Mussel Bar was running a LivingSocial so we decided to try it out. The deal was for mussels, fries and a beer for two people so we got to try a couple of different mussel dishes. All of the food that we had was quite good. The mussels were a bit heavy (lots of cream in the sauce) but very tasty. The fries could have been a bit hotter & crispier but they weren't bad either. Where this place falls a bit short is the atmosphere. They had a number of large TVs around the bar which I wasn't a fan of, but that was a forgivable flaw. What was really annoying was that the volume for those TVs was quite loud. This seems like a place you go for a pleasant dinner, not a sports bar and I don't feel like having our conversation drowned out by the commentary for a Ravens game (it was pre-season, not even real football!) I almost took away a star because of all the annoying TV noise, but service was good enough that they still get four.
(4)
Tim A.
Went here a couple weeks ago with some coworkers for happy hour and left completely satisfied. Great beer list, good oysters and apps, and awesome service. So I decided to make a reservation for Mother's Day brunch. Big mistake. We started out ordering some drinks, lamb meatballs, and a dozen oysters. Our waitress had almost no knowledge on the 6 types of oysters offered. The lamb meatballs came out within 10 minutes. But, we continued to wait for the oysters for another 15 (25 min / 12 oysters = hurry the shuck up). We then ordered our entrees: lobster mac & cheese, steak & eggs, and salmon salad. The lobster mac & cheese and steak & eggs were decent but my mother's salmon was completely undercooked. After searching for our waitress, we finally notified her about the plate and she took it back to be remade. Another 20 min passes and she comes back with a guy who I'm assuming was the manager. They served her the same piece of salmon but this time it had been nuked. The guy who brought the plate did not apologize or make any effort to admit their mistake. Ultimately, I was embarrassed to have brought my family here, as well as disappointed as I thought I had found a new happy hour spot. It's unfortunate but there are plenty of other options in the area.
(2)
Peggy K.
This place was a last minute decision for me since I decided to make reservations the day before my family came to visit me. Once you enter the restaurant, you'll soon realize that a reservation is not necessary at all. I am curious why this place isn't more packed. It's beautiful inside with lots of space. Initially, we came here for restaurant week; however, the lunch menu was not impressive. We ended up ordering regular items. Here are the following items we ordered: - Deviled Crab App - Calamari - Tuna Tartare - Lobster Mac & Cheese - Mussels (White Wine & Garlic) - Oysters I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my meal. When you first enter the restaurant, you get this feeling as if you'll regret coming here (since the place is near empty), but the food was pretty good. Some key highlights are the mac & cheese, mussels, & oysters were on point. My dad has always been critical of seafood at restaurants and this was the first time I've heard him say the oysters were very fresh. At the same time, I've never really been a mussel eater but I must say, the ones I had this weekend may have turned me into an addict. I will definitely be coming back for more! Back to the mac & cheese... how many times have we all complained about how there's not a lot of meat in _____________? WELL, for once in my life, there was actually A LOT of lobster meat in this dish. It was like a dream; so cheesy with huge chunks of lobster. This dish is definitely worth a try... and I usually don't like lobster! I don't recommend the deviled crab or calamari appetizer. The crap dip had no flavor and I pretty much didn't want to waste my stomach space for this. And the calamari was TOO salty. All in all, this place is worth a try (:
(4)
Lorraine C.
Overall I liked this place. Place was very clean. Had a very laid back and chill vibe. Plenty of drink options on the drink menu. My friend and I decided to share the white wine mussels, and this is where they lost a star. For a place that has mussels in their restaurant name I was expecting it to be the star of the show. However, I was in for disappointment. The flavor was just ok, nothing special and they were too small in my opinion. On the plus side, they did give extra bread, to dip into the broth. We all enjoyed a side of sweet potato fries that came with 3 different dipping sauces. We also ordered the lobster mac and cheese. This was my favorite! I would come back for this. My boyfriend ordered the New York strip. Nothing special here.
(4)
Shar S.
Monday nights at Mussel Bar are a steal of a deal! For $5, you get a burger with fries (or substitute an arugula salad for $1). My burger patty was hefty, juicy, and spiced well, but unfortunately very undercooked for a medium burger. My burger bun was above average but not as noteworthy (flavorful or texture-wise) as buns from more established burger joints. Overall, the burger hit the spot, but it paled in comparison to the burgers from Alewife and Abbey Burger Bistro -- what I consider the best in the area. For $5, it was more than worth it, though. The fries were excellent. They were sprinkled with a touch of garlic and herbs and accompanied by 3 delicious dipping sauces -- a fancy ketchup, garlic aioli, and chipotle aioli. They actually resemble the legendary garlic fries served at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Complementing the food is an extensive draft beer list featuring a large variety of local Maryland beers (including smaller breweries like Stillwater and Evolution) as well as craft breweries from other states. The beer selection alone is a tremendous asset to Mussel Bar. For happy hour, all drafts are $2 off which means that you can get a quality beer for just $3! My friend and I came on a Monday, and service was lackluster. However, it seemed like our waitress's first time waitressing, so we cut her some slack since she was personable. The ambiance is spacious and inviting with hardwood floors and chic black accents, fitting in nicely with the rest of the Harbor East neighborhood. If you haven't been to Mussel Bar before, it's worth a visit, especially on Mondays.
(3)
Brooke T.
Holy Moly Batman, this place is great! After a disappointing stop at the food truck gathering, my companions and I had a round of empty bellies that needed a good filling! We decided on this spot, and I am so happy that we did! Located on Lancaster, easy to spot on the corner, there is valet available for less than 10 bucks, street parking is available, as well as a garage some ways up. I love the openness of this restaurant, I didn't feel crowded, and there seems to be plenty of room to move around. It looks like it would be good for a group as well. The menu is a nice size, there is pretty much a great mixture of things for every type of eater. The had a dope raw bar, of course a great selection of mussels and everything in between. To begin, of course we had to have some dranks and some apps. I had the dope bourbon that they age in house! Chile, I swear it is so smooth, and had this lovely hint of cherry. For appetizers we got the tater tots and the mac and cheese. The portion size for both were nice, considering the barely there price. The tots were amazeballs, I loved that they were a nice size, weren't cooked to hard, and the potatoes in the interior were cooked to perfection. There were hints of malt vinegar in the coating, and the parm cheese was a nice touch. It came with a side of spicy ketchup that gave it a nice kick! The mac and cheese, was delicious, there wasn't too much cheese nor did it lack and seasoning. For the win! After trying these two items, I was excited to try my meal. I ordered the brisket burger with a bbq jam, smoked mozz, on a brioche bun. I also tried the grilled chicken breast. The burger, was a delight, I loved the flavors of the smoked mozz and bbq jam together. I can't stand over cooked beef, and this was just as tender as the day is long. The grilled chicken was seasoned nicely, the rosemary and tarragon flavors were prominent, just divine. But wait, this isn't were this flavor journey ends. Dessert was a must! I had the Berger cookie bread pudding, which came with a side of butter pecan ice cream. I also tried the butterscotch crème brulee. That bread pudding tasted as if someone took their shoe off and stuck their entiiiiiiiirrreee foot in that plate. I took one bite, and felt as though I could do the Schmurda dance. Don't judge me folks, but I love food. I'm not a fan of butter pecan, but some how these things had a yummy marriage, plus the fact that at every bite of that pudding was a delightful pecan at the bottom. The crème brulee, was aiiiiiight to me, but then again, me and butterscotch aren't fans of each other. I'll pass on that one. Oh and the service is outstanding, we somehow ended up with two servers, I believe Orlando and Logan, they were both so attentive and just plain friendly. All in all, this place is a winner winner chicken dinner. The portions are great, the prices are right, the dranks are tasty and the staff are amazing. What's not to love? Mussels, you have please me and my belly. I will be a loyal customer in the future! Cheers folks!
