grilled halloumi with preserved lemon and harissa vinaigrette, shrimp in oil with chillies, and the duck poutine. Filled wall-to-wall with the city’s young and bubbly after-work crowd, DDG is living proof that the city is both hungry and thirsty for a change such as this.

And although Duck Duck Goose could stand to learn a few tricks from its older and wiser sister, the bar adds a dynamic new twist to the ever-changing bar and restaurant scene in Saskatoon.