Hunky Dory-Moonee Ponds

Hunky Dory is not your stereotypical fish and chip shop. For starters it isn’t just busy on the usual fish and chip night (Fridays), it isn’t just take away, and the fish selection is broad and the produce is fresh!
Honestly I had not heard of Hunky Dory until this one opened up so I wasn’t swept up in all the hype with those who knew the reputation.
The night we visited it was BUSY, even despite it being very early for dinner (weekend away and no motivation to cook!). The staff operate the venue like a well oiled machine, handing out menus to people as they walk in, order staff taking orders efficiently and the seating staff getting you seated as soon as a table is available.
On busy nights the staff seat you after you have ordered to ensure that people are able to sit and enjoy their meals and tables aren’t held by people yet to order. We witnessed some patrons helping themselves to a table and the staff politely explained the process so they were aware for next time.
The grilled fish was fresh and tasty and the battered items were juicy in the middle, well protected with a light fluffy batter. We’ll be back as the weather warms up and motivation to cook drops off!

The stars is purely for the food. I am not a salad eater but they do these fantastically. The fish is always cooked to perfection and the tartare sauce is amazeballs!
Their service is absolutely crap. If not for the food i’d have one starred them. I have been here 4 times since it opened a few months ago and went back as recent as today and unfortunately they haven’t improved. The register girl was so unpleasant, abrupt and rude when taking your order, and will eye you down when you seat yourself at an empty table — if she doesn’t like where you’re sitting she will snap at you to move! And it wasn’t just us she barked at — i noticed she did that to 2 other patrons that came in after us. Idgaf if its because she was having a bad day — don’t take that out on your customers. Table waitresses are also a bit overwhelmed and therefore haven’t a clue what they are doing — on past trips we had one completely forget an order and another giving us a duplicate order for free (gave us 5 huge fish and chips plates for a table of 4 umm!!!). Maybe the poor serving girls cracked under the pressure from taking barked orders from the register lady. Who knows. She needs to chill out though.