Nouadhibou eats fish — unsurprisingly, given the port. Grilled grouper, octopus stews, and platters of fried whitebait turn up everywhere. The cheaper end is the cluster of small Senegalese-run places that do thieboudienne (rice with fish and vegetables) for a couple of dollars; the dressier end is a handful of seafood restaurants near the Mauritania Hotel and along Avenue Médian.
Couscous, mechoui (slow-roasted lamb) and Mauritanian sweet mint tea are also widely available. Alcohol is officially banned and not served openly.