Fancy the freshest catch of the day? Then you need to check out Noordzee Mer du Nord. This Brussels institution runs on a brilliant dual concept at the same address – fish shop meets fish bar. They’re essentially a fishmonger with an open kitchen serving up whatever’s freshest that day. Located smack in the Brussels city centre, it’s only a 5-minute walk from Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand Place. Honestly can’t stress enough how perfect our hotel location is – everything’s within walking distance.
How Noordzee Mer du Nord Works
Noordzee Mer du Nord doesn’t take reservations. You rock up, order at the counter, wait for your name to be called, wave at the staff, and they’ll bring your food to the table. Simple as that. We came around late morning for brunch. Service staff were super friendly and patient while we were figuring out what to order.
The menu changes based on the daily catch, so what’s available depends on what the fishmonger’s got.
What We Ordered at Noordzee Mer du Nord
Fish Soup (€7)
Tomato-based with generous chunks of fish. Brussels weather had been rainy every single day, so hot soup felt necessary. This is basically the fish version of minestrone – packed with salmon and white fish chunks.
Surprisingly not fishy at all, which shows how fresh everything is at Noordzee Mer du Nord. Because we sat outdoors and everything cools down fast in cold weather, I’d suggest attacking the soup immediately when it arrives.
The soup comes with cold, hard bread topped with mustard and cheese. We also got an extra portion of bread (€1) — brown bread, but just as cold and hard. Would’ve been nicer if they toasted it warm, but maybe that’s just how locals do it. Hubby broke his bread into pieces and dunked them in the soup. Not my thing – soggy bread is a no for me.
Fried Whitebait (€6)
Bigger than the ones back home in Singapore. Crispy exterior, meaty interior. Perfect beer snack material. Seriously addictive.
Fried Calamari (€7.50)
Crispy outside, tender inside. Not overcooked, not chewy – just right. The tomatoes on the side were incredibly juicy. Solid execution.
Shrimp Croquettes (€16)
Overpriced for two small croquettes, but I guess shrimps justify the cost.
Super creamy roux filling loaded with small-sized shrimps – similar to what we had at Chez Leon. Small but sweet and fresh. Expensive dish overall but beautifully executed and delicious.
The Verdict
Not a bad spot for light bites. Portions aren’t massive, so you can order more variety to try different things. Spotted more locals than tourists here – probably because it’s like the neighbourhood fish spot where locals come for fresh seafood.
Definitely worth trying if you’re in Brussels. Noordzee Mer du Nord delivers exactly what it promises – fresh, quality seafood without the fuss.