Has the humble fish and chip shop become a dying breed? Apart from the beach and coastal towns, they're few and far between in the suburbs, and even harder to find in the city. Nostalgia lives on at Mohr Fish, a humble Surry Hills corner takeaway tiled in white and powder blue.
Mohr Fish shopfront
Mohr Fish menu
There's a distinct price difference between eating in and takeaway, and we notice that most locals ring ahead to place their order, then turn up ten minutes later to pick up their lunch. Fish and chips will set you back $22 if you pull up a chair, dropping to $8.50 if you exit the premises.
Complimentary bread and butter
But there's something to be said for perching on a stool and watching the world pass on by through the shopfront windows. We thoughtfully chew on a basket of complimentary bread and butter as we alternate between looking outside and observing the sole chef in the kitchen get through the lunchtime rush.
Bouillabaisse $15.50
Although usually thought of as a winter dish, bouillabaisse is still on the menu. It's an aromatic and warming soup with hearty chunks of seafood scattered throughout.
Deep-fried garlic prawns and aioli $22
Deep-fried garlic prawns are a tempting golden hue, the prawns butterflied and coated in a crispy batter.
Blue eye trevalla with asparagus, hollandaise sauce and chips $24
Not everything is deep-fried but grilled blue eye trevalla is made even better with a thick blanket of hollandaise, tangy with lemon and served with asparagus, salad and a pile of chips.
Fish pie $24
Fish pie is the kind of comfort food dish you imagine would be perfect to savour in the depths of winter. Digging our way past the gratin of mashed potato and parmesan, we find a huddle of fish, leek, celery and mushrooms at the bottom. It's a rich and heavy dish and filling for its size.
Inside the fish pie
Deep-fried flat head and chips $22
I'd gone with the classic deep-fried flat head and chips, a generous portion of three fillets stacked on a mountain of chips and a side serve of salad. The fish is moist and the batter is crunchy. It only needs a gentle squeeze of lemon but the chips deserve a good splash of vinegar, poured from an old-fashioned glass bottle stuffed with sprigs of thyme.
There's more tartare sauce than we know what to do with, but the fish and chips easily find a home to go to.
Tartare sauce
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Mohr Fish
202 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
Tel: +61 (02) 9318 1326
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 11am-10pm
BYO
Cash only
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thanks to the crazy weird weather sydney's been having im dying to dig into the bouillabaisse and fish pie!
ReplyDeleteTHis is one of those places where every time I walk pass, I would put a mental post-it to try it next time... luck it is a mental post-it, otherwise I would have wasted a forest or 2.
ReplyDeleteThe dishes looks real and refined and comforting. Now I feel that I have experienced Mohr Fish once through your post, I will definitely go back again.
Wonder if they are in any way related to Mohr Smoke Salmon that used to operate out of Mascot and since disappear in its original form.....
The place certainly looks uninviting... but dishes look great! I'd love to eat a bouillabaisse there before the cold, cloudy days are over.
ReplyDeleteThe fish and chips definitely look like a winner!
ReplyDeleteHans Mohr is one of the great unsung heros of the Sydney Food scene, and one of the few chefs that actually goes to the Sydney Fish Markets to buy his fish - without a journalist or a camera crew in tow!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up we all looked forward to Fridays because Friday night was 'fish n chip' night and we'd pile into the Holden and drive down to the corner shop where we'd be so excited to be handed a dinner wrapped in newspaper.
ReplyDeletehavent been to mohr for asuch a long time! definitely worth another visit soon i think! the fish and chips looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteThe batter on their fish and also the prawns looks very light and crisp. Actually all the dishes you guys had look really lovely.
ReplyDeleteApparently there are a couple of really fantastic fish and chip places in Canberra, but it doesn't feel right to me without the smell of the sea in the air! I'd definitely be up for in-land bouillabaise though :D
ReplyDeleteYum, looks good. Annandale has also inherited a new fish and chip place, called Fat Fish. Fantastic choices and grilled octopus to die for. Check it out.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I miss real fish and chips - I'll be paying Mohr a visit sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteOh wow that is a massive jump. Doesnt look like its a massive fine dining experience that warrants such a jump either? The food does look tasty though but I think for the price deff, Id rather eat it on the couch lol
ReplyDeleteI remember frequenting this place years ago and it's like a Billy Kwong experience - give your mobile and go to the pub next door for a drink and wait. The food still looks good although prices have obviously gone up a fair bit.
ReplyDeleteThe more the better, i say. Great write-up. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOMG, Fried. Fish. Fried. Potatoes. These guys should be a food group all of their own. I miss Fish and Chips something awful since I left Sydney. Looks like the price has really gone up though but I'd give an arm and a leg for your plate.
ReplyDeleteI'm still nostaligic for my fish and chips generously doused with vinegar and wrapped up old-style in butcher's paper parcels.
Wow, that bouillabaisse looks amazing! I do miss fish and chips - it's something that is so bad but so comforting - best eaten near the seaside, or as it seems, in Surry Hills! And it is so rare to be given TOO much tartare sauce, usually it's not enough, so bonus points there!
ReplyDeleteAm feeling the creamy warmth from that silky blanket of hollandaise. One day I'll actually make it to this little place
ReplyDeleteI miss the local fish and chippy! I haven't been able to find one in years. When we move back to Australia, I'm just going to have to scope out the neighbourhood to ensure we're within walking distance to a great fish and chippy for those lazy Friday nights. YUM :)
ReplyDeleteI remember going here YEARS ago - food still looks wonderfully yummy.
ReplyDeleteaaaah a fish and chip joint that gives you more tartare sauce then you need. sounds like my kind of place!!
ReplyDeletebeen wanting to try mohr fish for a long time! realised it was next to devonshire when i dined there. that bouillabaisse looks freakin good!
ReplyDeleteThat's a big bowl of tartare sauce :O I do love a good fish and chip, the batter is the most important part of it, really liking that lovely golden colour!
ReplyDeleteSuch fond memories of this place- so convenient for pre theatre before a show at Belvoir...
ReplyDeleteWow, huge difference between dine in and takeaway prices. The food you ate in does look pretty amazing though. I have been past here so many times promising myself I'd try it one day. Hopefully I get around to it.
ReplyDelete