This year was undeniably the year of takeaway. Parma and a beer from the pub, eaten in your own backyard? Sure. Three courses from a fine-dining restaurant on the couch? Why not.

Few know the takeaway game better than Fishbowl founders Nathan Delah, Nic Pestalozzi and Casper Ettelson. They opened the first Fishbowl in Bondi four years ago – a grab-and-go joint serving Japanese-inspired salad bowls for health-conscious locals. The concept has since launched an empire, with more than 20 locations across Sydney and Melbourne.

Now, the trio is bringing it back to Bondi with the launch of Fish Shop, a new casual-dining concept slated to open at the new Sevenways precinct just before Christmas.

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“We see this as our modern take on an old-school fish shop, somewhere between the price point of Fishbowl and a restaurant. We want it to be the type of place you could go on a Tuesday or Saturday night, with really approachable food that’s also healthy. A real vibe,” Delah tells Broadsheet.

As you’d expect, a dry hunk of flathead in styrofoam and chips wrapped in newspaper this ain’t. The idea is to mix and match your choice of market-fresh fish with luxe sides, sauces and condiments from a seasonal menu designed by executive chef Joel Bennetts (ex-Peppe’s, Three Blue Ducks, Pier).

A grilled ocean trout fillet; a salad of soft herbs, baby cos and vinaigrette (or fries); plus salsa verde or ladolemono (a lemon and olive oil dressing) will set you back a reasonable $25. Or you could spring for something lighter such as thin-sliced cured salmon; a maftoul tabouli and radish salad; and crostini, pickles and house-made labneh, all for $19.

There’s also a straight-up battered fish’n’chips with tartare sauce and fries, but Delah says the menu will predominantly have a coastal-Mediterranean feel. “It’s food you could picture yourself eating in a beachside town in Italy, or in Tel Aviv by the sea. That’s the spirit we want to bring to this food.”

And nothing says Mediterranean coast like snacks and booze. Think freshly shucked appellation oysters, anchovy toast and calamari with chilli and garlic oil for starters. If you’re dining in, there will be a selection of Australian natural wines (from the likes of Puncheon Darts, Mac Forbes and Delinquente) and a very affordable cocktail list (drinks range from $12 to $15).

While the dine-in experience is encouraged, in true 2020 fashion everything here (except grog) can be taken away. Ask for a picnic blanket at the counter and sit in the park across the road. Or make the short walk down Warner’s Avenue to Bondi Beach.

As for whether or not Fish Shop is set to be the team’s second empire, Delah isn’t thinking that far ahead. “With Fishbowl, we didn’t open it to do a bunch of them. The way we love to do things is to just focus on doing one thing as best we can and just take it from there. We want to get the first Fish Shop right,” he says.

“But we could see it working really well by the seaside anywhere.”

Fish Shop is slated to open on December 21 at 87–89 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach.

fishshop.com.au