Mussel Bar & Grille Bethesda

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.

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.

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 😂😂

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.

Out third visit, and it was as good as the previous times. My wife aand I tripped over this restaurant on our last trip to the US in May. A "quick lunch" turned into a very relaxed and delightful meal. We took a local fiend back with us a few days later and she in turn, has visited often since then. Dinner last night was excellent. The oysters were fresh and perfectly presented and our go-to main - the Thai curry mussels - were on the mark again.

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.

Pleasantly surprised by the quality and service at the Mussel Bar & Grille. I’ve walked past this restaurant many times and last night, I finally decided to check it out! Everything we ordered was delicious (Cesar salad, white wine mussels, truffle frites) & the service was top notch. Highly recommend!!

A friend and one each had a half serving of mussels for lunch. We each got 2 dozen plus mussels cooked perfectly but the sauces were noticeably salty to the point of not wanting to drink them up. She had the standard white wine sauce and I had the Kennett Square which had a few visible mushrooms but lots of bacon lardons. We shared a serving of French fries which were good but not great. The three sauces for the fries ranged from very hot spice to medium hot spice to a cool mayo.

Great service! Delicious mussels! Awesome French fries! The ambience is beautiful and cozy Somehow even romantic

The food here is outstanding. Everything came out quick and well seasoned. Came here with a friend and wanted to try as much food as we could, since we had been eyeing it from the day it opened. The cocktails are not bad the wine menu is wonderfully curated to complement the food. The service staff is friendly and attentive. And overall the place is very busy. The only draw back was that towards the end of our meal while we were till eating the manager came to our table and took all of our entrees away asking us if we wanted dessert. We would have stopper her but she had quickly stacked all the food on top of each other. So there would have been no point in asking to finish our food. Clearly they needed us to leave to turn the table.

Recently went for the first time since they moved into the new location further north in downtown Bethesda. It's a clean and inviting environment with lots of natural lighting, though there isn't much of a bar area for those looking to do happy hour. Service is efficient and friendly as well, and the restaurant lives up to its name with generously sized and hearty mussel dishes. I followed the Yelp review bandwagon and had the Thai Curry; a little on the salty side but excellent overall. Other appetizers and salads are OK and definitely a bit pricy. Go for the mussels as the name would indicate ...

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.

My wife and I are big fans of Mussel Bar. While I miss the old location, the new location is cozier and has a French bistro feel which is very nice in a different way. The food is so very good... Of course, the mussels are top notch. Great portions. The baked oysters are really something... they're special. Go try these fo'sho. Chef Brian seems most always present ensuring a great experience. Two big thumbs up.

Superb! I love the new location and how bright it is with all the windows. We ordered our favorite Spicy Thai Curry mussels and sweet potato fries. They are the best! All of the ingredients are fresh and delicious. The mussels were beautiful and plump. The fries are my favorite. Always hot and crisp. The three aiolis add so much flavor.

They back in the area at a new location. It's small but comfortable and we sat near the kitchen pass which meant when a table mentioned they did not order the crab dip the Chef offered it to our table. This was a nice gesture and also meant no wastage on their end which we liked. The mussels were big and juicy. Our waitron was very nice and she made sure we were well taken care of. The service was excellent. We often like dessert to go but this part of menu is lacking with only one choice. So we left with no dessert which was probably better for our waist but dessert lovers will always make a plan and we ended the night with a home made Don Pedro! Yum!

The food here is really good. I had the white wine mussels the first time dining there and liked them a lot with the yummy sweet potato fries. This time I had the swordfish with a pepper sauce, served with garlicky sautéed spinach. A little dry but tasty, even though the pepper sauce was pretty intense and a bit overpowering. Very popular and noisy, so go early, early. Tonight we dined at 5:30 & by 6:30 there were already people waiting. The 4 of us were in & out in less than an hour, and I was conscious of the fact that they were eager to turn the table over.

Love they they are back in Bethesda! We enjoyed the White Wine & Mediterranean Mussels with an order of the yummy truffle fries.

This place has the best mussels I have ever eaten. Plump and really tasty. Service was great.

Glad to see they're back, and as delicious as ever! Hubby and I were big fans of the old Bethesda location. We rarely go to Virginia, so we really missed this deliciousness. The set up is a bit different, and this location is very casual, but I definitely loved the food. Like many restaurants getting started, or in this instance restarted , the staff will need to gel to make the experience seamless.

As has been pointed out, they're now taking reservations, which is great. I've been back a bunch of times since they've opened, and the mussels have been excellent every time.

We went on a busy Friday night and the service was ok as were the mussels. The reason I'm giving this 3 stars is that the steak frite was totally inedible. It had a very weird taste that everyone at the table agreed upon. Regret not sending it back.

