A fishmonger's counter with high tables on the pavement and no pretence whatsoever — just the freshest North Sea catch cooked while you watch and eaten standing up with a cold glass of Muscadet. Noordzee operates at the intersection of market stall and restaurant, the seafood arriving from the adjacent fishmonger and hitting the grill or fryer within the hour. Shrimp croquettes with a shattering crust, grilled calamari glossy with olive oil, oysters opened to order, grey shrimp piled into cones. The crowd is office workers at lunch and tourists by afternoon, all pressed together at metal tables in the middle of Sainte-Catherine, the old fish market square that still smells faintly of brine and commerce.
Location
Sainte-Catherine, Brussels
Insider Intel
Shrimp croquettes — the benchmark against which all others in Brussels are measured. Half a dozen oysters with lemon. The grilled fish of the day, whatever it is. A cone of grey shrimp to eat with your fingers. Glass of white wine or a cold Vedett. Prices are by weight for most items.
Lunchtime between noon and 1:30pm for peak market energy and the widest selection before popular items sell out. Friday is the best day — freshest deliveries, liveliest crowd. Arrive by 11:45 on weekends to avoid the worst queues.
Standing room only at outdoor high tables — no chairs, no indoor seating. Cash and cards accepted. Closes early, typically by 6pm or 7pm. Dress for the weather, as eating is entirely outdoors. The queue moves quickly. Place Sainte-Catherine is easily reached by metro to the stop of the same name.