Pelican Rocks took out the best fish and chips in NSW at the Sydney Fish Market Seafood Excellence awards in July and will represent the state against the other winners from throughout the country.

The National Fish and Chip Award will be presented as part of the National Seafood Industry Awards and Seafood Directions Conference at Darling Harbour.

Husband and wife, Sam and Rebecca Cardow, have operated the cafe beneath his parent’s Greenwell Point restaurant for seven and a half years.

Once again it is a blind judging competition - the  judges turned up at each of the finalists unannounced and order meals like any other customer.

Mr Cardow admitted being nervous ahead of the awards, where only one winner will be declared.

“Hopefully we can get the result we are after,” he said.

“We are in with a chance, so who knows?

“I was surprised to win the NSW award, to win the national prize would be amazing.

“Just to be a finalist is fantastic and we are extremely proud of the team and thankful of all the hard work everyone puts in.”

Mr Cardow said Pelican Rocks’ secret was simple - “we use fresh local seafood. Everything is straight from the fishermen off their boats across the road,” he said.

The Cardows have a long history in the hospitality industry, with Sam’s parents Ron and Colleen having run the popular Pelican Rocks Restaurant for 37 years.