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✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here.
The vibe
Located on Lawrence Hargrave Drive in the idyllic seaside 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.
The food
Rosie’s Fish & Chips serves sustainable, wild-caught Aussie fish, depending on what’s fresh and available – 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 Principal Brewing. The fish itself is pristinely fresh, 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 cooked in Aussie beef dripping – adding an extra layer of depth and flavour. They’re triple-cooked until deeply bronzed, before being finished with a generous dusting of salt. The result? Hot, crunchy, fluffy, salty and bloody perfect. A serving of fish and chips with tartare and lemon costs $27.
Also on the menu are burgers, including a classic fish number ($20), and a buttermilk fried chicken burger ($20) for the seafood-averse, as well as a kids’ menu, and sides like potato scallops, crushed peas and mint, battered sausages and a daily salad. There’s a beef dripping hot chip butty available with gravy or curry sauce on a soft buttered roll ($13) – drool. Plus, 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.
The drinks
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.