Get hooked on Brady’s gourmet fish and chips
Inspired by his uncle’s fish and chip shop in London, renowned chef and restaurateur James Brady has taken things back to basics with his latest venture, Brady’s in Surfers Paradise. The new venue specialises in sustainable seafood and sits somewhere between a fancy restaurant and a takeaway fish and chippery.
Hidden behind Pigs and Pints (also owned by James) at the base of the Q1, Brady’s is not reinventing the wheel, essentially it’s fish and chips to have-in or takeaway but the difference is all in the details. Instead of farmed frozen fish from far away places, James sources fish fresh from local trawlers daily, batters it in a beautifully light wild yeast batter that is made using the water from the potatoes or grills it with a simple mix of herbs, and once it’s gone it’s gone (keep that in mind when you’re planning a visit). Instead of churning out pre-cut flavourless chips, the chips at Brady’s are boiled and then twice-cooked to ensure they are deliciously light and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The pint of prawns, roasted salmon fillet and fresh shucked oysters are among the stand-out seafood selections but if fare from the sea isn’t your thing, the crispy pork belly, grilled rib eye, mushroom gnocchi and a mighty tempting baked camembert starter will have you sufficiently stuffed. Just make sure you leave room for the chocolate lava cake, with a gooey ganache centre encased in a crispy chocolatey outer, it will make you feel all of the warm and fuzzies.
Brady’s is a special project for the esteemed chef because it has been a culinary dream ever since he learnt to fillet his first fish in his uncle’s shop in London. Similarly to its older English sibling, the philosophy is not to dazzle with ‘foam’ or ‘dust’ but rather to showcase premium produce with minimal interruption, a refreshing change of pace for James who has previously worked in Melbourne’s Vue de Monde. The quaint restaurant isn’t immediately visible from the outside so you’ll have to venture in to find it, your dedication will be rewarded with unbelievably fresh, ethically sourced seafood in a warm and welcoming environ. The whole menu is available takeaway too so if the sun is shining you can grab your feast to go and enjoy by the beach.
For opening hours and contact details, see our Stumble Guide.
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