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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😂😂

I have been going to Mussel Bar and it's sister restaurant Brasserie Beck for years. I recently returned to Mussel Bar in Bethesda and was unfortunately disappointed. The atmopshere was pleasant and the service was fine - no problems there. The Mussels in White Wine were nicely cooked but the sauce lacked its usual wine/garlic/aromatic flavor - leading to a very bland dish.It tasted ike watery unsalted butter sauce. I have had Moules Mariniere in numerous restaurants and know how delicious the sauce can be. The Mussels and Fries were improved by adding salt, which I have never had to do at one of the Widmeyer restaurants. My partner ordered the Steak and Frites (medium rare) and while the steak was cooked as ordered, the overpowering flavor of burned charcoal ruined the steak it was not smoky - but burnt. I hope it was just an off Sunday night, because I do have good memories of Mussel Bar and enjoy its offerings.

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.

Overall 4 Stars If you love mussels and oysters, this is the place for you! Very close to hotels in Bethesda, this restaurant has some really decent fresh and charbroiled oysters, and wonderful heated pans of mussels in various flavors. Ambiance 4 Stars The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating so you can be part of the local vibe. It is not pretentious or highly upscale but the food is upscale in quality and quantity of food. The chefs and staff work in tandem to make sure you have a wonderful meal. There is a full bar but no bar seats, so come in and be seated at one of the tables. Due to the size of the restaurant, the noise can get quite loud indoor. One thing I loved are the large windows where you can people watch. Food 4 Stars We came during Happy Hour 3-5 pm on a weekday and we were presented with the Happy Hour menu and a full Menu. We ordered from both. Appetizer or Entree Salad: 3.5 Stars Beet Salad - diced roasted beets, fresh leafy greens, goat cheese, pecans, sliced purple onions, served with a light lemon vinaigrette. The salad was good but the beets were in the background instead being in the forefront for taste and flavor. Appetizer- French Onion Soup 5 Stars. My wife told me that my soup became #2 and this took the #1 spot. I told her, "Yes, Chef. I will try harder"! I have to admit the broth had more depth that mine and I discovered it the Chef cooked the onions with Cognac, and let cook off before adding the Sherry to enhance the broth's richness and depth. The Gruyère cheese gave its nutty and creamy taste to the onions, and the fried green onions, layered on top, was a nice enhancement to the broth. Appetizer or Entree- Mediterranean Mussels 4 Stars. You can order different flavor profiles and I choose the Mediterranean flavor. When I received it, the mussels were served in a large cast iron skillet which can have feed two or more people. Glad I ordered the 1/2 order version from the Happy Hour menu. Now the mussels were hot, juicy and plump. The Mediterranean seasoning and spices were perfectly balanced making them salt, sweet and savory. The goat cheese, cilantro and one special ingredient of lamb sausage accompanied the mussels. The lamb saunas good but I prefer to have the sweet mussels by itself. Now, I HIGHLY recommend to get their organically hard crusted bread to soak up all the broth from the skillet. You won't regret it! Appetizer Dozen Charbroiled Oysters 3.5 Stars - Buttered, panko, parsley. They were good but lack some garlic to enhance the flavor. However, we added some lemon for acidity and a hint of hot sauce to our liking. Also, there weren't any oysters left. Entree - Steak Frites with a green pepper corn sauce 4 Stars The hanger steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare and the grilled meat was juicy and tender. When properly cooked, it is almost as tender as a Filet mignon. The peppercorn sauce was mild in flavor with a hint of Chimichurri sauce. The frites (fries) are cooked in Duck Fat, I believe. They were crispy, hot and tender inside. Add a little bit more salt and you don't need ketchup. Actually I used the frites to dip into the Mediterranean broth. It was so good! Dessert - Belgian Waffle with berries and lemon ricotta cheese. 3.5 Stars It was good but the lemon ricotta cheese was a little bit salty. The berries and powered sugar helped but it was the best we have had. Bon Appétit!

Decent mussel bar in downtown Bethesda, though I wish it had a wider menu, more salads and entrees aside from mussels, and better execution on some of the basics on the menu. Service is fine, space a bit cramped and a bit loud, with some outdoor seating on the sidewalk. I liked the broth and quality of the Thai green curry mussels which have some spice and isn't too heavy. The only problem is that the peanuts on the top had turned and that really affected the dish. The steak frites was disappointing. The meat quality wasn't very high and it was fairly chewy. Frites were crisp and fine. Caesar salad was over sauced and heavy. Did come with fresh anchovies which I appreciated. Ginormous sweet slightly soggy croutons were a disappointment.

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.

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.

I would recommend you to visit this place. The seafood is great and delicious! Mussels and oysters are fantastic!

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

The mussels and French fry selections were awesome. Mussels tasted clean. Drinks were pricy but came out looking cool. Was very busy when I went so it seemed kinda cramped

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.

Went here for an early lunch. The food was ok. Mussels were nice but the sauce that they were in was very bitter and not a good addition to the mussels. We also got an octopus appetizer which again was ok but lacking seasoning. The soft shell crab special was the best thing we had. Service was fine.

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 ...

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.

Just came in and had a FANTASTIC meal! Mussels with white wine sauce - super fresh mussels, and amazing broth. Tuna tartar was excellent. And even our Caesar salad was one of the best we have had in a while. Service was top notch, and the vibe of the restaurant is great. Can't wait to go back!!

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!

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.

Amazing mussels and fries every time with a fine Belgian brew selection. Great service and lively atmosphere!

We had a great meal at Mussel Bar on a recent rainy Sunday night! So cozy and the food was great. We loved our server, can't quite remember his name, but it started with Sh... Would definitely recommend!

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

Been here a few times now and consistently good, interesting specials and price and quality very good. Would recommend the mussels for sure with the truffle fries. Bread is served but don't eat too much because the servings of mussels are large. Never eaten dessert here - just about finish the mains.

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.

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

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...

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.