Nearly every suburb (or second) has their own little local shopping villages. I have to say these places are generally overlooked because they aren’t the one stop shop place for you to buy all your groceries/everyday needs and usually only have a handful of independent shops. One of my local villages has a tuck shop that has been established since 2010 run by a local family (they went to my high school). It’s definitely a hidden gem that only those in the community know or have heard about it. Good hearty food at decent prices has won the hearts of the locals.
As a tuck shop they have on offer a variety of things, from fish cocktails to ribs to desserts, even!
Potato Scollop $0.70 each
Crisp batter covers a slice of well cooked, fluffy potato seasoned with chicken salt. You can hear the crunch for every bite. Absolute bliss!
Potato scollops are a childhood favourite for the Boy. It’s no wonder we always order some every time we make a visit. It is a must. Even I love it!
Crumbed Fish with Creamy Garlic Prawns with a drink $12
A golden crisp crumb coats a fresh fillet of fish served on a bed of crunchy crinkle cut fries (win), a side salad and topped with creamy garlic prawns. I sure didn’t expect all this for $12 and for it to taste so delicious. I somehow managed to lick the plate clean. That creamy garlic sauce was fantastic! It was a cross between an aioli, bearnaise and chipotle sauce (from subway). It’s love right there.
Sirloin Steak Special with a drink $17
Grilled prime cut sirloin steak is topped with battered prawns, onion rings and a tarragon mayo sauce served with chips and salad. The steak was cooked to medium rare, just as requested and it was quite tender. It paired so well with the tarragon mayo, which I’ve not had before. It was a beast of a meal and of course, the boy smashes it down. The fried calamari and battered prawns were an odd addition but hey, how can you go wrong with tuck shop food like that on your plate?
Pork Riblet Roll $5
On my first ever visit (and every other time I’ve wanted a quick fix) I’ve ordered the pork riblet roll. A fresh toasty baguette is lined up with a pork rib pattie (boneless), with grilled onions and bbq sauce. It sounds simple, but it is more than that – it is amazing. It always makes my taste buds dance and never, has it ever disappointed me. It’s definitely a great way to spend a measley $5, if not one of the best ways.
On other visits friends and I have had the Fatman Burger (which has the whole shebang and is one massive dirty burger), the cheesy chips, steak sandwiches, lamb shanks and ribs. I apologise for no photos, but clearly I didn’t even get a chance before we dug in. Nothing has let us down thus far, yet this explains why we keep on going back to this place. I am so glad it’s within arms reach for me ;)
Offering really good food made to order with decent sized portions and at affordable prices you will always leave Fatmans rubbing your belly and left in that moment of happiness, or food coma as some might say.
Riblet roll sounds good & quite cheap! I try not overlook little suburbian tuck shops as they could be serving something awesome.
Exactly. Happy to explore the local tuck shops. I’m sure there’s plenty more that we haven’t put our finger on just yet
Wow that roll is so cheap! I loved stopping by those takeaway stores when I was coming home from high school – deep fried goodness always seemed to give me that late afternoon kick! Looking at all your calamari and chips and steak is now making me want some hehe.
If this tuck shop was around while I was in high school I’m sure it’d have been the hang out place haha. Love potato scallops – a childhood favourite of mine. And fish cocktails!
My friends are always talking about this place. I should give it a try one day when I don’t want to head out towards the city.
You definitely should. Though its not really situated anywhere all that nice. Don’t be suprised when you do get there hehe
I want the Pork Riblet Roll now lol so hungry :P
OMG I could eat 2 of those!
i love these little tuckshops found in these malls, you find a lot of unique and quirky things but with the lack of business, a lot of places are disappearing, such a shame!
Have to agree. Hopefully these tuck shops get a chance to show off what they can do! Guess that means you have to start serving food from the get go!
lol love the name! and potato scallops remind me of my childhood. I’d definitely be getting the pork riblet roll – it sounds amazing!
The name is a little funny! I couldn’t help but laugh myself. Yep potato scallops are a childhood favourite of mine too!
Thanks to you I never would have come across such an establishment, and in the West of all places! I think you’ve gotten all the bloggers who read this in a frenzy for tuck shop food me included!
Hope you can discover your own local tuck shop and share with us all :) it’s not always about the fancy and or popular places ;)
My goodness, just looking at that potato scollop and crumbed fish makes me hungry but it would totally undo the two hours I just spent at the gym hahaha. At least it all comes with salad!
Hahahahah a nice weekend treat perhaps to some glorious deep fried food!
So glad more places are serving onion rings. They rock!
They sure do! Absolutely love them.
Pork Riblet Roll $5 o_O that’s darn cheap. I love little tuck shops you can always find little gems in them :)
They used to be $4… But the new year rolled in. And of course it had to do with becoming increasingly popular. I’d still pay $5 for that baby
I’m a big fan of potato scallops. I made some once and put them on my blog and they were really popular. This place is really well priced xx
I must go and find that post!
I must admit that my weakness is a great potato scallop!!
It’s such a great childhood favourite!
I love potato scallops and those are just huge!! You have to love a place that it called “Fatman Catering” immediately I think of a shop run by people who love food! Yum!
Hahah the name was a bit off putting at first but so glad I stepped through that door
This is such a sweet post Tina and what I love about your blog is that you feature establishments in your neighbourhood, not just whatever’s cool in the city etc. Love it :)
When you find something great it should always be shared :)
haha I’m down for anything that has a creamy sauce :) and boy is that a big potato scallop!
To my suprise quite cheap even for this day and age! Mmmm
god damn I love the sound of a pork riblet roll!! gimmie!!
Come get it :p
That pork riblet roll sure looks good! Love exploring suburban areas, there’s always gems to be found!
Even better when it’s your own local gem which means its within arms reach :)
It’s always great to see blog love spread on the little guys! They’re filling many happy stomach’s out west and we’re lucky to have them around.
Absolutely. Love what’s on their menu.
Aaah the good old potato scallop. It’s so hard to find a decent one these days! I need to take a look at a map and see where this place is in relation to my house. I need to try it!
It is out west, way out west for most. It’s a tiny little suburb next to canley heights
Potato cakes!! I use to have one everytime after swimming lessons awww i havne’t seen them around for sale for ages hahhaa i still remember they use to 45c eat :P haven’t gone up in price that much hehe And it’s really good value $17 for a steak!
I was just saying to someone else that the value is still pretty good. Surely we have chump change somewhere ;)
Check out nsw food authority name and shame list…. Lol bet you won’t be promoting this place!!!!!!!!!!!
Plenty of other restaurants on that list that have received fines that we all still love and go to :)
Fatman food is so nice, but as a regular visitor, it does drive me very impatient at times; I have waited a couple of times from 20-30 minutes to get my order.