How can anyone not love this time of year in Perth? We get these gorgeous, warm, clear days and then the cold, calm nights – it’s perfect for food, wine and all other indoor nocturnal activities. However, if like too many Perthites, you find yourself at a loss for where best to spend these winter nights, relax and let us help with our winter suggestions of where to go for bite, a sip and a slur.

Duende in Leederville has been a favourite of ours for a long time now. The feel, the food and the service (if you are lucky enough to be there when Annita is on the floor, you are in for a superb night!) is all of a high standard and you are almost always certain to have a fantastic dining experience. And with tapas ($9-15), you have the added bonus of getting a little closer to your date as you share and share alike the delectable selection of dishes that includes fish carpaccio and merguez sausage.

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Meanwhile, in another of Perth’s bohemian chic strips, Jackson’s degustation is a sure way to impress (if you can’t get laid after taking someone to Jackson’s, they probably just ain’t that into you). It is an expensive night out ($110 for the degustation, $160 with wine, $225 with premium wine selection), but well worth it if you are looking to spoil yourself and your date. You will be treated with some of Perth’s finest food and if opting for wine it will come paired to perfection. Be sure to request the booths at the back end of the restaurant when making a reservation.

If you are looking for a top eat in a location somewhere beyond the usual suspects, let us introduce you to Divido – a cozy little Italian eatery in Mount Hawthorne.
With booths perfect for sidling up and a copper menu board, Divido has a great feel, though let us say it now the ubiquitous Ikea prints on the wall have to go.

Yet for all its ambience and décor, Divido’s bread and butter, as it were, is its cuisine .The minimal menu – no bad thing as it usually indicates quality of ingredients and method when it comes to preparation – read well and got both of us all moist with delight. Our only complaint when it came to the menu was the limited selection of Italian wines to match the food.

For entrée, Lee chose the Shark Bay Scallops with Fregula, Roasted Vegetables and Vinocotto ($20). The scallops were fresh and sweet and complemented perfectly by the slightly acidic sweetness of the vinocotto. Sandro’s choice, the Beef Capriccio Occelli Crutin Truffle Pecorino, Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Crusty Bread ($20) was simply stupendous, and the truffle-infused Pecorino scent permeated through the beef.

While the entrees and the ambience set the bar, our main courses did not quite match expectations. In Lee’s Wood Roasted Cornfed Duck, Organic Polenta, Spinach and Porcini sauce ($35), the porcini was overly prominent and the sauce lacked complexity. Sandro’s Wood Roasted Pork Belly rubbed with Fennel Seed and Garlic, Braised Cabbage and Mount Zero Lentils ($34) fared better and was a simple dish well executed… exactly as it should be! It’s been a signature dish since day one and definitely the one we recommend.

Desserts at Divido included an interesting twist on the Tiramisu (which translates to ‘pick/pull me up’ in Italian) and is a traditional after dinner dessert notable for its coffee content. Our dessert, however, was more along the lines of a ‘Tiramisotto’, ‘pull me down’ due to the alcohol content in the Moscato Tiramisu.

All things considered, we glided out of the restaurant in a pretty positive frame of mind, comfortable putting Divido in the league of Duende and Jackson’s as a winter date spot. With entrees around $20 and mains around $35 it’s an affordable night out with a special someone and the snug feel and stylish interior should impress. Divido is definitely a Divi-doo!

Now, for next month… what culinary delights shall we bring to you I hear you ask? Well, next month will be an exercise in extravagance! July is tax return month – our version of forced savings. So we are going to think big and plan some evenings that bring you temptingly close to over the top…

Divido

• 170 Scarborough Beach Rd, Mount Hawthorn
• (08) 9443 7373
• info@divido.com.au
• www.divido.com.au
• Open Tu-Sa 5.30pm to late

Duende

• 662 Newcastle St, Leederville
• 08) 9228 0123
• bookings@duendetapasbar.com.au
• www.duendetapasbar.com.au
• Open M-F noon-midnight, Sa 6pm-midnight

Jackson’s

• 483 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley
• (08) 9328 1177
• www.jacksonsrestaurant.com.au
• Open M-Sa 7pm-midnight

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Sandro: Chef by trade, connoisseur by nature, and the food side of this dynamic duo, Sandro has worked extensively in kitchens throughout Perth and Europe.

Lee: Service, presentation and style are his passions and his profession. Lee is the front of house guru who draws on his wealth of knowledge to let you know what to expect from your dining experience.

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HAVE YOUR SAY: What great winter date spots do you recommend? Which are gay-friendly?