(5)
Erika K.
This place has great ambiance and an extensive menu. I came here for a work dinner. We had a large party of 18 people and made a reservation the week before. They were very accommodating as I called twice to add people to the reservation. They ended up seating us in a back room that we had to ourselves! They had a $5 champagne promotion going on (it was a Tuesday). Many people in the group tried craft beers, wine, and cocktails. All were good and the drink list was very extensive. We started with oysters and I order the lobster Mac and cheese for my entree. Everything was good! The Mac and cheese was just a little too cheesy for my taste. A lot of people in the party said that the tuna and scallops were very good. I've heard that the lobster roll is also very good. Overall it was a great experience and perfect for a large group!
(4)
Anne A.
Because if its very close proximity to my old job, I had been to several happy hours here with both friends and former coworkers. The ambiance is great and, even with a crowd, it never gets unbearable. I can still talk to the person next to me without yelling. Happy hour is the best time to try their daily specials at under $10 each, and coupled with an extensive drink list, you're left with a lot of options. Normal pricing for their food trends higher, which is probably a consequence of the area. But, if their (good, but not fantastic) happy hour food is indicative of the quality of the rest of the menu, it might be too overpriced.
A solid mid-priced restaurant that is a welcome addition to the harbor. I went here for lunch, and despite some recently opened kinks to work out, had a great time and really enjoyed my meal. If you're coming here, you're probably in it for the Mussels. Sure, there are other options - briskets, burgers, salads, soups - but the top center of the menu is mussels, and you should start there. For an appetizer our table ordered grilled calamari ($10 lunch/$12 dinner). Three of us were splitting it - and the waiter tried to push us to order some other apps. At first I thought this was a clumsy upsell technique - but when the calamari came it was a very small serving portion. While slightly over-priced, the calamari was tender, well cooked, and the pork it was served with added a nice salty taste to the whole dish. Grilled calamari can be tough to do - but they did get it right. For my main fare I went with the Mediterranean Mussels, a half pot, and an order of fries ($14 at lunch, $16 at dinner + a dollar for the fries). The fries had wonderful seasoning, came with some fun dips, and went great with the left over sauce from the mussels. They were a tad greasy - but for an otherwise healthy meal, I actually enjoyed that. The mussels were great. Very fresh, absorbed the Mediterranean sauce really well, and went surprisingly well with the goat cheese. The chorizo cooked with it had a nice mingling of the two flavors. I tried my co-workers White Wine Mussels - and while the sauce wasn't particularly strong, it did a great job at pulling out the flavors of what are incredibly fresh mussels. They even leave a large roasted garlic bulb in the center of the pan - which I was tempted to steal to go with the bread. Both mussel dishes are served in a hot cast iron skillet - so that's fun. A half pot with fries is a very generous lunch or dinner. The heap of fries was also more than enough to split - so I haven't seen the whole pot yet - but I'm thinking splitting one is the way to go. For the most part - the prices at Mussel Bar seem to be fare, and the food was great. Service was attentive - though with some possible jitters as a new joint. My guess is that will even out quickly. The menu, food and presentation me as foody-casual, but the service seems more formal. I also wish they had a better price point for lunch offerings - as it currently is priced out of a normal weekly lunch, and is instead relegated to long lunches when people want to splurge.
(4)
Jenny H.
The mussels here are really good. They're huge and they're served piping hot in a cast iron pan. The one with bacon, mushroom and onions is really good- if you get a side of bread and dip it in it's great!! Their side of mac and cheese was good (especially loved the melted crusty cheesy top) as were their fries served with three different dipping sauces. Their burger was just OK, nothing great, although their scallops were decent, not as crispy as I would like but cooked well and served with a BBQ sauce.
(3)
Patrick B.
5 stars. I've been here a few times now and love it. I particularly come during the all week happy hour (4-7/seven days a week!). Every time I've visited service is great, not exceptional but very attentive to customers. The happy hour menu is robust with a handful of items. Nothing crazy and the portion is served large enough for an individual or to be shared. Perfect size IMO. Now lets get to it... the mussels. When this place first opened the mussels were HUGE but my last visit they were significantly smaller but larger in quantity. I was told they weigh them out... maybe they do.. but it looks like they eyeball it and you do get a bit more. Perfect. It would be nice to see larger sized mussels but that is just my preference. The smaller ones were exceptional as well. I recommend the Kennett Square Mushroom mussels above all else. Ask for some bread and dip it in the sauce... wow. I've also had the shrimp and oysters here. The shrimp are a good size and not like those freakishly large ones you see at the Chinese restaurants. I do think they over cook them just a tad too long but not too noticeable. Most people will slather on some cocktail sauce and not know. They do have a variety of oysters in the bar so be sure to ask for the Happy Hour oysters when ordering, otherwise you could get stuck with something a bit more expensive. Now coming here during Happy Hour my typical order (split among two people) is a dozen oysters and half pot of mussels. Plus of course some drinks. This alone was more than enough food for us. Honestly I think 1/2 pot is the perfect size to be split with another. Full pot for 3 or 4. Interior is basically the same as what was Townehouse, actually i'm pretty sure 90% of the furniture is the same. Not a bad thing at all. One area that seems under utilized is the 'lounge' area to the right of when you enter in the door. There are some nice chairs and a tv there to just hang out. Not sure if service is provided there but it would be great if it was just drink service only. Over all the place is large and you will not feel cramped even when it's busy. I highly recommend this place and will continue to visit. Hopefully everything keeps getting better.
(5)
Truely T.
Great food and even better service. I had the wine mussel, steamed clams and steaks to share with the boyfriend of course!!! The only negative is that for the price we paid for the clams and mussels, the portions were wayyyyyy too small and the clams and mussels were tiny. If we didn't order our steak with mashed potatoes we would have left that still hungry!!!
(4)
Spandana M.
Service, for the most part, was extremely friendly and welcoming (there were a couple of staff members that were a little awkward, but other than that it was fine). We had made a 6 pm reservation, and we were warmly welcomed. Our waiter was very accommodating and friendly who also told us about what was good on the menu. We ordered 2 full pots of mussels (white wine and spicy thai curry) with fries, oysters, duck nuggets, butterscotch rum creme brulee, and Smith Island dessert. My friends and I preferred the thai mussels over the white wine overall, but both were really good. The fries are okay (not amazing, but worth the extra dollar). The oysters were very delicious and refreshing. Personally, I didn't like the duck nuggets too much. I do like duck, but the nuggets had shredded/ground duck and the flavor wasn't anything special. The desserts are really good! The creme brulee with the butterscotch rum twist to it was amazing - not too sweet and it had the perfect creamy texture. The Smith Island dessert is also really good. The espresso cake is very rich and the coffee ice cream is refreshing. It came with a light brown powder that we couldn't really identify; it tasted a little like coffee, but also just kinda weird. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. I might not purposely come again since there wasn't any one dish that stood out to me, but it's good for a one-time get-together.
(4)
Tanvi S.
Was in a mood for mussels during Restaurant Week and the menu looked really interesting. It had some good options and didn't seem like they were palming off easy uncomplicated dishes to customers; 3 good options each in appetizers and mains and 2 in desserts (could have added 1 more option like Belgian Waffles owing to the fact that it's a Belgian restaurant). BUT - the ambience was great and so was the service! We tried the duck fritters and Caesar salad with white anchovies as appetizers. The mains we had were mussels done in Thai curry sauce and with a white wine reduction. The quality of the mussels was excellent and the serving size was pretty good. The cheesy white wine sauce did it for me :D we had cheesecake and espresso flavored ice cream for dessert. Like I said, the options weren't that many but the cheesecake was amaaaazing! Would totally recommend this place.
(4)
Bob J.
