FAT Freddy's Fish Bar Take Away.

FAT Freddy's Fish Bar Take Away is the go-to fish and chip shop at 29 Rous Road in Goonellabah, the hillside suburb on Lismore's eastern side. It is a proper takeaway counter: fresh battered snapper and barramundi, crunchy potato scallops, house-made onion rings and a works burger with a local following. With footpath tables out front and staff who are welcoming to dogs, it is an easy counter-order stop on a Northern Rivers drive.

The dog setup

This is a takeaway shop first, so almost everyone eats at the outdoor or footpath tables, and dogs are welcome to settle beside you there. Keep the leash short and your dog clear of the counter queue, which builds up at the usual lunch and dinner rushes. There is no dedicated water station, so bring your own bowl; a phone-ahead order on 0413 344 376 saves the wait with a dog on the footpath.

Worth knowing

The menu covers more ground than the usual country fish shop: gluten-free batter and crumbing options on the fish, gluten-free buns for the burgers, tofu chips and sweet potato chips alongside the classic scallops, plus calamari, prawns and kids' packs. It is not a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, so flag any allergy with staff when ordering. Hours run from 10:30am Tuesday to Friday and from 11:30am on weekends, closing around 7:30pm (8pm Fridays), with Mondays off.

Getting there and parking

Rous Road is the main thoroughfare through Goonellabah, about five minutes' drive east of central Lismore off the Bruxner Highway. Parking is easy by takeaway standards: the attached lot plus street parking nearby. The shop sits among the local shopping strip, so it is a simple in-and-out stop even at peak times.

Close by with the dogs

Hepburn Park Fenced Dog Park is around the corner for an off-lead run before the chips go cold, and the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Gully walk suits an on-lead wander. For the next morning's coffee with the dog, Bep cafe is in the same suburb.

Pepsi: Footpath table, GF battered snapper smell, and the scallop drop-off was handled with impressive precision.

More regional options are on the dog friendly restaurants in NSW page, or browse Goonellabah.