Bondies at The Bay — Restaurant in Ballina

Look, there’s two parts to this. Presentation of the food and the attendants and the crowd it attracts plus the shop.

The shop is almost needing demolishing. It’s on an opposite street to the pool can barely see it and no signs on the way to it or anything. You’d barely know it was there unless going down that street . It’s customers are often from low socio economic areas, missing teeth, often high as hell “jus’ gittin sum chips for tha kiiiids” kinda people. Few of the staff have dark rings under their eyes blackened teeth and will barely look at you. But their friendly. Down to earth, and generally chilled out. There’s no fragrance of pompous .

The chips and scallops are in desperate need of draining!!! Please, draaain the Goddarn food! My scallops were swimming around the container.

But apart from that! Bang for your buck! Perfectly cooked.. and a bit of nostalgia going to this place of those old school fish n chips from the corner store vibe.

Just a beutiful greasy hole in the wall that is the perfect way to address that nostalgia...

I researched the best fish n chips in Ballina, and Bondies was listed with a few others. When I saw that their fish n chips was only around $7.30, I knew it could be something special. So I drove to their shop, I decided instead on "snack box", and boy, this meal was anything but a snack. Its was more than my appetite could handle. I am so pleased they placed the chips under the seafood. Well, snack box contained a variety like fish, scllops, prawn cutlet, crab stick, squid. The batter was light and crispy. Knew the seafood was very fresh and cooked to perfection. Honestly, Sydney fish n chips could not compare unless you paid $30+. But snack box only cost $14, and I almost could not finish the chips. This is top fish n chips I have eaten, and.other places would be.mich more expensive for less tasty ot small proportions. Also, the tartare sauce came included!! Well done everyone at...

Chips were average. Not bad, not any different to most shops. However, we phoned ahead to order as we were driving through town from interstate. Placed order. Arrived and presented my card for payment and was informed by the cashier that they were cash only. My partner then had to walk into town to get money out. Despite me stating on the phone that we had never been to their shop before and were travelling from out of town, she did not TELL ME they were cash only, and when I pointed out to her that she should have, she seemed to have no comprehansion of WHY she would do that... their website has NO mention of this. All there is is a small printed sign at their register. A very rude surprise ...