Been twice now. The first time the service was forced a little but the server sold they way ownership and management wanted her to. The second time, sitting at the bar was flawless and the bartender exceeded expectations by getting potato crisps from the kitchen when crackers were not available (I like them with oysters). Great beer selection and certainly the best place in town to watch sports. I hope this place makes it despite the arrogance of Robert Weidmer - who is that anyways? Bryan Voltaggio is arrogant enough!
(5)
Cara R.
The mussels are good, they come out in a huge iron skillet and the mussels are huge. We came for lunch (it was empty at 1:30) and had a bunch of appetizers; the ahi tuna tartare, beet salad, tater tots, and shrimp & chorizo skewers. The only thing I recommend are the tots, and it's not something so amazing you have to stop in for. The beet salad lacked acid, and the tuna tartare was very plain, it came with a crisp potato chip which was definitely a day old. The shrimp was wrapped around a slice of chorizo which was tough and tasted over cooked, the spicy piri piri sauce is not what I would have paired with it. The inside is really nice, and the bar is the centerpiece for the dining room, which has a selection of high tops, booths and regular tables. The service was really good though. Our server mark had good opinions on the menu and drinks, and he very attentive.
(3)
Catherine S.
This spot gets reincarnated a lot but hopefully this place sticks around. I came for dinner/happy hour. The food and drink specials are really good. The ambience is hip and the space is large, especially around the bar. It wasn't packed which was okay. I had the lobster roll and garlic fries and they were quite yummy. My friends raved about the deviled eggs and sweet potato fries. I plan to go back.
(4)
Matthew L.
Mussel Bar is an improvement over town house. They have huge mussels and I really liked their scallop entree. It has a nice Asian flavor to it. Good place to grab drinks and hang with friends. The place is ginormous so you shouldn't have a hard time getting a seat.
(3)
Daniel C.
Mussel bar is a fairly new addition to Harbor East. It is a nicely appointed high end bar, specializing as the name imples in mussels. They have a large amount of beers on draft, and they have the specs of each beer listed in the menu so it is easy to make a good selection based on your preferences. I prefer having wine with seafood, but their selection of wines by the glass was limited. We started with the Baked Calamari, which was good but I can see why most people are used to having it fried. It came on a very pretty plate with slices of pork and vegetables, but it did seem a very small portion. Maybe it's because it's usually fried, but my wife and I usually enjoy splitting an order of calamari and feel like we've eaten something. We opted for the Mediterranean mussels, which came in a large frying pan filled with broth and chorizo. The mussels were cooked perfectly, but no bread is served, and that is odd since the whole point of mussels is enjoying the broth. Fortunately, we did order the excellent French Fries, and while they came with a trio of dipping sauces they served as an excellent delivery system for the broth. We were looking over dessert, and noticed that one of the options was ice cream with Caramel Corn. We asked the waitress if we could get a bowl of just that, and they happily complied. I guess they were pretty tickled to get such a request, because Javier the chef delivered a small bowl of the crispy sweet popcorn to our table personally.This place is pretty pricy, no surprise for Harbor East, but it does look like they have an excellent Happy Hour every day of the week. Given the large number of TV screens, that will be pretty good to remember.
(4)
Fred M.
Excellent food. The braised beef short ribs were delicious. Tuna nicoise was perfect. Nice selection of oysters. Will definitely be back....
(5)
Alice H.
I heard that the mussels here were amazing, so I decided to try it out. The first thing I noticed was how spacious the place. We got there around 6:30pm and were seated right away. Based on the reviews, I decided to stick to appetizers and mussels. We ordered a full pot of white wine mussels with the $1 side of fries, half dozen oysters, and the lamb meatballs. The lamb meatballs were served over a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with tomato sauce. I appreciated that the meatballs weren't the tiny ones, but were about 2 inches in diameter, and weren't too dense. The oysters were pretty good too, but I was most impressed by the mussels. The mussels were prepared perfectly and the white wine sauce/broth was so flavorful. I appreciated that they stuck whole bulbs of garlic in the pan, which I happily ate with my mussels. Fries were also nice and crunchy, and while I liked all the sauces that came with it, I enjoyed just dipping it into the broth. Not sure about the other dishes, but definitely come here for the mussels.
(4)
Brie V.
I am no stranger to Mussel Bar & Grille-Bethesda. So, when I heard Mussel Bar was coming to Baltimore, I was elated. If you are looking for the quick and dirty summary of this review, here ya go: If you love mussels, come to Mussel bar- Baltimore! If you are not in a rush, continue reading... A party of 8 of us decided to make a reservation during opening week. When we arrived, the place was mobbed with Friday happy hour-goers. We were seated at a long high-top adjacent to the bar. As one of the people seated on the side of the table where happy hour and server foot-traffic was heavy, I found the seating arrangement pretty annoying (even took a couple of elbows to the neck). I just had to remind myself that the mussels were worth some mild bodily harm. Though the Mussel Bar has a variety of entree options that do not include mussels, I of course ordered mussels (the Mediterranean mussels to be exact)...it's called Mussel Bar for a reason people. Don't be a numbskull and order the lamb burger and then go on here and Yelp about how sub-par the lamb burger was. Anyways, I had already had the Mediterranean mussels (and 3 of the other mussel options) at the Bethesda location so I knew what to expect taste-wise. Service was pretty (and perhaps expectedly) slow, likely due to a combination of it being their opening week, a huge happy hour crowd, and our large dining party. But when they did come out on their huge, still-steaming cast iron skillet, the mussels did not disappoint. The broth was smoky and tomatoe-y, as advertised, and made for a flavorful bite when both mussels and bread accompanied it. There was a good amount of sausage in the broth as well. The accompanying sweet potato fries had an interesting sweet, slightly spiced, and salty flavor to them. Definitely different than your common sweet potato fry. I enjoyed them and even dipped those into my mussel broth. Heck, I probably would have dipped anything in there. Unfortunately though, I did sample the thai green curry mussels that a couple members of our party ordered and was pretty disappointed. These weren't the same thai curry mussels offered in Bethesda! Where was the actual curry and the spice? If anything, the broth was semi-sweet (perhaps too much coconut?). The broth lacked any real distinguishable flavor. Big womp. I am giving this place four stars (though they probably only deserve 3 right now) because I am, admittedly, a loyal fan of Mussel bar. I think once they get their act together (i.e., prepare the mussels as well as they do in Bethesda and offer speedier service), like I know they can, everyone will leave a very happy diner. If you want the perfect mussel bar experience, perhaps wait a month or two or just trek on down to Bethesda. I'm sure I'll be returning to the Baltimore location within the coming weeks to get my mussel fix and will update this review then. Other notes: - Similar to its Bethesda brother, the beer menu did not disappoint. Both extensive and varied, there's a brewski for everyone at Mussel bar. - When ordering mussels, you have your choice of a half or full pot. I always get the full pot b/c I am a huge mussel lover. What's even better is it only runs you ~$24. That's a deal in my mind. - I hope they plan to offer some live music and outdoor seating like their Bethesda brother. - Inside, the place still resembles the old Townhouse Bar it replaced.
Went last night with a group of ten. Great vibe. FANTASTIC beer list. Even had a couple sour beers on tap, which few other places in the city offer. Mediterranean mussels were my favorite and the Calamari is a must! The food is well worth the money. HOWEVER! The service was below average. In fact it put a damper on the evening. Just getting a refill was such a hassle. The check ordeal was disastrous. They need some work in that department, hence the 3 rating.
(3)
Jeff T.
