Mussel Bar & Grille

"Bethesda’s chill Mussel Bar and Grille recently re-opened in a new glass-covered bistro space, offering a large selection of malty Belgian beers and standout dishes like beet salad and French onion soup. The Mediterranean mussels with merguez sausage and harissa aioli are a must-try." - Tierney Plumb

"This mussel bar recently opened a new outpost in Bethesda, in the same neighborhood where it originally opened in 2010. Both the fresh space and the Ballston, Virginia, location are serving up fresh bivalves from Washington State and fries with homemade dipping sauces. You can get the classic Belgian preparation with white wine and roasted garlic ($25), or branch out and try a merquez sausage, goat cheese, and harissa aioli version ($26) or bolognese sauce-covered option with crispy capers ($26)." - Travis Mitchell, Emily Venezky

"To usher in fall, buy a full pot of mussels and get half a pot for free from Tuesday, October 26, through Halloween at Robert Wiedmaier’s Belgian roadhouse in Bethesda. Timely cocktails include a “Gimme the BOOze!” full of Aperol, St. Germain, and dark rum, with lychee “eyeball” garnishes." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff