Fish Cafe Balgowlah wins NSW’s best seafood restaurant award
Beverley Hudec
August 31, 2015
The state’s best seafood restaurants are on the northern beaches. Fish Cafe By Balgowlah Seafood took out the top award at last week’s NSW Seafood Excellence Awards.
The consumers’ choice award was a pleasant surprise, co-owner Con Ioannides said. Mr Ioannides and business partner Jimmy Dawla opened the seafood restaurant at Balgowlah Stockland five years ago.
Related: Voting time for Sydney Fish Market Seafood Excellence Awards “It is a great achievement and a pleasant surprise. We were up against tough competition this year,” he said. It is the restaurant’s second win — it took the biannual award in 2013.
Mr Ioannides and Mr Dawla opened their seafood restaurant at Balgowlah Stockland five years ago.
The restaurant’s trademark is consistency. “We always use fresh produce from our seafood shop downstairs,” he said. “Keeping up the quality and keeping it simple makes a difference.” Mr Ioannides recognised the contribution both staff and customers had made to winning the award. “I can’t praise my staff enough, he said. “We also have support from loyal customers.”
Two Manly restaurants — Garfish and first-time nominee Manly Fish Cafe — rounded out the top three category finalists. This year the three people’s choice category awards for best seafood restaurant, best fish and chips and best retailer at Sydney Fish Market attracted over 5000 votes.
The biannual awards held at Sydney Fish Market recognise the industry’s top retailers, restaurants and suppliers across nine categories. Consumer choice awards went to Darron’s Seafood in Wamberal for best fish and chips, and Claudio’s NSW Quality Seafoods won best retailer at Sydney Fish Market.
The Seafood Excellence awards have been held biannually at the Sydney Fish Market since 1996. The NSW seafood industry creates 4000 jobs annually, Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair said. “Each year more than half a billion dollars of economic activity is generated by the NSW seafood industry and creates more than 4000 jobs,” he said.
GONE FISHING
WHAT: Fish Cafe Balgowlah wins Best Seafood Restaurant for the second time
WHEN: Seafood Excellence Awards
WHERE: Sydney Fish Market
