Australia Day Seafood

words by annie brown

If I had a dollar for every time someone said our fair Capital would be the perfect city, if only we had a beach, I would likely be a millionaire (or at least $20 richer).

For all our fair city’s pros, diving into the salty sea on a hot Summers day would be the icing on the cake. Despite not having the allure of the waves, we do love our seafood, often migrating en masse to the South Coast in Summer for sand, surf and fresh delights of the sea.

With Australia Day approaching, the prime time for throwing a prawn on the barbie, we have gone in search of the best haunts for seafood around Canberra- no trips to the Coast necessary!

C Seafood and Oyster Bar
Now, I don’t know about you, but when it comes to seafood, I turn into a complete glutton. GIVE ME ALL THE PRAWNS. So needless to say I was delighted when I heard rumours of a seafood platter at C Seafood and Oyster bar at Kingston Foreshore. Consisting of natural oysters, calamari, char-grilled octopus, Australian tiger prawns, steamed mussels and beer battered fish, seafood Nirvana will likely ensue. With a delightful outlook over the lake and a swathe of ‘Best Seafood Restaurant awards, these guys have all your seafood desires covered. For those partial to a G&T on a hot summer’s eve (like myself), there are also 20 imported and local gins to sample. Hurrah!

Snapper- on the Lake
For a low-key affair, head on down to Snapper- on the Lake, Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club’s fish and chip shop. Is there anything better than sitting by the water, with piping hot chips and a perfectly battered morsel of fish in your hot little hands? I say no and Canberra agrees, voting Snapper the best fish and chipper in town. Perfect for the littlies, there is even live music on the lawns every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday throughout summer. We may not have a beach but hey, we have the lake, and this vantage point is the perfect spot to ride out a balmy day.

Capitol Bar and Grill
Remember when the humble prawn cocktail was the height of sophistication? I believe the year was 1967. Fast forward to the present day and the oft-described as passé hors d’oeuvre has made a striking comeback, because let’s face it, it may be simple but it sure is delicious. Leading the charge on its stunning revival is Capitol Bar and Grill at QT Canberra. Like many of the old school classics on the menu, the dish has been reinvented as the Beer Steamed Prawn Cocktail, with shredded iceberg, cucumber, tiny shrimp, tiger prawns, cognac horseradish and Capitol’s fermented tomato hot sauce. Nothing humble about that!

Ocean Fresh Seafood
Have you ever wondered what inspired the first person to eat an oyster to actually eat an oyster? For the uninitiated, I could understand one to be a little apprehensive. I mean, slimy, pungent and in need of being shucked, really why would you bother? But then you have one, and after the first unnerving sensation of slime sliding down your throat, they are actually quite wonderful. So much so, that my gluttonous tendencies come out in full force when I am presented with an opportunity to devour them. For a cheap and cheerful option and one you can eat in the comfort of your own surroundings, why not head on down to Ocean Fresh Seafood at the Fyshwick markets for a tray fresh from the ocean? With Pacific and Sydney Rock (my personal favourite) on offer, you can treat yo’self without breaking the bank.