Duo – Deli and Restaurant – Perth

When we go home to visit family in the Carse of Gowrie we don’t usually make it as far as Perth for a bite to eat.  But when we do, Duo restaurant is usually first on our list.  We’ve visited Duo a few times over the last couple of years and love its eclectic Mediterranean cuisine and welcoming atmosphere.  They pick the best bits from your favourite French, Italian and Spanish cuisines, give them a quick Scottish shoogle then serve up something a bit different that you know is going to taste delicious.  

The restaurant is on Princes Street in Perth and connects to its sister restaurant Pig’Halle next door.  They also have a deli where you can buy lots of their delicious breads and other continental treats including meats, cheeses and also their lovely macarons.  

It was a bit damp outside on arrival so we were delighted to be ushered through to the busy dining area where the atmosphere was lively and our cosy table awaited.  The Mediterranean feel extends to the decor that has stone walls, wooden furniture, lots of candles and plenty of charm. The menu has something for everyone with a great choice of dishes plus a few more on the specials board. 

We started with a simple bread selection – a mixture of home made breads with balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, pesto and tapenade.  For some reason, this took a very long time to arrive but the waitress gave us a not so Gallic shrug, a smile and we tucked in.  The bread is made on the premises every day in their wood fired oven and it tasted delicious along with the various accompaniments – it kept us going nicely until the mains arrived.   

After the slight blip, normal service was resumed and our main courses duly arrived – I chose the crispy sea bream with asparagus from the specials board and Donnie went for his favourite Duo pizza; the Normande served with crème fraîche, mozzarella, French black pudding, cooked apple and brie.  The fish tasted fresh and was perfectly cooked with a firm texture and a delicious sauce.  Donnie’s pizza was cooked in their wood fired oven and had a crisp, thin base with no shortage of topping-it was gone in no time.  Black pudding and apple is an unusual pizza topping – we must try experimenting more with Charlie Barleys Stornoway black pud!

After a short rest we were tempted by dessert and opted to share the dark chocolate and pistachio délice that tasted divine – a rich sweet treat that was really too good to share. The dish had a lovely mixture of textures and flavours and left us wanting more.

Duo also offer a pizza for dessert…..just in case you haven’t had enough carbohydrates!  When we spotted it on the menu we were intrigued.  Luckily our friends Tommy and Lynn who also happened to be dining in the restaurant that night ordered it so we were able to take a picture before it was demolished.  As you can see from the picture, it’s not for the faint hearted but you could share and it has the added bonus of having a few of your five a day included.

This was another lovely meal at Duo and we can’t wait to return and also to get around to heading next door to Pig’Halle sometime soon.  The owners Paula and Herve have made such a huge impact on the Perth dining scene over the last few years and their passion for food can be tasted in every mouthful.  Check out Paula’s blog for some great insight into life and one of the toughest jobs around.  One last thing you must do before leaving Duo is treat yourself to a box of their homemade macarons – delicious.

Princes Street

Perth

Tel: 01738 628 152