In Brisbane, as the weather warms in spring, the time is just right for a fish and chip fix out under sunny skies. The beauty is there are no longer any hard and fast rules. Gluten-free batter and crumbs mean everyone can enjoy a sturdy cod or flake battered and deep fried. Chips remain the number one accompaniment — all crunchy perfection on the outside and pillowy as a cloud inside with crisp and never greasy potato scallops. (Get over it, Victorians, they’re not potato cakes). And, pimped-up sides from Greek to seafood salads make us feel a little less guilty about the carb-laden main attraction.

Manly Boathouse

Manly Boathouse ticks all the boxes: white and bright waterfront location with views of bobbing sailboats on Moreton Bay. Here it’s all about options: order to go at the Fish & Chippery window or dine on The Patio under the tres chic Santa Monica navy and white umbrellas with a glass of something cold from the extensive drinks list. Order battered, panko-crumbed or grilled with sides of chips, salads, prawn cutlets, calamari, bugs, prawns or seafood platters, hot or cold. The Restaurant and private cabanas (aka Little Boathouses) are the way to go for occasions big and small. 4 Trafalgar St, Manly; manlyboathouse.com.au.

One Fish Two Fish

One Fish Two Fish is the all-things polished, pescetarian restaurant of your dreams. A shopfront with bar opens to traditional Queenslander tongue and groove interiors. Chef Dan Miletic (Formerly The Fish House) has fun with a Quarter Flounder Burger with shoestring fries and goes fancy pants with a Provençal style Fish stew. Black Salt and Pepper Calamari with squid ink mayo are melt-in-the-mouth tasty. So get your Cod on — crumbed, grilled or battered or try the wow Moreton Bay Bug Bao Buns with sriracha slaw. Most of the modern and classic restaurant menu is also available for takeaway. 708 Main St, Kangaroo Point; onefish-twofish.com.au.

Barra Boys

Father and son duo Stace and Nick Mavris, aka the Barra Boys, know their fish. Their fresh-off-the-boat treats are re-imagined into salads and, yes, fish tacos. The Boys do Barra — in a burger or Rod and Reel combos complete with chips, salad and tartare. And there are footy packs, seafood platters and what could be more romantic than a night in with a Tacklebox for two. Chips, including sweet potato, come with all the sauces, including aioli, sriracha mayo or seafood sauce. Hankering for something a little different? BBQ prawn skewers or a Haloumi burger also take a turn. 1007 Stanley Street East, East Brisbane and 125 Beaudesert Rd, Moorooka; thebarraboys.com.au.

Clayfield Seafood Market

Eat-in and takeaway fishmonger Clayfield Seafood Markets prides itself on trawler-fresh titbits from the sea. That’s why they’ve twice finished top ten in the Australian Fish & Chip Awards! They set themselves apart with a wide-ranging menu, plenty of gluten-free options from the dedicated GF deep-fryer and homemade sauces. Haul in a Newstead Brewing Co. Amber Ale battered Cod and Chips or panko crumbed, deep fried wonder. There’s also a dedicated ‘Nippers’ menu and six salads with optional extras from feta to bacon or grilled haloumi. 5/823 Sandgate Rd, Clayfield; clayfieldseafood.com.au.

The Codfather

Once Friday nights meant a trip with your annoying siblings in the Kingswood to Video Ezy and dinner from the local fisho because it was Mum’s night off. That familiar routine comes flooding back when you get a paper-wrapped bundle of deliciousness at The Cod Father.It’s a trip down memory land when the paper is ripped off, and that delicious briny steam hits. Fresh and perfectly cooked fish with potato scallops and chips. This suburban, family-run takeaway also does burgers, Chiko rolls and fritters — pineapple or banana always served with a smile. 161 Stafford Rd, Kedron; codfatherkedron.weebly.com.