I've been here at least 10 times since they opened, for business lunches and dinners. Tonight was a special night, Daughter and Wife downtown and we headed to The Mussel Bar. Made reservations and got their right at 7p. I Asked for a booth since they weren't crowded. Unfortunately, they claimed the booths were all reserved and suggested I put that in the reservation request next time. Strange but we moved forward - but not off to a grade A start. Waitress was great for the first 15 mins, very pleasant, attentive and even with my food allergy spoke with the chef to accommodate. The Tuna Tartar - was tasty however, there was a massive amount of greens with stems and all dressed up with a nice dressing to eat but there were so many stems you couldn't get past the stems. BIG MISS for the price and only four chips. By this time the waitress got two more tables and just disappeared for the rest of our meal. I still tipped her well but she started out an A+ and after we left ended a C-. Guess when you are not drinking the bill just isn't large enough... MISS 2. My meal was tasty - ordered the chicken breast. The Presentation was awful. I really appreciate Presentation in a good meal but this was bad... Even my daughter said "...is your meal OK, it looks awful...." My daughters meal - spot on, lobster roll. She enjoyed and I even had a bite. Very good !! My wife ordered something I've had there Four times before, the Chile Salt Salmon. Well, it was awful. I mean to a point, my wife won't ever want to go back to this restaurant. The Mango wasn't ripe she could even cut through it but the biggest problem, this $25 meal found its way to the garbage. The fish was just bad !!! What happened I don't know. I would have told our waitress but my wife just said lets go. So how did it end, the waitress never came by to see how our meal was, and when she did come back my wife's meal was covered with her napkin. A sign something was wrong... So, our Waitress who was great for the first 15 mins finally came back and asked if we were done, if we wanted desert or the check... Well. it's time to go. We ate desert in Fells Point and forgot how bad her meal was. Sad part - I'm not sure I will go back again. I've spent a few thousand dollars there already since they opened and the most important meal, the one with my Wife and Daughter on Forth of July was a complete BUST...
(2)
Sara E.
After seeing the menu online, I was really excited to come here, but the experience was just kind of meh. First of all, I have to say they get dinged a star immediately for the server, Catherine. I had to ask her three times for bread. I'm not sure why they don't bring this out beforehand anyway. It was pretty decent bread, so they obviously serve it. But, I mean, I asked for bread when our drinks arrived and none was forthcoming, and I didn't get it until after we had finished our appetizer (and asked three times). They didn't have an oyster list, which I thought was a little strange for a raw bar, so I just said to bring us something big and salty. What they brought was big, but flavorless. I mean, they tasted like nothing. I let my hubby finish those. The next course was the chopped salad, which is really tasty. It has some sort of cured meat and feta over a chopped cabbage and lettuce mix. The tomatoes were cooked or preserved somehow, anyway, I do recommend this salad. As recommended by our server, I ordered the Mediterranean style mussels. They were delicious, though the broth was a little heavy. I ordered the fries with them. I'm not a French fry person at all, but I ordered these for my husband. I tasted one, it wAs fresh and well seasoned. If you like French fries, you'll probably like these. The atmosphere was a little loud for my taste, it was only 6 but they were pumping the music kind of loudly. I do like that they don't cram you in like some other restaurants. I wouldn't refuse to go back if my hubby wanted to, but I'm not suggesting we go back.
(3)
Alana M.
Great addition to Harbor East, awesome beer list and great Happy hour 7 days a week. The deviled eggs here are to die for, make sure you try them. The whole orders of mussels are very large and they have a great raw oyster bar. It's a little on the loud side, but that did not bother us at all. Tons of tvs for sporting events
Mussels aren't really my thing but my friend wanted to go so I said what the heck. Our waitress was on point! Very attentive and smiled a lot. Food wise I enjoyed the lamb meatballs and was surprised how fulfilling they were. That's the good now here's the bad! We sat at the high top next to the host station. While eating Apparently I must have knocked the coaster down onto the dirty floor (no biggie right)? The host picks up the dirty coaster and places it in front of me on our table with our food... WHOA Nelly! Where do there do that at!? Talking about sanitation rules. That bothered me for the rest of the night. Would be 2 stars but the waitress saved her trifling self.
(3)
J N.
Bartenders were nice and thurs ladies night 1/2 glasses of wine. Will return soon to try the food.
(5)
Kojo B.
I have been here twice since it opened a couple of days ago, keeping my fingers crossed that it doesnt suffer the same fate as its predecessor, considering how expensive rent is in that location, but i digress. First time here was for H/H which runs from 4-7, i just popped in on my way back from work and had a couple of items ranged from $4-7. I had the shrimp $1.50 per shrimp, to me that wasnt good value, i will skip it, shrimps were too small not the jumbo type. I ordered meatballs which came on a bed of potato puree, delicious, the deviled eggs were phenomenal very rich. I am not a mussels eater, so go else where for that review. Brunch this Sunday was fantastic i really enjoyed it. What my table had ranged from steak frites and eggs, lobster roll, french toast, mac and cheese, french onion soup, burgers etc. Of course i had my drinks and we ordered french press coffee, my steak frites were good, as a matter of fact everyone enjoyed their meals, including people on my table who didnt like the previous restaurant. The food is really good, the ambience is cool, it was kinda empty, food took a little while but i wasnt in a hurry, the space is huge if you have been here before. The menu is diverse enough that you will find something, give it a try, pretty positive that you would like it.
(5)
Kevin H.
Great food, affordable prices, awesome service; we will be back! Ask for Oscar as your server..attentive, helpful, and easy on the eyes!
(5)
Valerio M.
We went just once for brunch and it was very good. The full menu looks good, can't wait to come back and try more of it. I will update my review
(4)
Laur A.
Seriously good food. Decent service. Mussels turned out better than some I've had in France. Lamb meatballs & arugula salad also were a hit. Not including more upscale restaurants, this is best Harbor East has too offer. Please do yourself a favor and try Mussel Bar over Gordan Biersch. They also have good HH and daily deals.
(5)
Donna H.
This place has everything. Delicious food with great waiters with a fabulous atmosphere. We were seated and delighted to have Sebastian as a waiter. He knew the menu and made a couple of wonderful suggestions. We started with feta cheese and eggplant along with 6 oysters. The eggplant and feta was roasted and delicious and the oysters were fresh and ice cold. Then we ordered Thai mussels and the lobster macaroni and cheese. They are known for their muscles and they did not disappoint. Not only the mussels, but everything was delicious. Definitely worthy of 5 stars. We would go back and bring friends.
(5)
Graham N.
Worst restaurant experience I have ever had. Food took 2 hours. Drinks took 30 minutes per order. Food was sub par. And the beer was warm. No. Just no.
(1)
Mathew T.
Good food but very strange about the bar. Out of most vodkas and running out of wines. Always a sign a restaurant is in trouble.
(4)
Jon L.
Just had Mussell Bar for lunch and they crushed it. Great apps, awesome lobster roll and my friends all had 3 different kinda of mussels that I sampled and all were equally killer. Might be a regular spot for me!
(5)
Thy N.
The mussels with bacon, rosemary, and mushrooms and the steak frites. They were both delicious!! Happy hour is awesome here!! And it's everyday!! This will be our go to place from now in!!
(5)
Don M.
