The Fishwife — Restaurant in South Island

My original review still stands - read below for that. However for everyone else. Especially the "too long, didn't read" crowd here's my succinct summary.

Stay Away! This place is the worst! Nobody goes here anymore - its too crowded.

It's just so crowded now that I can't actually get my blue cod fish and chips anymore. Everytime I go it's got a queue for parking and ordering and eating. So do yourself (and me) a big favour and leave all that madness behind. Go to Hampden instead and leave this place, for me and the other North Otago locals to enjoy again. Thank you.

Now original review resumes:

Best blue cod and chips I've had in a very long time. You can also order crayfish - whole or just a half - when in season - with or without the chips or garlic butter.

They also sell wonderfully fresh chocolate brownies and Rocky Road at times. Plus they have fresh coffee available. They also sell filleted/packaged fish you can take home most days (If not all sold out.) for a better price and freshness than most other outlets.

Its not open every day, currently mostly weekends and Xmas holidays. But worth a stop when you're passing by or anytime you want some old school (like you used to get) "fish and chips" as direct as possible from the fisherfolk who caught the fish. How it was before the red tape and paperwork made it too hard for most...

After two weeks of exploring New Zealand's culinary scene, I finally stumbled upon a gem of a restaurant that catered perfectly to my palate. I had the pleasure of trying two local specialties here: Blue Cod and Crayfish, each prepared to perfection.

From the moment the dishes were placed before me, I knew I was in for a treat. The Blue Cod was cooked flawlessly, flaking at the touch of the fork, its delicate flavors enhanced by the accompanying sauce that was both subtle and savory. The Crayfish, a true testament to the freshness of local seafood, was succulent and rich, with a taste that transported me straight to the ocean's edge.

What elevated my dining experience was the exceptional service, especially from a staff member named Nicky. Their warmth and patience made me feel right at home, and their recommendations were spot on. The restaurant's ambiance, coupled with Nicky's attentive service, made my meal an unforgettable experience.

To anyone looking for authentic Kiwi flavors and hospitable service, this is the place to be. It's not just a meal; it's a culinary journey that I can't recommend highly enough. Thank you for such a delightful...

We ate here on Good Friday. We had a choice of Blue Cod caught on the day, I think Hapuka caught the day before, crayfish and a few more options. We chose cod as a treat and were not disappointed. The fillet was full size, top and bottom side of the fillet together. I ordered 1 more than we had people, but due to the size we didn't need it. It was so fresh it reheated well the next day. The chips were generous and hard to fault. They provide complimentry chicken salt, tomato sauce and a jug of tartare. For me, the best Blue Cod ever was at Oban on Rakiura, now I'm not so sure. Mrs O is a 3rd gen fisho, she rated it highly too. We also tried a paua fritter. It's a meal by itself. Very tasty, fresh, great textures. The paua was from the Chathams. This was not a cheap meal, I'm not sure whether there was a holiday surcharge, but given the first class fish it's still good value. We ate under cover during a nice sunset. No dress code, I was...