Mongers: for fish and chips by the sea

I don’t know why people insist on eating fish and chips by the seaside. We don’t usually sit in a paddock surrounded by cows to eat steaks or fly to London to eat pigeon pie in Trafalgar Square or insist on only drinking wine in a vineyard, although that's a nice option. 

But if you are one of those people who think fish and chips taste better when accompanied by the salty smell of the sea, then you’re going to want to know where to go for the freshest and tastiest fish and chips in Bondi.

I haven’t tried every fine establishment in the neighbourhood (yet) – and tend to steer clear of the deep fried Mars Bars for the sake of my arteries – but my favourite is Fish Mongers on Hall Street.

All meals are served in cute brown boxes made out of recycled cardboard whether you opt for eat-in or takeaway. If you go the eat-in option, its BYO and there’s seating for 35 with wooden and cast iron fish sculptures decorating the walls to give it that sea-faring touch.

Or you can take your haul to the beach for some alfresco dining, but watch out for the seagulls who know a good serving of fish and chips when they see it.

Everything is made fresh to order and the traditional fish and chips sells for $12.50, and grilled fish and salad for $14.50. The potato chips are hand-cut and thick enough to look like they were once a potato, which is more than I can say some of their fast-food cousins.

There’s also a selection of calamari, tempura vegetables, BBQ prawns or octopus, oysters and daily fresh market specials.

My stock-standard order is anything but ordinary: its the grilled salmon marinated in sesame seeds and ginger served with salad, thin crispy kumera chips, corn on the cob and a side of pesto, which is always fresh, moist, and full of flavour. If we’re going to be there for a while I’ll order a side of hot chips.

The Bondi store was opened by Claire Statham when she moved to Sydney from Byron Bay and couldn’t bear to be without her regular hit of fine fish and chips. There’s also a Manly branch.

In case you need further convincing, the Bondi store has been ranked among Sydney’s best fish and chips by both the SMH and The Daily Telegraph, who rarely agree on anything important, and Time Out.