My GF and her daughters are Belgian, so I am no stranger to moules frites. When daughters were both in town, one with her husband, mussels were my first thought to treat the whole group, and the Mussel Bar has had a lot of press lately, so there we went. First impression: over staffed and overly noisy, Getting to our table involved threading through the herd of black-clad waitpersons clustered around the central bar, waiting for drink orders (the place seems to sell more beer than moules). All the time we were there, the bartenders were scurrying as quickly as one can move without spilling liquids, yet the time it took for our drinks to arrive was noticeably longer than at any other place I patronize, and GF and I go out at least weekly. Then there was the noise. The current popularity of industrial chic, in which spray-painted air conditioning equipment and vents sprawl exposed across the ceiling, is no friend to conversation or music. It gives the space a hard, metallic resonance that amplifies and scrambles sounds from every voice, plate, platter, and glass. When a sizable proportion of the voices are already amplified by half a dozen beers, the effect is cacaphonous. Back when I was waiting tables, we did not have minions bringing out the food; we brought it out ourselves, and took care to put the right dish in front of each customer. Our waiter was either a poor communicator, or his minions were poor listeners (perhaps English was for them not yet a second language), but our orders were mixed up. While all of our food was on the table, it was not in any particular order, and the minions departed as soon as it was deposited. It is true that they deliver their mussels steaming hot in cast iron skillets; it is also true that steaming hot cast iron skillets are difficult to switch without oven mitts, but we managed. The mussels were ample and perfectly cooked. I had the Kennet Square Mushroom, which features smoked bacon in a thymed cream sauce. It certainly does. There seemed to be more bacon meat by weight than mussel meat in the pot, and smoked bacon flavor easily overpowered that of the mussels themselves. The sauce would have enjoyed a bit of celery, too. The frites were well seasoned, but overbrown and rather greasy, as if they had lingered too long in underheated oil; the beet salad, though, was quite good and interesting. In contrast to the moules, the bread was surprisingly stingy: for five grown people, six thin slices of a baguette, accompanied by a small dab of whipped butter the sheen of which made one suspect margarine, were served. It was a good bread, however, and sad that it died so soon. Another time, Bertha's is about six blocks east.
(2)
Eric K.
Holy mussels! This place is awesome. Mussels were amazing. They come in skillets with different sauces and they're all delicious. Got the lamb meatballs and the brisket burger. All good. Beer selection is amazing. A lot of the beers came in glasses with the beers name on it. Great casual eats and drinks.
(5)
Cherpumple F.
Ladies' night at the new place, got a few beers and mussels to share. Why three stars? Well, their beer selection is indeed large but not as large as Max's or the Belgian Beer Bar or Churchkey and much pricier. People, remember this is Bmore and we don't like paying $15 for a 12 oz pour! Impeccable service and delicious mussels, fries, and bread. And tater tots. If you're in the Harbor East hood and want good beer and food, go here. Except be ready to dole out$$ for Belgium brews!
(3)
Tina T.
Everything was great! The food came out so fast, I think it was faster than McD's. The mussels and sweet potato fries are to die for!
(5)
N B.
Stopped in to meet up with friends and family and was greeted by a nice hostess. My boyfriend and I grabbed a seat at the bar and all the bartenders kept walking around like they were too busy to even acknowledge us. The place was empty with around two other people at the bar all around. Eventually one of the miserable looking bartenders was suddenly standing right before me, still saying nothing. I gave her a smile and loud but friendly hello since she looked like she was ready to ignore us again. I then proceeded to place my order, one drink with her and later another with a different, also not so friendly bartender with a bad attitude. I was really looking forward to a good time but the mood and the service in this place was a buzz kill. Luckily I was with friends and family. Its not the kind of place you'd want to stop in and have a drink alone dealing with the attitudes of the bartenders. The wait staff was a little more friendly.
(3)
Dave E.
Been here twice, both times during happy hour ($2 off drafts) for a few drinks. Above average beer selection definitely makes this place worth checking out. However the service was painfully slow... both times. Restaurant was definitely not busy either time and there seemed to be plenty of staff so not sure what the issue was. Plus we weren't even waiting for food, just drinks. I do plan to return and hopefully the service improves. Otherwise probably won't be going back.
(2)
Alex P.
Went for happy hour and was not disappointed. The large beer selection, including lots of local craft beers, was a major plus. We tried both the Deviled Eggs and Mediterranean Mussels and really enjoyed them. The mussels had goat cheese on top of them too which was an absolutely delicious addition. The happy hour prices were great - especially for the Harbor East area. We'll be coming back here many times in the future!
(5)
Bethany P.
We love Mussel Bar! The Mussels are great and we love the french fries with dipping sauces. We will be back for sure!
(5)
Genevieve L.
Absolutely loved this restaurant. Had the THAI mussels both times I was there. Excellent! Fries are also excellent. Service is at a good pace and staff is friendly. Loved the atmosphere and the layout of the place, with booths, high tables, lounge area, can accommodate big groups and couples. I also like that the TVs were not too distracting and loud. Will definitely go back again.
(5)
Stephanie I.
Another great new restaurant in harbor east. Really glad that they replaced the old establishment. We went opening week and the place was packed. Luckily, we still snagged a reservation ahead of time so we had no problem with seating. The staff greeted us as soon as we walked in and you could tell they were very well trained and working as a team. We ordered a number of dishes to try including the homemade tots, french onion soup, mussels, and the steak frites. I'm not a seafood fan, so I was happy to see other items on the menu for everyone. The homemade tots were the star for me. It wasn't just fried mashed potatoes like other restaurants do. This was basically like a mini potato latke w/ fried shredded potatoes. The french onion soup was just okay for me, but I'm very particular about my soup. The steak frites were delicious and I loved the herb butter that was melted on top. The mussels dish was HUGE. Also, if you get frites, they are served with different dipping sauces which I am a huge fan of. I am definitely going to be going back.
(4)
Dawn M.
So nothing was wrong with this place, but nothing stood out. Drinks were average, service was average. I was honestly disappointed with my mussels (a few of which still were a bit bearded)- I ordered the spicy green curry broth that was neither spicy nor curry tasting. Pretty bland. The sweet potato fries were interesting-a sweet and savory mix that would've been good if they weren't so salty (and this is coming from someone who's admittedly a bit heavy handed with salt and pepper). The bread pudding was okay, but just super sugary, no outstanding other flavors. I will say the beet salad with hazelnuts and pesto sauce was definitely the highlight of the dinner for me- really delicious. But that's not enough to carry a whole restaurant.
(2)
Cathryn E.
Good beer selection and set up. However...service is very slow. Server was attentive but getting a beer took at least 5 mins after ordering. There was no one in here so don't know what took so long. Ordered fries and they took 20 mins. Would hate to see how slow service would be on a busy night.
(2)
Mandy B.
This restaurant was awesome, everything tastes amazing! We got the bacon wrapped chicken and oysters and everything was awesome!
(5)
Yueqi G.
Went there for lunch. Must have: sweet potato fries! Love the 3 types of sauce come with the fries. Lamb sausage hiding in the bottom of Mediterranean mussel pot is awesome.
(5)
Robin G.
I went to Mussel Bar for the first time last night for Happy Hour. I have to say I was VERY happy when I left the restaurant. First and foremost, the service is spectacular. From the moment I walked in the restaurant until the time I left, I felt welcomed and pampered by the very friendly staff. To me, good service is as important as good food. Speaking of the food...OMG!!! For Happy Hour they have poached gulf shrimp for $1.50 each (normally you get half a dozen for $15; I got 10 for that price). They were perfectly cooked and LARGE. These weren't cheap shrimp they were serving. I also tried the Lamb Meatballs that are served over mashed potatoes with a homemade tomato sauce and goat cheese. SPECTACULAR!! A friend ordered the the duck nuggets. I'm personally not a fan of duck; but, the curry sauce served with the nuggets made them worth eating. I also tried the homemade tater tots dusted with parmesan cheese and served with a homemade ketchup. I have no words for these little beauties. Saying they were good does not do them justice so I'll just say they are a must try. Finally, to the restaurant's namesake...the mussels. On the recommendation of our waitress we got two half pots so we could sample a couple flavors. We chose the Thai Mussels (which were heavily recommended) and the White Wine & Garlic Mussels. The mussels they brought out were the biggest I have ever seen at any restaurant. The Thai Mussels were outstanding; full of great flavor. The White Wine & Garlic Mussels weren't bad; but, they didn't wow me like the Thai Mussels. Our waitress also recommended that we throw the fries in with the sauce and let them soak up the flavor. BEYOND DELICIOUS!!! I will definitely be back to Mussel Bar again. This has been the best restaurant experience I've had in a very long time.
