Our 7 favorite addresses for a Fruits de Mer platter

Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: our 7 favorite addresses for a seafood platter

Bowls full of oysters, razor clams, cockles, shrimp, crab, and lobster. A bottle of your favorite white wine, sun on the terrace, and you won't hear from us anymore. Such a decadent seafood platter is just divine, right? Especially when you order it from one of these places where they serve the absolute best specimens.

Restaurant 1397 in Bergen op Zoom
In the historic center of Bergen op Zoom sits Restaurant 1397. The name refers to the year in which hotel De Draak (to which the restaurant belongs) was established as a hospitality business. This makes it the oldest hotel in the Netherlands. Restaurant 1397 has an innovative menu with local and worldly dishes. The kitchen is led by chef Torben Bouterse, and his team lovingly prepares a seafood platter for you. Cold, with oysters, lobster, crab, various shrimp, and vongole, or hot, with lobster bisque, wonton with shellfish, gamba-vadouvan, and oysters from Nam Kee. We're already getting hungry, check the site. here.

COCO in Gouda
COCO is the casual cocktail bar of hotel Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda (WSHS), where you can also enjoy delicious food. Executive Chef Martijn Kajuiter has worked for years on the coast of Ireland, where he looked out over the sea. This is where his love for seafood began. Here in Gouda, he serves the Afternoon Sea. Think of an Afternoon Tea, but with fish and shellfish. They call it a comfort seafood, as you eat the small dishes with cutlery instead of your hands. The Afternoon Sea consists of a lobster bisque, shrimp cocktail, preparations with Dutch yellowtail, smoked salmon, and Zeeland oyster, and a salad. Quickly to Gouda by the Sea!

Stork in Amsterdam
Stork is one of the most beloved fish restaurants in Amsterdam. They are known for their fresh and good fish dishes and shellfish. Stork has two seafood platters on the menu: one with oysters, vongole, langoustines, scallops, razor clams, mussels, and North Sea crab legs, and the deluxe seafood platter, which includes a whole lobster, langoustines, and snow crab legs. Another plus: Stork is affiliated with the Foundation Fish&Season and is the first fish restaurant to collaborate with this foundation. Stork aims for more sustainably sourced fish caught in the right season, and they can achieve this through the support of the partner program of the Foundation Fish&Season.

Bistro-mer in The Hague
Fish, lobster, and oyster specialty restaurant Bistro-mer has been a household name in The Hague since 1979. The establishment is located on Javastraat and is recognizable by the oyster cart in front and the display full of fresh fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. With marble tables, mirrors, copper work, Thonet chairs, and wainscoting with art nouveau wallpaper, you feel like you're in a Parisian bistro. They only work with daily fresh products to create French traditional dishes. The classic menu has remained unchanged for forty years. The specialty of Bistro-mer? Seafood platters!

Zilt & Zout in Zeeland
This delightful restaurant is located on the Dutch-Belgian border between Cadzand and Knokke. On the dike of the beautiful nature reserve the Zwin, Zilt & Zout serves fresh North Sea fish and seafood. Here you get a well-filled platter with, among other things, lobster, king crab, shrimp, and oysters. The surroundings of Zilt & Zout are perfect for delightful cycling or hiking trips. The restaurant also regularly organizes walks with guide Soan Lan Ie, who knows the Zwin like the back of her hand and knows a lot about everything that grows and blooms. Ideal as an activity for an extensive lunch on the beautiful terrace. Reserve here.

Locale Kaap in Rotterdam
Locale Kaap is a fish and vegetarian restaurant on Deliplein in Katendrecht. They serve honest and healthy products, such as mussels, seafood, and fresh fish, as well as a number of vegetable and vegetarian dishes. The kitchen works with wild-caught or organically farmed fish that meets the guidelines of the Fish Guide. Want to try a less known seafood? Then Locale Kaap is the right place for you. For example, whelks and periwinkles are on the menu. Will you go for the Seafood Kaap or the Seafood XXL? You can order a beer, cider, or natural wine with it. Owners Emmy Walburg and Rob Baris regularly go out themselves to visit organic French wineries and farmers, and they work with local breweries.

Monk in Haarlem
At Monk in Haarlem, they do not work with starters and main courses, as their dishes are meant to be shared and tasted as much as possible. Here, pure flavors and quality land on the plate. The fish is delivered fresh daily, resulting in many changing dishes on the menu, or you can order at Monk’s Fish Market. At this market, they offer fish that is not on the menu. Think of bycatch or fish that is briefly in season at that moment. This can change weekly or even daily. Of course, there are also seafood dishes on the menu, and reserve a spot at the chef’s table. Enjoy tasting, sharing, and not thinking about anything for the whole evening. You hand over control and let yourself be pampered by the chefs of Monk. Reservations can be made here.

Header image: Stork