By By Trevor Pepys
As much as Trev loves a good feed of fish and chips, these days he also has to watch his waistline, his cholesterol and who knows what else!
There are also far too many take-out establishments around town now for him to cover on his meagre semi-professional restaurant reviewer salary. So, for the 2021 edition of Trev’s fish and chips’ hall of fame, he asked family and friends to nominate their favourites for quality, convenience, service and price, and he also conducted a vox pop survey in which he roamed up and down Hastings Street and Gympie Terrace, usually after a feed and a bottle of wine or so, and accosted complete strangers with his probing questions about batter and chicken salt.
Using this science-driven methodology, which incredibly came up with three places quite close to his home, he arrived at Trev’s Top Three, which he and the missus duly sampled over a week in a sacrifice not matched since 2004 when Morgan Spurlock almost exploded after a month of eating nothing but Big Macs for the film Supersize Me. We were spared such catastrophes, but let’s just say you won’t find Trev in a fish shop for the rest of this month.
TREV’S TOP THREE
Mr Fish, Quamby Place
5455 3741
Set in the heart of holiday lets on Noosa Sound, Mr Fish does a roaring trade at holiday time, but also has a loyal local following. For family outings, the riverfront park has a bit of seating with a view and a kids’ playground.
We phone ordered and paid for two crumbed cod and a small chips ($21) to take home and eat in front of the Big Bash, and it hit the deck right at the appointed time, which happened to coincide with the innings’ break. Super-efficient service meant that Trev was home and hooking in before the first ball was bowled.
But, oh my god, two people had no chance of demolishing this huge package. Big fillets of fish, quite tasty, and a mountain of chips which could have done with a minute or so more until crispy. Minor niggles – good service, good value.
Noosa Harbour Fish Market, Noosa Marina
5473 0299
The Fish Market has been at what is now the Marina since it was Harbourtown (20 years in fact), and is obviously doing something right. In fact, Trev, who hadn’t been there for a feed in quite a while, came away thinking they’re pretty much doing everything right.
Licensed to serve you good value beer and wine with your meal, the Fish Market has an adjacent seating area where you can look at the boats and the passing parade, and if you pick your night, you also might catch Noosa’s own geriatric rock band playing a live set at the Harbour Wine Bar. So plenty of options for eating out or in.
We ordered a single serve of crumbed whiting (four pieces and plenty for two at $11.50), salt and pepper squid ($7) and a small chips ($5.90), and paired it with a bottle of Thompson’s Rose ($42) from the wine bar. This might have been an indulgence but the price of the food was so reasonable we opted for the upgrade.
Red Emperor, Gympie Terrace
5449 0914
Another old favourite with a big local following plus a captive market in all the people enjoying the river park who can’t be bothered making their own picnic dinner. The Emperor has a few tables on the terrace, but for the full river sunset, just cross the road and find somewhere to plonk.
That’s what we did the other night and enjoyed another version of crumbed whiting (four pieces for $11.50), a small calamari (six pieces for $6.50) and a small chips ($6.50). With a lengthy wait for our dinner on a crowded holiday night with the sun making a rare appearance just in time to set, we found a table and enjoyed a BYO Pinot Grigio.
The verdict: Trev would recommend any of his top three for great value and good service, but the pick of these offerings was Noosa Harbour Fish Market, with tasty whiting fillets and delicious squid. Visitors take note: most of Noosa’s fish and chip shops take phone orders, but the Harbour Market doesn’t. But what the hey, you’re at a marina and you can get a drink. Also worthy of note: almost all our fish and chip shops close at 7.30pm, so get your order in before 7pm.