The food certainly does not match prices. The pretense is that they have traditional Spanish and Basque tapas. The selection is quite narrow and nothing that I tried was that good. Definitely overpriced.
February 2024
The shrimp fideo paella is delicious! We asked for extra shrimp instead of chicken.
January 2024
Our waiter was extremely helpful. We were part of a post-show (by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler). Waiter suggested wine or beer, for a first round, because the bartender was swamped. Also good on suggesting items. We were big fans. Food was fine.
Duende is a Spanish Inspired neighborhood restaurant in Oakland's Uptown district.
Duende’s inspiration is authentic regional Spanish cuisine, but with equal parts traditional and contemporary influences. Our cuisine is comprised of local, sustainable ingredients from farmers and ranchers with whom we have had long and rich relationships. Our intense desire for creative expression results in a daily-changing menu that is dynamic and ever-evolving. Offerings from our kitchen include small plates of Tapas and Pintxos, intermediate selections of Raciones, as well as gorgeous pans of Paella and Fideua, all designed to be shared among family and friends.
Other Information
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Cuisines: Spanish, Mediterranean, Family Style, European, Continental
Alcohol: Full Bar
Chef Paul Canales, formerly of Oliveto, drew upon his father's Catalan heritage to create Duende, a popular, darkly lit restaurant serving Iberian classics (fragrant paella, hefty albóndigas) and innovations (goat's milk cheese brûlée, sunchoke-stuffed canalones), with an adjacent bodega featuring, among other treats, Spanish wines for sale. Echoes of Italy, Morocco, Turkey and Spain's other sunny, sea-bound neighbors pervade such pintxos (small plates) as saffron-kissed swordfish escabèche and plump, tender-crisp buñuelos (shrimp-mango donuts). Earthy dishes include sweet botifarra sausages and pebrots farcits (lamb-and-currant-stuffed piquillos). Canales isn't offal-phobic: his frequently shifting menus always include pork trotters, cheeks, tongues and ears, lending an "I dare you" aspect to dining here. Authenticity rings through even to the tiniest touches: Meyer lemon marmalade atop rabbit pâté; Mahón cheese with smooth, fruity membrillo; blood oranges flanking ultra-light flan. Along with an extensive wine list that is an education in itself, exotic cocktails include the Buried Mirror, made with mezcal, Oloroso sherry and pineapple gomme syrup. Occasional lunch and other pop-up events are held in the bodega; call to inquire.
In the mood for tapas and paella? Head to Duende on 19th Street in Oakland, where Chef Paul Canales has take his grandfather's Basque heritage and used it for inspiration in his Spanish dishes. After cooking Italian food for years in the kitchen of Oliveto, another Oakland favorite, Canales struck out on his own and created Duende Restaurant and Bodega in downtown Oakland. The clash of traditional Spanish cuisine with Northern Californian style yields some tasty results, all made with local ingredients and served in dishes meant to be shared. Duende puts special importance on the sharing aspect of their food-much of the seating in their open, industrial interior is communal. After your meal, stop by the Bodega, Duende's specialty café and retail shop right next door, for coffee, wine, ice cream, and small Spanish bites to take home with you. The restaurant is open Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5:30 to 9:30 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 to 11 pm. Check online for the Bodega's hours and lunch times. Book reservations through the website.