(5)
Katie D.
Fantastic food. Amazing beer selection. Mussels were delicious. 100% recommended. Came on opening night and was expecting sub-par service, let me just say that it was beyond anything I could've imagined. Our server was super attentive to our needs, always filling water asking for beer refills etc. Amazing....
(5)
Tina L.
Finally a place that knows MUSIC! Great music, great food, and the service was spot on. Looked likes lots of big groups with large tables all night. Super friendly staff and I recommend saving room for dessert! Yummy They have a champagne drink with a hibiscus flower that is Delicious! One of the owners stopped by the bar and said hi..... he looked just like Eric Clapton.
(5)
Jeffrey K.
Normally I prefer to patronize locally-owned one-of-a-kind Baltimore establishments but I want to welcome Robert Wiedemeier's Washington collection 40 miles up the road. And while I don't remember if in Bethesda the Mussel Bar there offers the six-star deviled crab appetizer we had here, I do know the mussels and the broth and the bread and the beer list are as perfect as anywhere else. This is a higher and better use of this space than the sort-of-standard place that preceded it. And if you know the streets nearby, you can park free. (Secret not to be revealed here).
(5)
Justin K.
Decided to hit up the new place that is located in what was Townhouse Kitchen and Bar. The Mussel Bar has a good vibe going for it. It has the exact same set up that Townhouse did with some minor modifications to the interior. The beer menu and drink menu is fantastic. They had some really good beer on tap and in bottles with a lot of Belgium brews. That included 2 Belgium brews that are brewed for the Restaurant specifically. I tried both of them, neither were bad but neither knocked my socks off either. Our server was fantastic. I believe his name was Oscar, so shout out to Oscar for being a great server. We started out with some homemade tater tots, deviled eggs and with some guidance from Oscar, the small Med. Mussels with frites of course. The frites also came with 3 dipping sauces. We were skeptical of the mussels because they had goat cheese on them but our opinions were immediately swayed when we tried them. The sauce contained tons of sausage and the cheese actually worked well with the dish. They were a huge order too, perfect size for two people. The deviled eggs were really good and I especially enjoyed banana peppers that were on the eggs. Really made for a nice bite. The tots were delcious as well, especially for being homemade. We ordered our main courses and we really didn't need to but what the heck. Got the lobster mac and cheese and the steak frites (WE LOVE CARBS!). The steak was well prepared and seasoned properly. The lobster mac and cheese contained my only issue of the night. It came in a huge dutch oven and when you take the lid off, the bottom of the pot contains your eats. The lobster was really tough and overcooked, most likely from sitting in the huge pot! I couldn't finish the dish and ended up taking the majority of it home. Oh well. Overall it was great experience and judging from their happy our listings, I will definitely be back sooner rather than later. This is a great addition to the Harbor East neighborhood. TRY THE MUSSELS!!
(4)
Meatdowntown C.
This place was great when they opened. The quality of the food has gone downhill (especially the mussels). The broth flavor was just not there. Maybe the changed the recipe or the good cook is gone now? They also advertise tins of beer selections and they don't have them? They should remove them from the menu. I may come back but no promises. I have been here 5 times. The first 2 times was great and the last 3 times not so good.
(2)
Tara C.
Been here a few times now and it's definitely a welcome addition to this neighborhood. The inside isn't much different from the last tenant, physically, but overall this is a much better place. The happy hour menu offers good specials, and there are other daily specials as well. I've tried a few varieties of mussels - definitely recommend the standard white wine type, it's my tried and true preference, but the Kennett Square mushroom was also quite good. If you're here at happy hour, get the deviled eggs. I don't know if they have it all the time - but they also had one of the best cheesecakes I've had around here. I've brought a group here during happy hour/dinner and another for brunch. Both groups, 8-12 people, were accommodated easily and the service was appropriately attentive. There is a great beer selection and the bartenders are friendly. Definitely noteworthy in this neighborhood, where some of the other places work to make you feel like they're doing you a favor letting you be there.
(4)
Na H.
I was not able to load the pictures from last time l visited so l have included them with this review. Happy hour is still great (3-7, M-F) and the food awesome. They have half price glasses of wine on Thursday and l asked the server to make a suggestion on a rose. It was tasty and only $3! As l don't eat mussels, my friend loves them, so they always order them when we come, but l have to have that wonderful broth at the bottom of that piping hot cast iron pan they arrive in. So yummy! The place has a nice vibe with plenty of bar area seating. They even have sidewalk dining if that is your preference in addition to restaurant seating inside. There is a valet that cost $9 from 5-10 if you can't find parking in the area garages or on the street. Our server was pleasant and attentive to our needs. I always enjoy my visits here with friends.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Pascal P.
Mussel Bar was running a LivingSocial so we decided to try it out. The deal was for mussels, fries and a beer for two people so we got to try a couple of different mussel dishes. All of the food that we had was quite good. The mussels were a bit heavy (lots of cream in the sauce) but very tasty. The fries could have been a bit hotter & crispier but they weren't bad either. Where this place falls a bit short is the atmosphere. They had a number of large TVs around the bar which I wasn't a fan of, but that was a forgivable flaw. What was really annoying was that the volume for those TVs was quite loud. This seems like a place you go for a pleasant dinner, not a sports bar and I don't feel like having our conversation drowned out by the commentary for a Ravens game (it was pre-season, not even real football!) I almost took away a star because of all the annoying TV noise, but service was good enough that they still get four.
(4)Tim A.
Went here a couple weeks ago with some coworkers for happy hour and left completely satisfied. Great beer list, good oysters and apps, and awesome service. So I decided to make a reservation for Mother's Day brunch. Big mistake. We started out ordering some drinks, lamb meatballs, and a dozen oysters. Our waitress had almost no knowledge on the 6 types of oysters offered. The lamb meatballs came out within 10 minutes. But, we continued to wait for the oysters for another 15 (25 min / 12 oysters = hurry the shuck up). We then ordered our entrees: lobster mac & cheese, steak & eggs, and salmon salad. The lobster mac & cheese and steak & eggs were decent but my mother's salmon was completely undercooked. After searching for our waitress, we finally notified her about the plate and she took it back to be remade. Another 20 min passes and she comes back with a guy who I'm assuming was the manager. They served her the same piece of salmon but this time it had been nuked. The guy who brought the plate did not apologize or make any effort to admit their mistake. Ultimately, I was embarrassed to have brought my family here, as well as disappointed as I thought I had found a new happy hour spot. It's unfortunate but there are plenty of other options in the area.
(2)Peggy K.
This place was a last minute decision for me since I decided to make reservations the day before my family came to visit me. Once you enter the restaurant, you'll soon realize that a reservation is not necessary at all. I am curious why this place isn't more packed. It's beautiful inside with lots of space. Initially, we came here for restaurant week; however, the lunch menu was not impressive. We ended up ordering regular items. Here are the following items we ordered: - Deviled Crab App - Calamari - Tuna Tartare - Lobster Mac & Cheese - Mussels (White Wine & Garlic) - Oysters I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my meal. When you first enter the restaurant, you get this feeling as if you'll regret coming here (since the place is near empty), but the food was pretty good. Some key highlights are the mac & cheese, mussels, & oysters were on point. My dad has always been critical of seafood at restaurants and this was the first time I've heard him say the oysters were very fresh. At the same time, I've never really been a mussel eater but I must say, the ones I had this weekend may have turned me into an addict. I will definitely be coming back for more! Back to the mac & cheese... how many times have we all complained about how there's not a lot of meat in _____________? WELL, for once in my life, there was actually A LOT of lobster meat in this dish. It was like a dream; so cheesy with huge chunks of lobster. This dish is definitely worth a try... and I usually don't like lobster! I don't recommend the deviled crab or calamari appetizer. The crap dip had no flavor and I pretty much didn't want to waste my stomach space for this. And the calamari was TOO salty. All in all, this place is worth a try (:
(4)Lorraine C.
