Costa’s Seafood Cafe in running to take out Australia’s best fish and chips

It has only been in operation for the past six months yet this new Brisbane bayside seafood cafe is already in the running to be named Australia’s best fish and chip shop.

Costa's Seafood Cafe owners Chris and Jason Tapinos with their seafood platters.

A Bayside seafood cafe is in the running to be named Australia’s best fish and chip shop.

New kids on the block Costa’s Seafood Cafe is making a splash on the food scene and is currently ranked number one in Queensland — and second in the country — in the Australian Fish and Chips Awards.

Brisbane’s best fish and chips

The cafe opened on Old Cleveland Road at Capalaba in December and is run by the Tapinos family, who have lived in the Redlands for 25 years.

Costa's Seafood Cafe owners Maria, Chris and Costa Tapinos at Capalaba.

Dad Costa, mum Maria, and brothers Chris, Jason and Michael ran Marine World Seafood Cafe at Tingalpa for five years until the family sold it in 2014.

“My parents were semi-retired but they had been working their whole lives and couldn’t sit still,” Chris said.

“Dad watched everything as Netflix so we had to give him something to do. So we decided to open the shop,” Michael said.

The brothers say they like to keep things simple by focusing on “quality and keeping it local”.

There’s fresh snapper from North Queensland, Moreton Bay bugs pulled from the waters only more than a few kilometres away and prawns sourced from Tin Can Bay and Mooloolaba.

If you still feel like you need a hit of Queensland — the family is also getting a name for serving a plate of watermelon and pineapple to all diners after their meal.

Michael said for those adverse to gluten, there is also a large GF offering — with the cafe championing a gluten free potato scallop.

“A lot of our customers asked if we did the scallops gluten free,” he said.

“So we were trialling them over the last few weeks and have almost perfected the recipe.”

The Australian Fish and Chips Awards are run by the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.

Voting closes on May 31 and national winners will be announced in October.

Michael said the family hope to win so they can “put Capalaba on the map”.

“If they enjoy the food, they should vote.”

To find out more, visit: fishandchipsawards.com.au