“We’re not competing with your fish and chip shop around the corner,” says co-owner Stephen Hodges of the revamped Fish Face site. The former seafood restaurant re-opened recently as a casual takeaway joint, offering a considered take on the beloved fish and chips meal. The original Fish Face has migrated to Double Bay and is set to open in November.

“This is our processing hub for all our fish,” Hodges says of the Darlinghurst outpost, where the purpose-built basement features a cool room to keep fish at its most fresh. Guests can even view a live feed of the filleting in action via a screen above the counter, a lengthy stainless steel workspace housing the open kitchen and wrapped in shimmering, scale-like tiles.

“We’re hoping to have a pretty good variety of fish available,” says Hodges. “We’ll give you the option of how you’d like your fish cooked.” Market-priced fish will rotate regularly, with daily blog posts updating diners’ options on the venue’s website.

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The concise but varied menu offers a choice of two fish in each cooking style. From the grill, you might try ocean perch or snapper (there’s also crisp-skin snapper or mirror dory), or for a more traditional approach, try the batter-fried blue spotted flathead or shovel nose shark. Hodges says there will also be sourdough and Panko-crumbed fish fillet options in the mix. From there, build your order with sides including hand-cut chips, potato scallops, and salt and vinegar onion rings, plus a green salad with mint, or a radicchio and radish salad. Collect your condiment of choice from the fridge – there’s Marie Rose (similar to a seafood cocktail sauce), tartare or hot sauce.

While their table service is no longer, pick-up orders can be prepped for cooking at home or as ready-made meals hot from the kitchen. For a quick eat, patrons can also dine in. “Every wall has a bench, so you can lean up and have your fish and chips with a tap beer,” says Hodges. “We have Whale Ale on tap from Murray’s Craft Brewing Company in Port Stephens.”

Fish & Chips by Fish Face

132 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst

Hours

Tues to Sun 6pm–9pm

fishfaceaustralia.com.au