Overall I liked this place. Place was very clean. Had a very laid back and chill vibe. Plenty of drink options on the drink menu. My friend and I decided to share the white wine mussels, and this is where they lost a star. For a place that has mussels in their restaurant name I was expecting it to be the star of the show. However, I was in for disappointment. The flavor was just ok, nothing special and they were too small in my opinion. On the plus side, they did give extra bread, to dip into the broth. We all enjoyed a side of sweet potato fries that came with 3 different dipping sauces. We also ordered the lobster mac and cheese. This was my favorite! I would come back for this. My boyfriend ordered the New York strip. Nothing special here.
(4)Shar S.
Monday nights at Mussel Bar are a steal of a deal! For $5, you get a burger with fries (or substitute an arugula salad for $1). My burger patty was hefty, juicy, and spiced well, but unfortunately very undercooked for a medium burger. My burger bun was above average but not as noteworthy (flavorful or texture-wise) as buns from more established burger joints. Overall, the burger hit the spot, but it paled in comparison to the burgers from Alewife and Abbey Burger Bistro -- what I consider the best in the area. For $5, it was more than worth it, though. The fries were excellent. They were sprinkled with a touch of garlic and herbs and accompanied by 3 delicious dipping sauces -- a fancy ketchup, garlic aioli, and chipotle aioli. They actually resemble the legendary garlic fries served at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Complementing the food is an extensive draft beer list featuring a large variety of local Maryland beers (including smaller breweries like Stillwater and Evolution) as well as craft breweries from other states. The beer selection alone is a tremendous asset to Mussel Bar. For happy hour, all drafts are $2 off which means that you can get a quality beer for just $3! My friend and I came on a Monday, and service was lackluster. However, it seemed like our waitress's first time waitressing, so we cut her some slack since she was personable. The ambiance is spacious and inviting with hardwood floors and chic black accents, fitting in nicely with the rest of the Harbor East neighborhood. If you haven't been to Mussel Bar before, it's worth a visit, especially on Mondays.
(3)Brooke T.
Holy Moly Batman, this place is great! After a disappointing stop at the food truck gathering, my companions and I had a round of empty bellies that needed a good filling! We decided on this spot, and I am so happy that we did! Located on Lancaster, easy to spot on the corner, there is valet available for less than 10 bucks, street parking is available, as well as a garage some ways up. I love the openness of this restaurant, I didn't feel crowded, and there seems to be plenty of room to move around. It looks like it would be good for a group as well. The menu is a nice size, there is pretty much a great mixture of things for every type of eater. The had a dope raw bar, of course a great selection of mussels and everything in between. To begin, of course we had to have some dranks and some apps. I had the dope bourbon that they age in house! Chile, I swear it is so smooth, and had this lovely hint of cherry. For appetizers we got the tater tots and the mac and cheese. The portion size for both were nice, considering the barely there price. The tots were amazeballs, I loved that they were a nice size, weren't cooked to hard, and the potatoes in the interior were cooked to perfection. There were hints of malt vinegar in the coating, and the parm cheese was a nice touch. It came with a side of spicy ketchup that gave it a nice kick! The mac and cheese, was delicious, there wasn't too much cheese nor did it lack and seasoning. For the win! After trying these two items, I was excited to try my meal. I ordered the brisket burger with a bbq jam, smoked mozz, on a brioche bun. I also tried the grilled chicken breast. The burger, was a delight, I loved the flavors of the smoked mozz and bbq jam together. I can't stand over cooked beef, and this was just as tender as the day is long. The grilled chicken was seasoned nicely, the rosemary and tarragon flavors were prominent, just divine. But wait, this isn't were this flavor journey ends. Dessert was a must! I had the Berger cookie bread pudding, which came with a side of butter pecan ice cream. I also tried the butterscotch crème brulee. That bread pudding tasted as if someone took their shoe off and stuck their entiiiiiiiirrreee foot in that plate. I took one bite, and felt as though I could do the Schmurda dance. Don't judge me folks, but I love food. I'm not a fan of butter pecan, but some how these things had a yummy marriage, plus the fact that at every bite of that pudding was a delightful pecan at the bottom. The crème brulee, was aiiiiiight to me, but then again, me and butterscotch aren't fans of each other. I'll pass on that one. Oh and the service is outstanding, we somehow ended up with two servers, I believe Orlando and Logan, they were both so attentive and just plain friendly. All in all, this place is a winner winner chicken dinner. The portions are great, the prices are right, the dranks are tasty and the staff are amazing. What's not to love? Mussels, you have please me and my belly. I will be a loyal customer in the future! Cheers folks!
(5)Erika K.
This place has great ambiance and an extensive menu. I came here for a work dinner. We had a large party of 18 people and made a reservation the week before. They were very accommodating as I called twice to add people to the reservation. They ended up seating us in a back room that we had to ourselves! They had a $5 champagne promotion going on (it was a Tuesday). Many people in the group tried craft beers, wine, and cocktails. All were good and the drink list was very extensive. We started with oysters and I order the lobster Mac and cheese for my entree. Everything was good! The Mac and cheese was just a little too cheesy for my taste. A lot of people in the party said that the tuna and scallops were very good. I've heard that the lobster roll is also very good. Overall it was a great experience and perfect for a large group!
(4)Anne A.
Because if its very close proximity to my old job, I had been to several happy hours here with both friends and former coworkers. The ambiance is great and, even with a crowd, it never gets unbearable. I can still talk to the person next to me without yelling. Happy hour is the best time to try their daily specials at under $10 each, and coupled with an extensive drink list, you're left with a lot of options. Normal pricing for their food trends higher, which is probably a consequence of the area. But, if their (good, but not fantastic) happy hour food is indicative of the quality of the rest of the menu, it might be too overpriced.
(3)Andrew R.
Mussels + Monk Café (Sour Beer) = Wonderful night Simple arithmetic aside, I absolutely loved my recent dinner here. I will preface by saying I am a long time fan of the Bethesda location, so I came in with high expectations. I came with a large group (which Mussel Bar happily accommodated with a reservation) but my girlfriend and I came exclusively for the mussels and didn't hold back, putting in orders for the "Kennet Square Mushrooms" with smoked bacon in truffle cream and the "Mediterranean" with sausage, goat cheese and in a smoky tomato broth. They were at complete opposite ends of the taste spectrum, but both amazing in their own ways. The Kennet were creamy and mild and the Mediterranean heartier and spicy. Both served beautifully in the iron skillet they are cooked in. Our first (and second) servings of bread did not go to waste either as we repetitively dipped every slice into the saucy iron skillet between chowing down mussels. Although we skipped ordering an appetizer, the sweet potato fries that are served with the mussels were top-notch, especially with three different tasty dipping sauces served on the side. The fries have a hint of vanilla, which at first I did not like, but have grown to enjoy the complexity of it. As if I couldn't get any happier, the beer list is spectacular. With options ranging from house made brews to rare finds such as sours, they really have an incredible list. I opted for (a few) glasses of Monk Café, which is a sour beer I had never had before. It was fantastic with Beautiful burnt red color; sweet, slightly funky smell; very smooth on the tongue; cherry notes with a very subtle sour kick. A great choice for people that are trying there first sour. I will say we were seated at a table that was 3 feet from the bar, which got to be a little annoying as it was very loud. And there were a few other hiccups during dinner, but since it was opening week, I am willing to cut them some slack. Plus, loving the Bethesda restaurant so well, I know how great of a restaurant this location has the potential to be. So if anyone is hesitant, GIVE THIS PLACE A CHANCE. It is the only place like it in Baltimore.
(4)David M.
