Located on Lawrence Hargrave Drive in the idyllic coastal village of Coledale, about a 20-minute drive from Wollongong, is Rosie’s Fish & Chips – home to the best fish and chips in the state, in my books (and judging by the line snaking out the door, half the South Coast might agree).
The family-owned shop is run by British-born chef Ben Sinfield and his partner Tania Ho, and is named after their daughter. There are a handful of blue tables out the front, but your best bet is to waddle down the hill and enjoy your lunch on the grassy patch in front of Sharky Beach with front-row ocean views. And that lunch? It’s reely, reely good.
Rosie’s Fish & Chips serves sustainable, wild-caught Aussie fish – such as gurnard, flathead, sea bream, blue mackerel and pink ling – all sourced directly from local fishermen. Opt to get it grilled or beer-battered in an ale from Wollongong’s Principle Brewing. The fish itself is clean-tasting, succulent and delicious with a squeeze of lemon and dunked into a zingy, chunky tartare.
The chippies take home my Best Chip Award. Spuds are cut by hand, and you can choose to have them cooked in Aussie beef dripping – adding an extra layer of flavour and crunch. They’re triple-cooked until deeply bronzed, then finished with a generous dusting of salt. The result? Hot, crunchy, crispy, salty and bloody perfect. Fish and chips with tartare cost $25, and it’s an extra $2 to get the chips cooked in beef dripping – a no-brainer.
Also on the menu are burgers, including a classic fish number and a chicken burger for the seafood-averse, as well as a kids’ menu; sides like potato scallops, crushed peas and mint, battered sausages and a daily salad. Plus, there’s a hot chip butty with gravy on a soft buttered roll, and a selection of killer sauces for the condiment fiends among us (hello) – including gravy, salsa verde, pickles, curry sauce and more. There’s usually a handful of daily specials too, like octopus and ’nduja croquettes, to keep things interesting.
Feeling parched? Rosie’s has a fridge stocked with the usual colourful thirst-quenchers – soft drinks, juices, etc.
Time Out tip: This place pumps daily, so you may want to order online ahead of time. Or accept there’ll be a wait and go for a stroll, or dive into a page-turner. Or do as I did and head to nearby Earth Walker & Co General Store & Cafe for an after-lunch treat. Either way, you’re in for a good time.
Find out more here.
Address: 757 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Coledale NSW 2515