DUCK DUCK BRUCE on Collie Street. Catchy name but what does it signify?

Turns out it’s a mix of co-owner Charlie Merry’s favourite childhood game — duck duck goose — and her favourite movie Jaws.

Bruce was the nickname given to the mechanical shark by the movie’s crew, a tongue-in-cheek dig at director Steven Spielburg’s lawyer Bruce Raynor.

“The shark didn’t work, but it made the movie better without it … so it’s a life lesson, to make lemonade [when life gives you lemons],” Ms Merry says.

• Charlie Merry. Photos by Jenny D’Anger

Cereal killer

Maybe a good (or perhaps corny) sense of humour helps you get through life as well, which may explain DDB’s colourfully-named dishes such as “cereal killer”, “we’re going to need a bigger boat” (Roy Schneider’s memorable line when he sees “Jaws” for the first time ) and “we’re all going on a summer hollandaise”.

This is no ordinary version of the egg dish ($21), it comes with a potato bhaji hash brown, burnt butter hollandaise and beetroot-cured salmon.

Randy old goat ($17) was my favourite, and I loved watching people’s faces when I tell them I had it for lunch.

The only goat was the goat’s milk haloumi, and it was a spectacular dish, the green split peas, roasted eggplant, capsicum, cherry tomato and a gremolata (chopped herbs with lemon zest, oil and garlic) balancing each other for a taste sensation.

And the haloumi was perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of chewy texture.

My lunch companion hoed into “the chicken that crossed the road” ($19).

The Kashmiri salad was packed with spicy flavours and the generous strips of chicken were tender and moist, she said.

We washed a couple of cakes down with a “creamy” cappuccino for my friend and a lemongrass and ginger tea for me.

Shabby chic

The cakes were a tad on the dry side, but the efficient and super friendly waiter happily came back with cream for my friend and Greek yoghurt for me.

Duck Duck Bruce’s decor is a mix of shabby chic, with plenty of greenery, including a wall of plants in the courtyard alfresco area.

Currently open for breakfast and lunch, the cafe is waiting on a liquor licence before opening Friday and Saturday nights.

by Jenny D’Anger

Duck Duck Bruce
18 Collie Street, Fremantle
6219 5216
open 7 days