A fish meal might mean a long lunch beside the lake, several dishes to share or dinner built around the day’s available catch. These five restaurants take distinct approaches, from Portuguese cooking to Mediterranean and Asian combinations. Choose according to what you feel like eating, then let the day’s selection guide the details.
1. Ancora
At Ancora, beside Lake Herăstrău, the terrace is an important part of the meal. Distance from the street and views over the water suit a lunch that stretches into the afternoon, particularly when you can sit outside. Florin Ivan’s kitchen puts fish and seafood at the centre of a restaurant experience worth allowing several courses for.
Begin with what is available that day and ask which fish suits your preferred preparation. For two people, a shared starter followed by a fish chosen together can be more interesting than identical orders. Ancora suits an occasion where the setting matters almost as much as the plate, from an anniversary to a weekend meeting.
2. Mesogios
Mesogios, in Primăverii, maintains a Greek focus and a selection of fish and seafood. It suits diners who want to organise a meal around the main ingredient, with shared appetisers and a substantial centrepiece. In this kind of menu, the species and cooking method say more than the number of side dishes.
Ask what is available and discuss portion size before choosing a whole fish. A group meal allows comparisons between a cold starter, a warm dish and the fish selected for the table. Mesogios suits a conversational dinner ordered gradually, with wine that accompanies the food without overpowering it.
3. Raionul de Pește
At Raionul de Pește in Floreasca, the menu moves from pike roe spread and sour fish soup with lovage to ceviche and Thai soup with coconut milk, lemongrass and lime leaves. This variety appeals to people who love fish but do not want it prepared the same way each time. A business rooted in fish retail has developed into a restaurant with its own culinary offering.
Begin with marinated sardines or tartare, then continue with grilled octopus or mussels in white-wine sauce. For a more casual meal, there are bao with squid or prawns and fish and chips. The address at 113 Calea Floreasca suits an urban dinner where Mediterranean flavours meet Asian ingredients and techniques.
4. Dancing Lobster
Dancing Lobster provides a specific reason to move beyond the usual garlic prawns: Portuguese cooking. Bacalhau, salt-preserved cod, appears in several forms, including small croquettes. It is a good introduction to the restaurant’s approach, alongside octopus salad or other fish and seafood starters.
For a main course, combinations of bacalhau, potatoes and açorda, a bread-and-garlic preparation, lead towards a substantial Portuguese meal. Lobster remains one of the choices that define the place, but the menu deserves exploration beyond it. The restaurant on Strada Glodeni suits dinner with friends, with different dishes shared around the table.
5. Fish House
Fish House, at 165 Calea Floreasca, gives raw preparations a prominent place. Sea-bass carpaccio with lemon, coriander and ginger, tuna tartare and citrus ceviche offer different starts to a meal. Fish can then be salt-baked, grilled or oven-cooked, depending on the variety and your preference.
Langoustines, lobster and scallops make it suitable for a special dinner. There are simpler choices too, such as grilled squid with creamy polenta or seafood pasta. Some products are priced per 100 grams and availability varies; ask for the weight and estimated cost when choosing your fish. You can then build the meal around the specimen that interests you.
