Mer du Nord - Brussels

I'll take an open air seafood stand, with a glass of white wine while standing shoulder to shoulder with some other fish head any day - just as long as you don't try to talk to me.  Because all I can really do is slurp, sip, nod, and smile.  And maybe mumble 'très bien'. 


Mer du Nord - de Nordzee
45, Rue Sainte Catherine, Brussels 1000, Belgium

(all images from Mer du Nord capturing some of that authentically Belgian ruggedness )

"The Mer du Nord is not exactly a cafe, but a stop-off here should be obligatory for everyone visiting Brussels. The Mer du Nord is actually a fishmongers, but over the last few years it has set up a pavement bar which serves glasses of crisp chilled white wine and champagne, delicious bowls of fish soup, shucked oysters and a tapas-like selection of scallops, tuna, swordfish and plump prawns cooked fresh à la plancha right in front of you" - Nordzee-La Mer du Nord