Flo’s Torres Strait Island Takeaway: Seafood boils and island flavours star at new city takeaway

Seafood lovers are flocking to Flo’s Torres Strait Island Takeaway on Flinders Street, where mouth-watering Cajun-style seafood boils with an island twist are stealing the show.

TASTE: Seafood Boil. Florrie Schwartz with traditional Torres Strait scones and a seafood boil. Picture: Evan Morgan

Seafood lovers are flocking to Flo’s Torres Strait Island Takeaway on Flinders Street, where mouth-watering Cajun-style seafood boils with an island twist are stealing the show and shaking up CBD’s food scene.

Owner Florrie Schwartz has turned her lifelong dream into reality, opening Townsville’s first-ever seafood boil takeaway.

The signature dish is the showstopper — a massive $130 Cajun-style seafood boil designed to feed four to five people, packed with crab, bugs, prawns, octopus, pippy shells, mussels, potato, corn, cabana, and chorizo.

There’s also a $35 mini version, offering all the flavour in smaller serving enough for two.

TASTE: Seafood Boil. a smaller serving of seafood boil. Picture: Evan Morgan

But what really has locals hooked is the sauce.

“It’s Cajun with just a little twist,” Florrie says proudly.

“I’ve had people come back together again because they love that sauce.”

But Flo’s isn’t just about the boils — the menu also features plenty of island soul food including garlic butter crabs, coconut curry fish, vermicelli chicken, coconut curry chicken, curry pork, curry beef, and even rich, traditional dinuguan pig blood stew.

TASTE: Seafood Boil. Vermicelli Chicken. Picture: Evan Morgan

Every main meal is served with rice, and you can also add a side of freshly baked scones or Sop Sop.

Florrie credits her mum, Nanga Mabo, for passing down the recipes and the passion.

Nanga has been a regular fixture at Townsville’s cultural festivals for over a decade, and now she’s working alongside her daughter at Flo’s every day.

TASTE: Seafood Boil. Florrie Schwartz with traditional Torres Strait scones. Picture: Evan Morgan

Florrie’s partner Stephen Tom and their children also lend a hand, making the takeaway a full family affair.

“I’ve had this dream for a long time to open my own shop … God’s timing, I suppose,” she said.

“We opened last month, and I’ve been flat out ever since. Everybody’s been sharing it all online — it’s a completely new experience for Townsville because no one’s had a seafood boil shop here before, so everybody’s been coming down to taste it.”

Flo’s Torres Strait Island Takeaway is open Tuesday through Sunday at 221 Flinders Street, Townsville City.

TASTE: Seafood Boil. Florrie Schwartz with traditional Torres Strait scones and a seafood boil. Picture: Evan Morgan

Originally published as Flo’s Torres Strait Island Takeaway: Seafood boils and island flavours star at new city takeaway