A Prize Catch At Fish Cove, Rose Bay

It's a sunny Easter long weekend Sunday that sees us driving to Fish Cove, on New South Road in Rose Bay. The new and very popular fish and chips shop offers up the usual deep fried options but alongside these are fresh fillets, marinated seafood, skewers and salads for a healthy turn at a fish and chips shop.

"When do you eat seafood at Easter?" I ask Mr NQN. Apart from fish on Fridays and Good Friday we are just guessing that it's a nice idea to have seafood during Easter. It seems like much of Rose Bay have the same idea as the eatery becomes very busy about 20 minutes after we walk in at 12:15.

The boards at the front detail packs of deep fried morsels-there's fish and chips, battered scallops, calamari and pineapple rings. But the displays on the side hold much more appealing treasures.

There are half a dozen colourful salads and a range of marinated calamari, octopus and fish fillets like barramundi with ginger and shallots or salmon with Thai chilli, basil and coriander. Owners Michael and Patty are busy taking orders and cooking. He grew up with his parents owning a fish and chips shop.

I order at the counter and take a seat and the food comes out quite quickly. All of these dishes can have chips and salad added to them for an additional $4 per plate but we just have them on rocket with one side of chips.

The calamari rings are super tender and I want to immediately order some to take home with me to cook. The baby octopus is all garlicky goodness and I like the simple bed of peppery rocket so that you can make a complete meal out of it.

The honey mustard salmon is rich and perfectly cooked. Although it is cooked through, it's wonderfully moist and mustard and dill sauce has a touch of sweetness to it too. I squeeze some lemon on it to lighten to richness of the salmon.

The Murray Cod is not the usual sort of fish you'd find at a fish and chips shop and Michael says that they're testing it out. At $69 a kilo or $19 a fillet it does attract a buyer that has to know how delicious this fish is. Here it is simply grilled and served on rocket with a slice of lemon. Even Mr NQN who doesn't really love cooked fish likes this. For good measure we also try a prawn and scallops skewer with capsicum that is very tasty the scallops so deliciously succulent but I think while the other dishes are well priced, the skewers are a little on the pricey side.

I guess no fish meal can be really be without chips and these are piping hot and crunchy chips with the option of regular or chicken salt. Always chicken salt and dipped in sauce (there are lots of different types available).

And because we love salads, we try two of them. The pumpkin and pearl couscous has plump sultanas in it while my favourite is actually the simple rocket, pear and walnut salad with orange, balsamic vinegar, mustard and olive oil dressing. This goes so well with all of the dishes, especially the salmon or octopus.

So tell me Dear Reader, what is your usual order at a fish and chips shop? Do you know when you're supposed to eat fish over Easter and do you observe that?

This meal was independently paid for.

Fish Cove

801 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029
Open 7 days 11am–9pm
Phone: (02) 9388 1667
fishcove.com.au