IF you’re a local in the know – Joe’s is the go!

In my humble opinion, Joe’s Fish Shack has been serving the best fish and chips at Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour for almost two decades.

Set back slightly from the waterfront, this laidback chippy is a great spot to watch tourists fend off seagulls at Cicerello’s.

One of my all-time favourite guilty pleasures is their stuffed prawns ($22): a delightful ensemble of deep-fried potato, bacon and spinach.

They were hard to share, but I eventually acquiesced and let my lovely wife Kylie tuck in.

Fluffy bread

The seafood platter ($35) is like a traditional fish basket on steroids and includes salt and pepper squid rings, a stuffed prawn, chips, a massive slab of snapper and fresh coleslaw.

Every piece of seafood was cooked to perfection, but I’m still trying to get my head around one dish – the macaroni, cheese and prawn balls.

In my view there’s a bit of a problem combining seafood and cheese, and these balls show why – low on the prawn count and the cheese was overpowering.

Creamy roux

The most impressive dish we tried was the Seafood Chowder ($18).

The rich creamy roux was punctuated with flakey chunks of snapper and mackerel, calamari rings, prawns and soft potato cubes.

And you get two thick slices of fluffy bread to mop up every last delicious mouthful.

I think the chowder is one of the best-value winter indulgences you’ll find in Fremantle.

You can get fish and chips anywhere along Fishing Boat Harbour – from Little Creatures to Bathers Beach Beach House – but if you want the best you can’t go past Joe’s.

by MATTHEW EELES

Joe’s Fish Shack
42 Mews Road,
Fishing Boat Harbour
http://www.joesfishshack.com.au
9336 7161