Freshwater eel poached in a sharp green herb sauce of sorrel, parsley, chervil and tarragon. The Flemish summer-evening tradition.
The Scheldt and Antwerp's polders once supplied eel in volume. The sharp herb sauce, built on sorrel and chervil, balances the rich fish. Once an everyday catch, eel is now a delicacy due to dwindling stocks. Bistro kitchens still serve it in season; the dish appears on tasting menus across Belgian fine dining.
2 editor picks for Paling in 't groen in Antwerp, ranked by editorial score. All Antwerp signature dishes · Paling in 't groen across every city.
Bistrot du Nord ★ 4.4
eilandje · Lange Dijkstraat 36, 2060 Antwerp
Bistrot du Nord in Antwerp keeps one Michelin star for hearty classical bistro cooking. Michaël Rewers leans on meat and tripe in a tiled vintage room.
RAS ★ 4.2
historisch-centrum · Ernest Van Dijckkaai 37, 2000 Antwerp
RAS in Antwerp sits on the riverfront on Ernest Van Dijckkaai with a Scheldt terrace listed in the Michelin Guide. The kitchen leans heavily on North Sea fish.