Get fishy with it! Five of the best seafood restaurants in Brisbane

Gambaro is Brisbane’s iconic seafood restaurant. It’s been around for 60 years, starting as a humble fish ‘n chip shop until it moved across the street and morphed into the city’s best known and most awarded seafood restaurant.

If you’re out to impress then this is where you head: the menu is impressive but still keeps faithful to the old favourites. Nestled beside oysters and king prawns are Barramundi wings (!) and for the non-pescatarian, karaage chicken.

For two you cannot go past a seafood platter, hot, cold or both. But if you’re visiting at the right time, do not miss the mud crabs and crayfish. Gambaro’s has great outdoor dining, lovely in the summer and heated in the winter. And if you are a footy fan – Suncorp Stadium is just a 10-minute walk away.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Hot and cold seafood platter for two ($189)

King Crab Co has quite an extensive menu: small plates, burgers/rolls, smoked dishes, small plates, oyster bar, soups and desserts.

As you’d expect, the star dishes are those that honour the king crab: crab cakes, crab rolls, chowder (served in a bread bowl) and of course, plain ole hot Alaskan King crabs served with a sauce of your choice (chilli, cajun, bay butter) and a garlic baguette.

Rumour has it that the salads are great, but to our shame we carb loaded on truffle-oil fries and duck fat chat potatoes.

Desserts usually don’t enter the picture in seafood restaurants, but we had to try the sour cherry pie and salted caramel and honeycomb waffle. There is plenty for the vegan and gluten intolerant too, and it is well worth the trip to lovely Bulimba.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Seafood boil: blue swimmer crab, spanner crab, crab claws, prawns, mussels, clams, potatoes, corn, chorizo, garlic baguettes and beer battered fries with your choice of sauce ($134 for two)

If you’re walking around Eagle Street Pier, it’s difficult to miss Rico Bar and Dining.The patrons spill out of the restaurant and onto Rico’s outdoor terrace for pre and post-dinner drinks. Soak up the Brisbane River vibes and the cocktails. And then there’s the food.

For the standing drinkers, Rico’s offers half-a-dozen styles of ceviche and nearly 20 tapas to nibble from Moreton Bay Bug brioche (the signature tapas) and Barramundi tacos to chargrilled octopus with chorizo and grilled scallops Or ask the waiter for the special of the day.

Perhaps you want to sit, rest the feet and enjoy the River views? Mains include whole calamari (with chimichurri), black mussels and ocean trout. Rico’s couldn’t claim to be Latin without a hearty selection of meat dishes including rib on the bone and Wagyu striploin.

Come for the drinks and Friday night bonhomie and stay for the fabulous food and romantic ambience.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Seafood paella ($65 for two)

You don’t need plates or cutlery at The Prawnster: you only need fingers, friends and family!

It’s not your typical seafood restaurant. For a start, it’s a fishing vessel that’s converted its deck and surrounding ‘pier’ for casual dining. It serves the freshest of fresh Australian seafood. You can bring your own bread, salads, chips and no-surcharge birthday cake (bring disposable plates too). It is not BYO, however.

This all makes it the perfect venue for a multi-person gathering, and children would love it. Also great for overseas guests whom you want to impress.

The Prawnster really captures what Aussie hospitality is all about: lashings of prawns, bugs, oysters, fish, and plenty of sparkling and Champagne guarantee a good time.

Dish Cult’s top pick: San Michelle platter: oysters, salmon sashimi, prawns, whole large lobster (600 grams) ($120 for two)

Not surprisingly most of Brisbane’s seafood restaurants are near or on the water, and River Quay Fish has (arguably) one of the best waterfront locations.

It’s all about the view here – the tables face it and the hard working staff are behind you. This openness makes it ideal for those with dogs – yes it’s a dog-friendly restaurant.

Food-wise it offers a blend of share seafood platters, small tapas-y dishes and a reef fish of the day.

It’s also at the quiet end of South Bank so it’s ideal for a lazy weekend brunch. The sound of the river, sipping a sour appletini and munching a fish taco – does life get any better? Bring your pooch and your appetite.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Moreton Bay bug bao buns ($18)