not your standard fish & chip shop

If you're looking for an ordinary fish and chip shop, Flippin Fish is not your place. However, if you're looking for a seafood restaurant with a difference, then make your way to Dural to try out this new restaurant. Opening in March this year, owners Domenic Lombardo and Inge Pirrie have brought a new concept to the area - a fish market come seafood 'cafe'.

Flippin Fish lives at the back of Dural shops - it's not exactly something you would normally walk or drive past and has had some pretty harsh online reviews, so I was interested to see what it was like. Especially on Mothers Day, with a fairly large group. Unfortunately we had to wait outside (lucky it was a beautiful day) for at least 30 minutes while they sorted out our table. Very disappointing seeing as we made a booking, and were with a group of 13. We eventually made our way inside, and to be honest, felt a little bit like sardines squashed in a can. There was so many people in there!

As it was Mothers Day, we had a three course set menu to choose from (choosing from three dishes within each course). I chose the Port Kenny King Prawns with alfalfa & mung bean salad for my entree and it was really yum, fresh and light. Slightly on the bigger serving side for entree, but I still ate it all. The entree ordered by majority of the table was Spanish style squid with chorizo, corn & garlic. This was slightly heavier from a meaty and flavoursome perspective, but was delicious.

  

For my main I ordered the Crispy skin Barramundi with tahini yoghurt and spiced carrots. I love ordering white fish (and can never say 'no' to Barramundi) and it didn't disappoint. Cooked perfectly with the right balance of flavours. Also, how can you go to a 'fish and chip' restaurant and not order seafood as a main!? Not me! Another favourite main on the table was the 300g grass fed sirloin with roast portabellos & parsnip puree. This was cooked to perfection with great taste, but unfortunately had so too fat on the steak (felt like 30%)....

Sides were ordered separately, and at $6 a pop. We ordered the Kale and Pear Salad (fresh but overrated) and the chips (ah-maz-ing)!

For my dessert I genuinely couldn't decide... Cadbury Milk Chocolate mousse with shortbread and honeycomb or Classic Sticky Date Pudding with butterscotch and vanilla gelato. What to choose....!? I left it up to the waitress, and she nailed it. The chocolate mousse was a winner and worked perfectly with my entree and main. It was creamy, light, more-ish and the perfect serving. Although I definitely could have nailed another one. The sticky date serving was quite big, but looked a little dry and didn't have enough sauce in my opinion.

Would I come back? Yes, I honestly would. You've got to give them a little slack. The fit out is great (if you don't mind walking up stairs to the restaurant), the service was fantastic and friendly, and the meals were tasty and on the larger size. Do I think the prices were expensive for the area? Yes, but it's a fantastic restaurant. And I certainly would pay the same (if not more) if it were located closer to the city. Would love to come back in a couple of months time to see how they've progressed... On a side note, they interestingly have some of their recipes on the website. I shall pass these on to my husband :)

Restaurant: Flippin Fish
Price: Food approx $65pp; Beverages approx. $35pp
Hours: From 11.30am
Must order: Crispy skin Barramundi with tahini yoghurt and spiced carrots