When you live on the Coast, fish and chips can become the easy default when you can’t be bothered cooking. But every now & then you find a spot that reminds you it can be more than a quick paper-wrapped dinner.
That’s what brought us to The Swordfish Co in Budgewoi recently.
We’d heard plenty about it, so we headed up for lunch to see what all the fuss was about.
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The Swordfish Co, Budgewoi
First impressions were promising. Since we’d scored a sunny day, we headed straight for their outdoor deck – a little slice of holiday with big striped umbrellas and festoon lights overlooking Budgewoi Creek.
Most people know The Swordfish Co for the fish and chips, and they absolutely deliver. The fish had that perfect crunch, but the batter wasn’t heavy or greasy. The chips were crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. Exactly how they should be.
And the hand-cut potato scallops (we’re not debating the name) were enormous. Honestly, the size of my hand.
But this is definitely more than your average fish and chip shop.
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Central Coast seafood spot locals love
The Swordfish Co is family-owned and run by Garry and Melissa Risteski, who’ve spent close to two decades serving the Budgewoi community.
The best way to experience it has to be the seafood platter for two – the right move if you want to try a bit of everything. We did it with absolutely zero regrets. It arrived stacked with prawns (fresh, grilled and cutlets), oysters, scallops, fish, calamari and chips. We didn’t know where to start! Great value and easy to sit there picking away at while chatting.
The scallops and grilled prawns were my personal faves. They came with a garlic herb butter that was way too good to leave behind… so naturally, everything else ended up getting dipped in, too.
While seafood is the hero, there’s plenty more on the menu. A decent selection of gourmet burgers, including a rotating Burger of the Month, plus local beer and wine if you’re dining in. We grabbed a bottle of sem sav for the table and it went down a treat.
Special mention also needs to go to the prawn roll, which seems to be having a real moment across the Coast lately. Soft roll, loads of fresh prawns, cocktail sauce – simple, but really, really good.
And then there’s the gelato.
We spotted the cabinet while we were ordering – clever move putting it right there – so we made a mental note to leave room (future us would be grateful). It’s made in-house and sitting there waiting for you as you leave.
We tried a bit of everything between the four of us – pistachio, Nutella, lemon sorbet, you name it – with a promise that we’d be back for more.
Family-friendly dining on the Central Coast
It’s easy to see why locals have become fiercely loyal to this place.
It was nice to watch people come and go – friends settling in, families grabbing takeaway, workers taking a well-deserved lunch break. It would be equally cute for a date night or work do.
I also loved seeing kids climbing in and out of the little wooden rowboat they’ve set up in the corner. There are fish or chicken boxes for the kids, old-school milkshakes and plenty to keep them entertained while the grown-ups take a breather.
If you haven’t stopped in at Budgewoi in a while, consider this a not-so-little nudge. Between the water views, the seafood and the relaxed family-run atmosphere, The Swordfish Co is a pretty good reason.
And if you happen to find yourself further north, they’ve also got a Warners Bay location, bringing the same fresh seafood and easygoing vibe to another waterfront spot.
The Swordfish Co
1 Budgewoi Circle, Budgewoi
(02) 4044 0541
See the full menu at theswordfishco.com.au
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