Mussels were tasteless and overcooked. Sauce was unimpressive. We went during a festival so their service was not good.​

Food is outstanding, clever, fresh. Outstanding wine and Belgian beer menu. We had white wine mussels and the delectable Blue Hubbard Squash Brullee with fried kale, Brussels sprouts, and patron peppers. So happy Mussel Bar has returned to Bethesda xx

Not a fan. The mussels were too big and not appetizing. Also the chef was hovering and making me and my friend a bit uncomfortable. Even made a comment about me ordering more fries before finishing the truffle fries. As if he were upset that I wasn't eating all the food. Won't be back.

I decided to stop by the newly opened Mussel Bar for a quick dinner, since I really enjoyed the old establishment that used to be on the other side of town on Woodmont Ave. It was the week that they opened so I expected some kinks with service. My food and wine was attempted to be served but to the wrong table but I eventually received it. My onion soup had practically zero cheese and the broth had a somewhat burnt taste. It was okay. It's a little cramped, snarky remarks from my neighbor seated behind me when I tried to make a little room to sit. I'll try again as I really loved their Mussels and fries. To be continued...

Oysters were not shucked properly- they were still connected to the shell. Mussels were good. Their bar menu is limited - only vodka served is Tito's and they don't carry olives or any accompaniments for the drink. The server was friendly but we were a table of 4 and the salad for one of us was served when the rest of us completed our 1st course We tried to order a Chardonnay with our dinner and both choices we gave were not available.

Went here for Restauraunt week - the mussels were super fresh and every dish was amazing with the sauces! Presentation was beautiful and perfect for a romantic night out!

Why I haven't put in my review after frequenting this place aplenty for many years is beyond me. This is my go-to place for some steaming hot mussels and I am never disappointed whenever I come here. The food is great; the ambiance and service are top notch. The last time I was here was catching up with an old friend in their outdoor seating patio last summer. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the outdoor seating patio is going away due to the streetery no longer necessary with the "panorama" numbers dying down. Anyway my go-to picks here are the charred octopus, the white wine (very popular) or the curry mussels and of course, let's not forget the truffle frites. During brunch, salmon burger or the crab Benedicts are a must! And if you're a huge beer person, this place has wide selection of beer from all around the world. It's like stepping into another country without having to take your passport with you. Bring your friends and come dine here. You won't regret it! Don't believe me, ask the regulars! Bon Appetit!

Met a friend here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for brunch. Which is odd because I live so close to the Arlington location. Oh well... We sat outside and it was very relaxing. We each got the mango mule which was very refreshing. My friend got the crab Benedict and liked it. I got the regular eggs Benedict - it comes with bacon. It was delicious. Perfectly cooked. It came with fried potato's and I had to wait a bit, after asking, for ketchup. Other than that Amber was a great waitress. I would come back here.

Ordered the Truffle Fries, White Wine Mussels, and French Onion Soup this time. French Onion Soup - always delicious. Order this! White Wine Mussels - it was lacking some kind of meaty or mussel-like flavor to the actual broth. The broth was sadly not that flavorful compared to the Bacon-Mussel broth. I'm not even sure I could taste the wine aspect of it! I probably wouldn't order this broth flavor again but I'm eager to try the Thai one next time. Advice: Ask for some bread to dip into the broth and eat with the mussels! Truffle Fries - I honestly couldn't taste the truffle flavor. Reminded me of any other fries but not that great of a quality. The fries were not that crispy. Overall, great customer service.

We were excited to see mussel bar reopened and went for a birthday dinner. The food was as good as we remembered but the service was below average. Our server was timid, hard to hear, and seemed confused. I don't know how else to describe it other than "chaotic." I wish I could say he was very busy but he did a lot of standing around and we had to prompt him to do some basic server tasks.. hopefully the restaurant is just working out the kinks.

Nice place to go when you're in a mood for a nice happy hour with your friends! We ordered a lot of stuff and loved pretty much everything. We had crab dip, white wine mussel, buffalo wings, and honey old bay wings. Food : The mussels tasted great, however, some pieces had rocks/sands so not really a pleasant experience when eating it. The sauce with the bread was AMAZING! My friends and I really enjoyed honey old bay that we ordered 2 more orders! Atmosphere : It was pretty calm inside, even though it was a Friday after work, but I'm not complaining!! Service : Our server was very great and so patient with is when ordering.

