Cast Your Net Over a Meal at These 5 RCA-winning Seafood Restaurants.

As we continue on our delicious drive around the country discovering the plethora of Readers’ Choice Award-winning venues, let’s throw out a line to find the best seafood restaurants where netting the freshest delicacies is the name of the game.

Here are five venues to anchor yourself to a memorable seafood meal:

There’s something fishy going on at Blakes Restaurant on Bank Street in Port Fairy. Cosily nestled in the historic Dublin House, Blakes is the local go-to spot for sparkling fresh seafood and a relaxed vibe, where guests can mingle over a glass of port in front of the fire; or in warmer weather, share a drop out in the sunny courtyard, where a market garden provides fresh produce for the kitchen.

 

Salivate over starters such as grilled prawns with parma ham and carrot purée, or rich and creamy signature seafood chowder; before delicately grilled line fish with seasonal vegetables and citrus dressing. Finish decadently with profiteroles drenched in dark chocolate sauce.

Boasting sweeping views across Wollongong Harbour, tri-level Harbourfront Restaurant on Endeavour Drive is stunning both night and day. Breezy outdoor decks and floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of views on every level, while friendly, professional service adds to the relaxed ambience throughout.

 

Indulge in fine dining and a well curated wine list, set against the stunning waterfront backdrop. While the extensive menu offers something for all tastes, the specialty is seafood – start with roasted King prawns, followed by live eastern rock lobster, fries and cos lettuce salad.

When it comes to seafood, few do it as well as Rick Stein at Bannisters, located within the grounds of Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook. Whether you visit for the restaurant experience or let it be part of a pampering package, the coastal views don’t end on the road; this is a waterfront venue and every diner has an ocean panorama.

 

The beach-chic setting is comfortable, classy and understated and the food exquisitely prepared – look out for dishes like grilled scallops and seaweed butter to start, then dive right into mains such as grilled hapuka fillet, with prawn and mango salsa, or char-grilled tuna steak, sweet and sour eggplant relish, tomatoes, celery, capers and olives.

Casual waterside dining, a chilled Cairns vibe and extraordinary views are what await at The Backyard by Shangri-La on Pierpoint Road. Nestled in The Pier Shopping Centre, this stylish destination boasts indoor and outdoor dining embracing the FNQ coastal lifestyle; ideal for lingering over a cocktail or two and a memorable bite to eat.

 

Pair a chilled glass of Riesling with crispy fried squid, served with Romesco sauce and lemon; then share a seafood platter of chilled prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, oysters, battered fish, fried squid, lobster pot and chive mayo, mixed leaf salad, rustic fries and dipping sauces. 

Located within a stroll of the blue waters of Toowoon Bay, The Bay Café is a favourite with locals for serving fresh seafood from its welcoming venue on Bay Road. Enter to discover a contemporary vibe styled with polished wood floors, a vibrant red feature wall, high-back leather chairs and black and white photography hung on the walls, creating a modern dining space ideal for celebrating any occasion.

 

Offering a Mod Oz menu with tastes of outback Australia, perhaps try garlic prawns in a cream sauce, served with rice; then delve into bush barramundi with scampi and lemon myrtle sauce, or indulge the senses with mornay lobster, fillet steak, potatoes and salad.