Lucky Duck

Overview

Perched up in Highgate Hill, Lucky Duck have rolled the dice and are going quacky with the theme. Upon first glance, Lucky Duck could be like many other bar/cafes – lots of wood, bench seating, mason jars for light fittings and plants hanging from ceiling – but the closer you look, the more ducks start to appear. From the knick-knacks here, there and everywhere, to the collection of street art lining the walls, Lucky Duck fits the bill.

Okay, enough of the bird puns.

With a custom-made box shelving system running the length of one wall, seating out the front and a massive decked area out the back, the deceptively small space has plenty of room to make yourself at home. The small space has been utilised well where attention is in the detail, and fortunately the same could be said about its food.

Food at Lucky Duck is of the Brown Dog and Hoo Ha Bar variety in that what they do, they do well by taking quality ingredients, keeping it simple and letting the flavours shine. For the punter the price is right too. The Kings ($12.50) is, as the name suggests, fit for royalty. Two thick-cut slices of Leavain organic sourdough are stacked high with the best flavours breakfast has on offer. The first slice has a generous slathering of avocado, a few thick slices of haloumi and finally a fried egg. The second is topped with a bruschetta-style tomato topping, house-made tomato relish and topped with plenty of bacon. A few basil leaves on top and this is a feast to be had.

With no food priced over $15, Lucky Duck are doing an honest trade offering more eats along these lines as well as wraps filled with slow-cooked meats and sweet waffles. As far as the cafe part goes, drinks-wise Lucky Duck do all the usual culprits plus their own fresh iced teas, the Canadian Bomb milkshake, and a couple of smoothies.

As for the bar, Lucky Duck have The Hills Cider Co on tap along with a range of craft beer. If you pop by during happy hour, pick up a jug for just $12.

Lucky Duck is a semi-suburban gem with all the charm of an inner-city cafe and bar, with none of the pretentiousness or parking issues.