PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDAIThe original Mongers made a name for itself in Byron Bay but has since spread its fishy goodness to Sydney’s Bondi and Manly beaches. Voted Sydney’s best chip by the Sydney Morning Herald, Mongers proclaims itself a gourmet fish and chippery with the proud slogan “save the cow… eat more fish”. The Bondi outlet (like the Byron prototype) is a small simple room with a few wooden tables lining the walls. The predominantly timber decor is beach house chic, with metal fish art decorating the driftwood walls. Whiteboards advertise the daily specials, including the market fish of the day cooked any number of ways.
The menu is simple, with few choices but good dishes: fish and chips, calamari and chips, king prawns and chips, barbecued octopus and chips. All dishes are available with salad instead of chips for an extra $4, and tempura veggies or a garden salad are pretty much all the sides you’ll get. Seafood extras like oysters and other market specials are worth a squiz too, and are guaranteed to be fresh and tasty. All food comes in a recyclable cardboard box for a new age/gourmet take on traditional fish and chips.
Sarah Theeboom