Amanda C
I’ve been here twice – once in the summer seated outside for happy hour and recently in the winter seated inside for dinner. The food is decent and the beer list is good but what bothers me is the lack of attention to detail which to me, reflects the establishment priorities, lacking authenticity and ignoring the customer experience.
– This is a Belgian restaurant which is clearly not run or staffed by Belgians or native French speakers. The menu is riddled with French spelling typos.
– There is a giant daily menu special listed on a prominent board. This board is for decoration only and you can’t actually order off this menu. Why is this even here? Are you too lazy to take it down?
– My biggest gripe is the evening lighting. The spotlights are harsh, uneven and feel like I’m eating in someone’s makeshift garage lit with headlamps. Whoever designed this space did not consider the customer experience. The ambiance is terrible and frankly ruins the meal for me.
– The menu is not well thought out: Belgian main dishes with Caesar or beet salads to start, which are not Belgian.
Because of this, I cannot give this a high review for food alone. The concept is good, but the execution is not there.
… moreKyle Jensen
i make sure to stop by mussel bar & grille every time i am in the area. the technical execution is high and they clearly pay attention to every little detail in the kitchen and the service. the mussels are awesome and easily the best part of the menu. i have plenty of places i could visit in dc to go eat, but this is one i go to every time. truth in reporting, they just don’t miss on the details and it shows in the quality of the food and the environment.
… moreAdriana Malheiro
If you like mussels, you’ll love this place. Mussels are big and juicy and cooked to perfection. You have the classic white wine sauce but they also have fantastic other favors. The Thai is flavorful and light and just a tad bit spicy; the Mediterranean has goat cheese which works quite well, this is a pretty feeling dish and so is the Bolognese with its egg and parmesan cheese. I also tried the charbroil oysters which were a bit too bread. The chocolate mousse is amazing as is the dessert cheese. The cocktails are expertly made!
The restaurant is clean and bright as it is lined by windows. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.
… moreEric Cantuti
The oysters were phenomenal, the mussels very closed to the one we eat in Europe. The service and the host person very professional and welcoming. Only one thing just 1 desert having spent more than 20 years in the restaurant business you want to sell more offer the choices.
We will be back for sure.
… moreNatalie Pitcher
My family really loves eating here! The staff especially the maitre d’ is super kind. The Mediterranean mussels with the merguez sausage is amazing. I want to come back and try the Thai mussels next time.
… moreStephanie Bravo
Exceeded my expectations. This place has been on my list for a while and I almost didn’t go; glad I did, it was spectacular. Forgot to take a photo of dessert but that was amazing too. I am thinking of coming back and it hasn’t even been a week yet
… moreLarry Mahan
First time at the Mussel Bar! First of all the beer selection was excellent. Of the appetizers that we ordered the grilled octopus was one of the better preparations of any restaurant. On to the mussels … the Thai curry mussles were excellent. The mussels were from Maine not PEI as explained, and a bit more medium in size which only meant that you got a lot in your iron skillet with wonderful Thai curry sauce. The other order was with a white wine sauce which was very delicate and flavorful. And the side of their French fries is a must! And there are many other things on the menu to try if seafood is not your favorite. Service was perfect. And everything was priced very well for the value. Highly recommend trying it out.
… moreAntoinett Scott
The waiter was amazing however I never received my drink and the oysters were bland at best. I asked for a to go box and the Chef asked the waiter why. He never approached my table, like he did with other tables, and kept staring the entire time. Other than his demeanor and not getting my drink, my husband enjoyed his food.
… moreeli hernandez
Upon waking in we were immediately greeted and staff was friendly. Came during restaurant week and the food was delicious especially the oysters. Dave treated us well and explained the menu well. Interior was clean, organized and cafe style restaurant
… moreEddie K
This new location is pretty small, and there is no bar. The previous location off Woodmont had a great bar, so that is definitely missed. The spaces between tables are really tight as well, so I guess, this place is just small and cramped. Also, they need better lighting as if you sit by the windows at night, it was really hard to see the menu.
They don’t have any draft beers which is a bummer. So, I tried their take on Old Fashioned, the Joie. It is smoked and has a good presentation. The drink was pretty good.
We did enjoy the food, thus, the higher rating. Great Caesar salad and tuna tartare to start, and their mussels are still good. The full pot is huge- I think 3 or 4 people can share one. A big plus, no sand in our mussels. Our waitress was very friendly and for the most part was attentive. They don’t take reservations, so I would recommend going early.
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