More of a 3.5 star. I've been here about 3 times and the last one was most memorable given we actually made it to happy hour this time! I've had oysters every time and they're always fresh and well presented. The mussels were mediocre though- the sauce was a bit on the saltier side and wayyyy too buttery (never thought I'd say that). We sat at the bar and the bartenders weren't coming around often, so service wasn't great. The Bloody Mary was fine- nothing to sing home about, which is disappointing, given that it should be a good signature drink to accompany raw bar items. The place can also use a facelift- it's dark and gloomy, and the decor is just bleh.

Mussels were great! The frites portion was huge with tasty sauces. We were there on a busy night, so there was a noisy, fun atmosphere.

Service was just terrible. We were loyal customers of the old Woodmont location. Took 15 minutes to flag down a waiter who wasn't assigned to us to get us water. 25 minutes to flag down a manager who had to take our order because waitress wasn't accessible. Then food didn't come out correctly. Second order of wine came st end of meal. Manager said it was on him. But we got charged for it. I know Just getting going in new location but a sad version of the past restaurant. I won't be returning for a long, long time.

We almost missed the Bethesda restaurant week but made it here on the last weekend for lunch. Not a day to sit outdoors as it was too cold although there are plenty of tables on the street - this is the section of Woodmont that's been closed for traffic forever and probably would remain this way. Inside was not very crowded after 1 pm on a Saturday so distancing was not a problem, especially the row of booth seats along one side, all have tall dividers although they are not the most roomy - best for two, a bit squeezed for 4. The RW menu was not extensive but had enough selection for everyone so most of us ordered from that - Caesar salad, mussels, lasagna, squash soup, and a burger from the regular menu. Everything was delicious, and definitely a good deal at $22 for app and entree. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Bethesda so will definitely be back again.

I came here for Oyster Happy hours and I was not disappointed! The oysters were very yummy and fresh, and they were pretty big too. They have happy hour menu so I got to try the blue crab dip. It came with some bread to dip in and they were very good as well. I would love to come back to try some of their other dishes.

I am a huge fan of any Belgian restaurant with a strong cultural atmosphere from the dark wood, to the beautiful beer tap handles, to the amazing cuisine that goes with the beer. I came here for a Valentine's Day lunch (happened to be happy hour) with my wife and we had a good time sipping on high-quality craft beer and mussels, sitting at the tall bar. Everything was amazing and the service was exceptional. If you're looking for some of the best beer in the world, Mussel Bar & Grille Bethesda can provide! This is definitely a gem in the DMV area.

3.5 stars Clam/ Squid Linguine is very good & tasteful! However, only 4 choices of mussels, seems a bit going downhill!

Had not been the mussel bar in so long, so we made our way to it on Memorial Day! We sat outside on the streetery patio. Our server was very attentive and everything came out quick (except my wine, but only due to a large party there ordering drinks so the bar was backed up & our server was transparent about it). We started off with the Blue Crab dip, which has lumps of blue crab, perfectly creamy, and just the right about of baked crisp + had it with a toasted baguette. I ordered the Mediterranean mussel pot and it was HUGE! This is definitely something to split with 2-3 people. I loved their take on this pot.

The service during the July 4th weekend was not up to par. My son asks for a root beer and the waiter gave him a Non-alcoholic Buckler Beer. He then asked for a Sprite with Grenadine and the waiter stated that they ran out of soda with lemon/lime. I ask for a Whiskey Sour and it tasted more like a very sour drink. After that drink, I ask for a traditional Manhatten and they ran out of orange. So the drink of course tasted like something was missing. I would have at least tried to add orange liquor to compensate for the lack of orange in the drink. The only saving grace to the day was their mussels! The mussels were great including the broth. The broth was so good that I needed extra bread and my son's burger was great as well.

I came here for the first time 7 years ago on a business trip. I moved here two days ago and this was one of my first stops. It was even better than I remember!!! The Mediterranean mussels are out of the world - the goat cheese, sausage, and harissa blend so well with the flavor of the mussels. My friends got the Thai curry mussels and the garlic white wine mussels - both were incredible! When the food arrived, we thought there was no way we could finish it all. Well, we did. Make sure you ask for some bread because their bread is fresh and homemade and goes so well with any leftover broth. The fries are delicious, but next time I'll probably forego them because I'd rather eat more mussels and bread! Go on a Thursday or Sunday night when Sally is bartending. She was our server tonight and made the whole experience a perfect 10. It was so refreshing to eat out during COVID and almost feel normal again.

If you love mussels, you'll absolutely love this place. Located in Bethesda restaurant row, they have outstanding variations on mussels and various sauces. They also have an amazing craft beer selection, over 200 brands. You have to check this place out, the modern stainless steel beer refrigerators are as functional as they are a piece of art.

