Seafood$$Sainte-CatherineA Sainte-Catherine fixture for three decades · Brussels' Kitchen
"Brussels's great standing fish counter, order the grey-shrimp croquettes and white wine, then eat in the Sainte-Catherine square. Worth the queue."
8Food
6Ambience
8Value
About Noordzee · Mer du Nord
There are no tables, only a marble counter, a whiteboard, and the old fish-market square outside. Noordzee, or Mer du Nord in French, grew out of the Vlaeminckx family fish shop on Rue Sainte-Catherine and has anchored this corner of central Brussels for three decades. You read the day's catch off the board, order at the counter, take a plastic cup of white wine, and eat standing in the square while the kitchen cooks. It is the city's best-loved seafood bargain, and the queue at lunch proves it.
The Kitchen
The cooking is simple and fast, built entirely on the morning's delivery, so the board changes by the day. The signature is the garnaal kroketten, grey-shrimp croquettes fried to order, around 13 euros for two. After that it is fish soup at roughly 6 euros, fried calamari, bouchot mussels, clams, oysters by the piece, and grilled tuna or whatever came in fresh. Most plates land between 8 and 18 euros, washed down with muscadet or a glass of champagne from the same counter. There is no chef's tasting and no reservation: the quality is in the freshness and the frying, not the plating.
Calling it a room is generous. It is a corner counter open to the street, with a stretch of standing tables and the Place Sainte-Catherine in front of you. Sound is street noise and chatter, lighting is daylight or the square's lamps, and there is no dress code or seating to speak of. In good weather the crowd spills across the cobbles with cups of wine; in the cold you huddle at the counter. The pleasure is the buzz and the freshness, not comfort, so treat it as a stand-up feast rather than a sit-down dinner.
Best for a First Date
It works for a low-stakes first date because it takes the pressure off: you are standing, moving, sharing croquettes and a glass of wine in a lively square rather than facing each other across white linen. The bill is small, the queue gives you something to talk about, and you can leave easily or wander on to a proper dinner if it is going well. Go at lunch or early evening on a dry day, and split a few plates rather than committing to one.
Not for
Not for a formal or seated dinner, and not in bad weather. There are no tables and no indoor seating to speak of, so anyone wanting comfort, a long meal, or a quiet room should book elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Noordzee Mer du Nord worth it?
Yes, it is one of the best-value seafood stops in Brussels. The grey-shrimp croquettes and the daily fish soup are excellent, the seafood is as fresh as the morning delivery, and most plates sit between 8 and 18 euros. You stand and eat in the square rather than sit, so judge it as a stand-up feast: for the quality and the price it is hard to beat, and the lunchtime queue makes the case.
How do you order at Noordzee Mer du Nord?
Read the day's catch off the whiteboard, order and pay at the counter, then wait for your number while you grab a cup of wine. When the food is ready you eat standing at the counter or out in the Place Sainte-Catherine. There are no reservations and no table service, so come ready to queue at peak times, especially weekend lunch.
What should I order at Noordzee Mer du Nord?
Start with the grey-shrimp croquettes, the house signature, then add the fish soup and a few plates off the board, fried calamari, oysters, or grilled tuna depending on the day. A glass of muscadet or champagne from the counter is the classic pairing. Order in rounds rather than all at once so everything arrives hot.
Is Noordzee Mer du Nord good for a casual date or group?
Yes, for a relaxed, lively one. The standing format and the square keep things informal and easy, which suits a first date or a group grazing together after work. It is not the place for a quiet, seated dinner, but for sharing fresh seafood and wine in central Brussels without a big bill, it is one of the city's most enjoyable stops.
Diner Reviews
Camille D.May 2025
Occasion: First Date
Took a first date here on a sunny evening and it was perfect for the nerves. We shared croquettes and a couple of glasses standing in the square, kept it light, and ended up wandering off to dinner after. Cheap, fresh, and no awkward table silence. The shrimp croquettes are as good as everyone says.
Thomas V.April 2025
Occasion: Solo Dining
Stopped solo at the counter for lunch and had the fish soup and a half-dozen oysters in twenty minutes. Watching the kitchen work and the square go by beats eating alone at a table. Fast, fresh, and you are in and out. A Brussels ritual I repeat every time I am in town.
No reservations: this is a walk-up counter. Come at off-peak hours to skip the queue, and bring cash or card for the counter.
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