Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Fish and chip salvation at Rockfish

Many people in Australia have a tradition of Friday night fish and chips, but did you know it's a Catholic tradition?  It stems from strict Catholics abstaining from meat on Fridays in honour of Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross (in many circles, fish was not considered "meat").  The tradition has now leached into mainstream Australian culture and the local fish and chip shop is something I have missed dearly whenever I've been overseas.

I've been searching for a long time for a fish and chipper that totally presses all my buttons.  I prefer not to eat flake, so it needs to have appealing, fresh alternatives.  Both fish and chips need to be well drained and ultra crispy.  No chicken salt is a cardinal sin.

This sounds simple but so many places around just don't hit the mark.  I haven't bothered blogging about them but transgressions include greyish fish with nasty blue veins, mushy fake calamari rings and soggy, oily chips that even ten Hail Marys and an Our Father can't atone for.

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So when I turned up to Maribyrnong's Rockfish one Friday night and found it absolutely pumping, I was delighted to be evidently slow off the mark.

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Despite being totally slammed, service was very friendly and even the most convoluted of orders were taken in stride.  Totally digging the old school, press in letter menu.

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Fish, $5 - $6.50; chips $3 - $6

There are loads of interesting fish options including snapper, rockling, barramundi and even flounder.  We tried three different varieties and they were all totally gorgeous - spanking fresh, well battered and non greasy.  Chips were your garden variety sort but perfectly cooked and very nice.

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Burger wit da lot, $7.50

I find most fish and chip shop burgers exceedingly average - relentlessly smooshed mince slapped on a bad supermarket bun.  Something made me get this burger with the lot, and it was EPIC.  The meat is crispy in all the right places with an intriguing herby flavour, and the bun was proper bread, fluffy but pleasantly hearty.  Tip top toppings topped it off.

In fact, if you asked me if this was the best fish and chip shop burger I have ever eaten, I'd say...

"Does the Pope wear a funny hat?"

P.S.  I went back with friends again recently and it was just as good.  There's a lovely park behind, so bring down the friends, the fam or both and have fish and chips in the park!

Rockfish on Urbanspoon

Rockfish
Shop 3/46 Edgewater Blvd, Maribyrnong (near Aldi on Gordon Street)
Phone:  9317 FISH (cute!!!), ie, 9317 3474
Hours:  Tues-Thurs 11am-8pm; Fri-Sun 11am-8.30pm

14 comments:

  1. Mmmmm that burger with the lot is so handsome x
    Definitely adding this one on my wishlist for those lazy summer evening dinners!

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  2. I wonder if I can get Jeremy to agree to end our Sunday jog here instead of Reading Room? Might undo all the hard work, but it looks worth it. Might try their fish burger. Apparently fish burgers are the next big thing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieuHHLOSi_0

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    Replies
    1. Or get one of the sandwiches on Turkish bread. Anything on Turkish bread is healthy ;-)

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  3. What a bright, happy and illuminating write-up about the history behind why we have Fish & Chips on fridays (a concept I hadn't heard about till now). Love a good fish n chips pig-out session. :D

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  4. Had some when they first opened, hmm methinks it's time for another visit!

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  5. This is now our fish and chippery of very loyal and almost religious choice. In 12 months it has never disappointed. There steak sandwiches with the lot are an absolute winner. They also have a Junior Flake for kids which at $3.50 is the perfect size for under 6's and they have never failed to deliver excellent crisp, non oily, fluffy inside chips.

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  6. Already commented but wanted to add....they make all there own sauces too! Great tartare in particular. Completely from scratch, no jarred mayonaise from these guys.

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    Replies
    1. Brilliant Mimmy Ma! I couldn't believe all three different fish we got were fresh. Normally it's a massive gamble with anything other than flake! Will have to try the steak sanger next time!

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  7. Thanks for this review - we went and it was great. Will be our local fish and chippery!

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  8. stay tuned
    new management and name coming soon

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