Dock's Café

Dock's Café is a large seafood brasserie on Jordaenskaai, the Scheldt quay in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. It is known across the city for oysters and shellfish, and the long dining room with its raw bar gives the place the feel of a big-city port brasserie rather than a quiet neighbourhood bistro. The cuisine is built around fruits de mer: platters of oysters, crab, prawns and other shellfish served on ice, alongside fish dishes and brasserie classics. Oysters and fruits de mer platters are the emblematic orders, and groups often share a tiered platter as a centrepiece. The room is lively and fairly loud when full, with a cosmopolitan, social crowd of locals, business diners and visitors. Dress is smart-casual, and the scale of the space makes it workable for groups as well as couples. Wine is a major part of the experience, with white wines, Champagne and other sparkling options chosen to match shellfish, along with Belgian beers for those who prefer them. The price range is upper-mid to high ($$$), mostly driven by the shellfish, so ordering by the platter or sticking to a couple of oysters and a main controls the bill. Reservations are recommended for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday and around holidays, and booking a few days ahead usually secures a table; weekday lunches are more relaxed. The location on the Scheldt quay places it close to the old town, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the riverside walk, so it fits easily into a day of sightseeing in Antwerp.