Restaurant Merci

Jan van Galenstraat 204, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Restaurant Merci sits right on the Garonne in Bègles, and honestly, the setting does most of the work. The dining room is set up like a theater, but the show is just the river changing colors outside. There's a sheltered, heated terrace too, so you can take in the view without freezing. The main event here is seafood. They run a buffet of fruits de mer at will, laid out on a long oyster bar. We're talking langoustines, crab, shrimp, mussels, whelks, the whole lineup. They make their own mayo and aioli daily, and there's a fresh catch of the day if you're more into cooked fish. The formula includes six Arcachon oysters or a house fish soup to start, then the buffet, a fish of your choice, and dessert. You can swap the fish for a ribeye if that's more your speed, for a supplement. They're open every day, lunch and dinner, all year. If you can't make it in, they do seafood platters to take away, which is a solid move for a festive meal at home. It's a straightforward spot for people who t…