Great time! Happy Hour Chesapeake Bay Oysters were fat & delicious & @ 1.00/ea, s deal! The beer selection was outstanding & the mussels did not disappoint! Add in the excellent service & I will most definitely be back. This beer was excellent https://untappd.com/b/rar-brewing-screw-jeffrey/2580800

I came a few months ago and ordered some mussels (it's in the name), French onion soup - don't do it (tasted like wine and too salty), and something else which wasn't memorable. The food was really disappointing. My cousin told me I have to try this place, and I love mussels, so I did. I'll usually give things another shot because I have hope that maybe it will be different next time around, and sometimes it is. However, I am so disappointed that I don't even know if I can give it another shot. One of the orders came out wrong, no big deal - they fixed it but we had to wait, which took some time. In the meantime, my meal is sitting in front of me while my partner's is being fixed. But again, the food was not great. The beer was okay - that's it. Maybe I'll try again in the future, but even if I do, the food should be consistent, and if it's good in the future, that means it is not consistent and I'll have to try again in the future, future to see if it really is consistent. But if it's terrible in the first future visit, then it is consistent and there won't be a second future visit because it's terrible. You feewl me dawg?

Came here for oysters which were delicious. My favs were from Canada (surprised to me). Mediterranean mussels and Steak and Frits were good. Service was professionally and accommodating. Good selection of wine and beers.

This is a good mussels restaurant in Bethesda row. We got the Mediterranean mussels and the steak with fries. The mussels were really good and the sauce was yummy which made me want to eat it like a soup. The mussels came with fries which came with a variety of dipping sauces which I enjoyed. The steak and fries were good as well but I would definitely recommend the mussels if you come here. The creme brûlée was light and just the right dessert to end the meal with. We also had wine and cocktails which were decent. The service was great and I would come back again.

Food is really good for the price. Nice environment too. Great variety of mussels. Service is not good at all but worth going because of great food

High marks for this restaurant. The food is good. The service is friendly and attentive. Food is on the richer, heavier side so not for anyone on a low-fat diet. Drinks are also on the heavier, more sumptuous side.

The Mediterranean Mussels are everything! It was so good I can't wait to come back and order more, lol. We also ordered a bottle of rose which was good as well and also fries and brussel sprouts. The fries was good and we could of done without the brussel sprouts which I was kinda sad about, I loveeee brussel sprouts. We sat outside and the service was good! This restaurant definitely deserves more visits from my friends and I.

I've been here twice and I would've loved to have eventually tried one of their specialty dishes except that my last visits were not great. On one occasion (the second) we waited for over twenty minutes for a server and my friend had to go find someone (I decided to finally ask after seeing one of the waiters almost immediately help another table that had just been seated...). They apologized very nicely but I think they should've at least offered even a small concession such as not charging us for a soda refill!

We sat at the bar and just had drinks and an appetizer so I can't speak to what it's like to eat inside or outside but the bar service was quick and friendly and the setting was cute. Fries were served with three different sauces that all complimented them well.

First time here and is now my favorite spot when I am in the mood for mussels. We celebrated my friends birthday on a Tuesday afternoon and the place was pretty busy. The server was quite knowledgeable with all menu items. We took some of her recommendations on which mussels to get and all three were delicious. Appetizers were delicious. We had ordered a dozen oysters, crab cake sliders, shrimp cocktails, and crab dip. You can not go wrong with any of the appetizers. Parking: there is a parking garage around the corner from the restaurant.

Came here for HH! We got the oysters which were delicious!! Awesome they were 1$ each. We got 24 to share. We also got the fries, they were pretty normal fries but the sauce was amazing I really liked the curry sauce the best. We also ordered wings which were nothing special but normal wings. Lastly, we got the pretzel. This pretzel was hard, stale, and gross. I wanted to ask to take it back but didn't want to make a big deal out of it. It was 8$ and so tiny. Can't believe they actually served us that pretzel. Other than the pretzel. We had a pretty good experience. Would come back and try their mussels.

Trying their happy hour. We got the margarita pizza And some draft beers. Service is attentive. Bartender is nice and helpful with the descriptions. We really enjoyed.

Came in for Valentine's day dinner and our experience was amazing. Drinks were great, food was great and service was outstanding ( our server was Owyn) she was very attentive. She picked great menu choices. I would highly recommend this place. They also have daily deals so if you think its pricy i would say go during the week.

Incredible bar & restaurant that deserves 5+ stars!! Bartenders were extremely knowledgeable about the beer and there's 157 different beers on tap or in bottles/cans here! Such an impressive selection for all beer lovers out there. The late night menu after 9:30pm (every night) was an absolute steal. I wasn't planning on ordering food here but couldn't resist after seeing the prices. 75cent oysters and $12 huuuge mussel pots. Yummy & fresh seafood!