In a summer that has so far been full of the ‘perfect weather for ducks’, it felt only fitting to pay a visit to the Darlington restaurant that I knew would make me feel better about the endless rain. The Wandering Duck is a firm favourite among the staff at The Northern Echo HQ so in what has now become a ‘rite of passage’ for all new reporters joining the team, I headed over to the Duck for lunch with our latest addition Alex O’Leary on a rare dry Wednesday afternoon. Located on one of Darlington’s ‘trendier’ areas, Grange Road, the Duck fits the bill of its surroundings.
Rough-sawn wood, industrial style light fittings and a mirror wall leading upstairs, it’s cool and welcoming, offering an ambience that makes you want to stay seated at the window table, people-watching and indulging in one of the many delightful treats offered on the counter (more on these later!) Originally opening in 2016, The Wandering Duck began life as a café during the day and a tapas bar on the evenings. After the pandemic hit, tapas was taken off the menu when the Duck reopened after lockdown and has since undergone many menu changes each one better than the last. The Wandering Duck is my go-to breakfast/lunch spot, so I can say with a self-confessed confidence that I have tried everything on the menu at least once- I have to give a special mention to the mushrooms on toast which are usually my choice.
Visiting in June, the latest edition of the menu included a special of Turki.