Fishmongers Manly

Pricey yet so much worth it!
Somewhat hidden in the back streets of Manly’s Corso, is “one of”, or, more appropriately, “the” top fish & chips restaurants in Sydney. “Fishmongers’ Gourmet Fish and Chips” is still relatively easy to find, particularly for those who enjoy the top of the top. Manly’s Fishmongers isn’t your ordinary fish & chips place around the corner. Instead, Fishmongers has truly led the table of comparable fish & chips’ places. This is still a fish & chips place where the seating inside is limited but the courtyard-like seating outside is generous and away from noise and traffic.
We ordered the Fishmongers’ ½ family box that, very easily, serves two people. The ½ box starts with two oysters that came before the box arrived as an hors d'oeuvre. Once the fabulously looking box came, two kinds of fish emerged that we had ordered (at extra cost): freshly grilled barramundi, that was simply divine and flathead. Both were cooked to perfection. Particularly, the barramundi that was mouthwateringly tasty.
The ½ box also came with two prawns, delicious calamaris and “truly” hand-cut chips. Even the chips are hand-made. While having lunch, we saw sacks of potato being delivered. The chips at Fishmongers aren’t mass-manufactured chips drenched in some sort of nasty chemicals to make sure they aren’t getting black as well as oil ready to be thrown into the deep frier. Fishmongers’ hand-made chips do not have those things. The most exquisitely done ½ box came with sweet chili sauce, tartare, and plenty of lemons. Yet, all of this adds up. Fishmongers isn’t cheap. But like a Rolls-Royce, top-quality has its price. We were extremely happy to pay this price of an out of this world fish and chips experience that has truly left all competitors behind.