Paul’s Seafood on Gouger Street has been around for nearly 70 years. The decor is nothing flash, however it still comes across as being neat and presentable. There’s good use of timber throughout, and the blue and white colour scheme reminds you of the sea. With seating both upstairs and on the ground floor, everything felt a bit cramped as they’ve tried to fit too many chairs and tables in a small space.

There’s nothing fancy about the menu. It’s all about the seafood which is fresh and simply prepared. Last night, I ordered the Grilled Fish. The meals were ready after a 15 minute wait and each dish was nicely presented. The hake was soft, delicate and perfectly cooked. By itself it would have tasted bland, but combined with the tartare sauce, it was pretty good. The deep fried potatoes were a beautiful golden brown. Nice and crunchy on the outside, and soft and fluffy in the middle. The vegetables in the salad were fresh and crisp, but I felt it could have used a dressing of some sort.

My friend had the Salt and Pepper Squid. The squid was fresh and perfectly cooked.

Another friend had the Crumbed Fish. The fish was also fresh and well cooked.

Another friend had the Crumbed Scallops. The scallops were juicy and succulent, and perfectly cooked.

Another friend, who didn’t like seafood, ordered the Chicken Schnitzel. It was reported that the chicken was overcooked.

Another friend had the Garlic Prawns. The prawns were well cooked, however, the flavour wasn’t the best she’s tasted.

The staff were friendly and inviting, and the service was above average. We were grateful that they were able to provide us with a large table on a Friday night without a booking. The atmosphere was vibrant and the pricing was a bit higher than what it was worth. If you put this place under the microscope, it really just a glorified fish and chip shop, but one that knows how to cook their seafood.

WHERE: 79 Gouger St, Adelaide