About
Fisherman’s Wharf is a casual fish and chip shop in Cowes, on Phillip Island, with a loyal following built on generous portions and some genuinely enthusiastic word of mouth. The menu features calamari alongside whitefish options, and the chips are well regarded for their crispiness. Burgers also get a mention from regulars, described as juicy and satisfying. The shop offers both dine-in and takeaway, with outdoor seating available for those who want to sit down after ordering.
The venue is family friendly, with a kids’ menu and table service that suits groups as well as solo diners. Halal food is available, making it a solid option for visitors with dietary requirements. The space is wheelchair accessible and free parking is provided nearby, which is handy for anyone heading in from around the island or passing through Cowes.
Vegetarian options sit alongside the standard fish and chips fare, rounding out a menu that covers most bases. Reviews are mixed across the board, but recent visits suggest the kitchen is performing well, with several diners calling it among the best fish and chips they have tried.
Phone ahead during busy periods, particularly in peak season when Cowes sees plenty of visitors.
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Dine-In Available?
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8 Reviews on “Fisherman's Wharf”
Definitely best fish and chips I’ve had in Australia so far. We were hesitant to try because of the previous mixed reviews here but I’m so glad we gave it a shot.
The Calamari meal for 2 with the whitefish was my favourite. The whitefish was so flavourful, the calamari was surprisingly super good.
If you’re looking for a fuss free affordable meal that is actually good in this area, give this place a shot!
Quick service, and I suppose good value for $12 for a good portion of fish and chips. Unfortunately, I was unwell for hours after eating here, which only happens with frozen and not fresh fish. Being right on the seafront, that’s a disappointment, and I did ask to check the freshness. Cheap, but unimpressed.
Today went to fisherman’s wharf fish and chips food was nice just oppisit the cowes beach
Had been coming to this shop over the summer season for 15 years or so. Came back this year and the food was very disappointing.
Would not recommend due to the reasons below and won’t go back unless the quality is back to how it was over the previous years.
This is a review from a family of 8.
– Chips are dry.
– Potato cakes were very greasy and the batter was not fluffy and crunchy like it used to be.
– Calamari rings abnormally small for the price and not cooked enough.
– Fried flake did not taste fresh, it was dry, over cooked and the batter was not fluffy and crunchy like it used to be.
– Beef burger with the lot, beef was over cooked, dry and didn’t have enough sauce and juices.
– Chicken schnitzel burger had way too much mayo and the chicken had a slimy texture.
I really hope that the owners read these comments and try to rectify the issues.
Wow. Just wow. These might be the best fish & chips I’ve ever had! The chips were super crispy and the burgers juicy. Our experience was further enhanced by the beautiful, lovely lady whose name I believe is Ella. Her customer service just went above and beyond. I also must mention that her body is TEA, period. When she turned sideways to grab our burgers she suddenly disappeared! At first I thought she was a magician, but it turns out she was so skinny that she goes invisible when she turns sideways! So if you’re ever concerned that she’s gone missing after she takes your order, just remember she’s probably turned to go put extra chicken salt on your chips. Overall, 10/10 experience!
Wow I am just amazed this was the greatest fish and chips I have ever eaten, there was a kind young boy with luscious blonde hair. His physique was godlike and with the pure heart of gold he had he served me Magnificently. When my food arrived after it only a 10 minute wait, can you believe that so quick? The fish was perfect crispy on the outside smooth and silky on the inside and perfect for tasting. The chips were crispy as crisp and my burger was the juiciest burger I’ve ever eaten. I would 100 out of 10 rate this for a perfect fish and chip lunch or dinner. Their prices were perfect. they had all options. There was no dairy involved no gluten on the grill. It was halal. It was perfect. The customer service was amazing. The packaging was speedy. They had such wonderful views of the ocean just outside. The food was delightful and it was an amazing experience. I will be going back there hopefully every day I can get what Wonderful fish and chip shop Please, if you try this food have the same experience as me. I love this very much 100 out of 10 perfection.
The service was quite poor, and the venue appears to be severely understaffed, resulting in a very long wait time. For visitors to Phillip Island who are only there for a day or two, spending close to an hour waiting for fish and chips is far from ideal.
That said, the food itself was tasty once it arrived. However, considering the wait time and overall experience, the pricing feels high. When customers make an effort to support small businesses, customer service is paramount, without it, even good food can leave a disappointing impression.
Fisherman’s Wharf in Cowes feels like a social experiment on how little effort a restaurant can put in and still legally operate. From the moment you arrive, the vibe is off — not “relaxed seaside,” but “we gave up years ago and hope you don’t notice.”
The staff are impressively rude, like they’ve been personally wronged by your decision to eat there. Asking a simple question feels like you’re interrupting something very important (standing around, apparently). The highlight, though, was the bin situation — or lack of one. They proudly operate with a single bin, which gets collected once every fortnight. Shockingly, it was full. When we asked what to do with our rubbish, we were told to walk down the street and throw it out elsewhere. Truly five-star customer service: “Thanks for dining with us, now please take our trash problem and make it yours.”
The food is overpriced and forgettable, which honestly matches the whole experience. Nothing was terrible enough to be dramatic, just consistently disappointing — like everything had been done with the bare minimum amount of care required.
Overall, rude staff, bin-related madness, and food that makes you wish you’d gone literally anywhere else. Would not recommend unless you enjoy being mildly annoyed by every part of a meal.