A solid mid-priced restaurant that is a welcome addition to the harbor. I went here for lunch, and despite some recently opened kinks to work out, had a great time and really enjoyed my meal. If you're coming here, you're probably in it for the Mussels. Sure, there are other options - briskets, burgers, salads, soups - but the top center of the menu is mussels, and you should start there. For an appetizer our table ordered grilled calamari ($10 lunch/$12 dinner). Three of us were splitting it - and the waiter tried to push us to order some other apps. At first I thought this was a clumsy upsell technique - but when the calamari came it was a very small serving portion. While slightly over-priced, the calamari was tender, well cooked, and the pork it was served with added a nice salty taste to the whole dish. Grilled calamari can be tough to do - but they did get it right. For my main fare I went with the Mediterranean Mussels, a half pot, and an order of fries ($14 at lunch, $16 at dinner + a dollar for the fries). The fries had wonderful seasoning, came with some fun dips, and went great with the left over sauce from the mussels. They were a tad greasy - but for an otherwise healthy meal, I actually enjoyed that. The mussels were great. Very fresh, absorbed the Mediterranean sauce really well, and went surprisingly well with the goat cheese. The chorizo cooked with it had a nice mingling of the two flavors. I tried my co-workers White Wine Mussels - and while the sauce wasn't particularly strong, it did a great job at pulling out the flavors of what are incredibly fresh mussels. They even leave a large roasted garlic bulb in the center of the pan - which I was tempted to steal to go with the bread. Both mussel dishes are served in a hot cast iron skillet - so that's fun. A half pot with fries is a very generous lunch or dinner. The heap of fries was also more than enough to split - so I haven't seen the whole pot yet - but I'm thinking splitting one is the way to go. For the most part - the prices at Mussel Bar seem to be fare, and the food was great. Service was attentive - though with some possible jitters as a new joint. My guess is that will even out quickly. The menu, food and presentation me as foody-casual, but the service seems more formal. I also wish they had a better price point for lunch offerings - as it currently is priced out of a normal weekly lunch, and is instead relegated to long lunches when people want to splurge.
(4)Jenny H.
The mussels here are really good. They're huge and they're served piping hot in a cast iron pan. The one with bacon, mushroom and onions is really good- if you get a side of bread and dip it in it's great!! Their side of mac and cheese was good (especially loved the melted crusty cheesy top) as were their fries served with three different dipping sauces. Their burger was just OK, nothing great, although their scallops were decent, not as crispy as I would like but cooked well and served with a BBQ sauce.
(3)Patrick B.
5 stars. I've been here a few times now and love it. I particularly come during the all week happy hour (4-7/seven days a week!). Every time I've visited service is great, not exceptional but very attentive to customers. The happy hour menu is robust with a handful of items. Nothing crazy and the portion is served large enough for an individual or to be shared. Perfect size IMO. Now lets get to it... the mussels. When this place first opened the mussels were HUGE but my last visit they were significantly smaller but larger in quantity. I was told they weigh them out... maybe they do.. but it looks like they eyeball it and you do get a bit more. Perfect. It would be nice to see larger sized mussels but that is just my preference. The smaller ones were exceptional as well. I recommend the Kennett Square Mushroom mussels above all else. Ask for some bread and dip it in the sauce... wow. I've also had the shrimp and oysters here. The shrimp are a good size and not like those freakishly large ones you see at the Chinese restaurants. I do think they over cook them just a tad too long but not too noticeable. Most people will slather on some cocktail sauce and not know. They do have a variety of oysters in the bar so be sure to ask for the Happy Hour oysters when ordering, otherwise you could get stuck with something a bit more expensive. Now coming here during Happy Hour my typical order (split among two people) is a dozen oysters and half pot of mussels. Plus of course some drinks. This alone was more than enough food for us. Honestly I think 1/2 pot is the perfect size to be split with another. Full pot for 3 or 4. Interior is basically the same as what was Townehouse, actually i'm pretty sure 90% of the furniture is the same. Not a bad thing at all. One area that seems under utilized is the 'lounge' area to the right of when you enter in the door. There are some nice chairs and a tv there to just hang out. Not sure if service is provided there but it would be great if it was just drink service only. Over all the place is large and you will not feel cramped even when it's busy. I highly recommend this place and will continue to visit. Hopefully everything keeps getting better.
(5)Truely T.
Great food and even better service. I had the wine mussel, steamed clams and steaks to share with the boyfriend of course!!! The only negative is that for the price we paid for the clams and mussels, the portions were wayyyyyy too small and the clams and mussels were tiny. If we didn't order our steak with mashed potatoes we would have left that still hungry!!!
(4)Spandana M.
Service, for the most part, was extremely friendly and welcoming (there were a couple of staff members that were a little awkward, but other than that it was fine). We had made a 6 pm reservation, and we were warmly welcomed. Our waiter was very accommodating and friendly who also told us about what was good on the menu. We ordered 2 full pots of mussels (white wine and spicy thai curry) with fries, oysters, duck nuggets, butterscotch rum creme brulee, and Smith Island dessert. My friends and I preferred the thai mussels over the white wine overall, but both were really good. The fries are okay (not amazing, but worth the extra dollar). The oysters were very delicious and refreshing. Personally, I didn't like the duck nuggets too much. I do like duck, but the nuggets had shredded/ground duck and the flavor wasn't anything special. The desserts are really good! The creme brulee with the butterscotch rum twist to it was amazing - not too sweet and it had the perfect creamy texture. The Smith Island dessert is also really good. The espresso cake is very rich and the coffee ice cream is refreshing. It came with a light brown powder that we couldn't really identify; it tasted a little like coffee, but also just kinda weird. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. I might not purposely come again since there wasn't any one dish that stood out to me, but it's good for a one-time get-together.
(4)Tanvi S.
Was in a mood for mussels during Restaurant Week and the menu looked really interesting. It had some good options and didn't seem like they were palming off easy uncomplicated dishes to customers; 3 good options each in appetizers and mains and 2 in desserts (could have added 1 more option like Belgian Waffles owing to the fact that it's a Belgian restaurant). BUT - the ambience was great and so was the service! We tried the duck fritters and Caesar salad with white anchovies as appetizers. The mains we had were mussels done in Thai curry sauce and with a white wine reduction. The quality of the mussels was excellent and the serving size was pretty good. The cheesy white wine sauce did it for me :D we had cheesecake and espresso flavored ice cream for dessert. Like I said, the options weren't that many but the cheesecake was amaaaazing! Would totally recommend this place.
(4)Bob J.
Been twice now. The first time the service was forced a little but the server sold they way ownership and management wanted her to. The second time, sitting at the bar was flawless and the bartender exceeded expectations by getting potato crisps from the kitchen when crackers were not available (I like them with oysters). Great beer selection and certainly the best place in town to watch sports. I hope this place makes it despite the arrogance of Robert Weidmer - who is that anyways? Bryan Voltaggio is arrogant enough!
(5)Cara R.
The mussels are good, they come out in a huge iron skillet and the mussels are huge. We came for lunch (it was empty at 1:30) and had a bunch of appetizers; the ahi tuna tartare, beet salad, tater tots, and shrimp & chorizo skewers. The only thing I recommend are the tots, and it's not something so amazing you have to stop in for. The beet salad lacked acid, and the tuna tartare was very plain, it came with a crisp potato chip which was definitely a day old. The shrimp was wrapped around a slice of chorizo which was tough and tasted over cooked, the spicy piri piri sauce is not what I would have paired with it. The inside is really nice, and the bar is the centerpiece for the dining room, which has a selection of high tops, booths and regular tables. The service was really good though. Our server mark had good opinions on the menu and drinks, and he very attentive.
(3)Catherine S.
This spot gets reincarnated a lot but hopefully this place sticks around. I came for dinner/happy hour. The food and drink specials are really good. The ambience is hip and the space is large, especially around the bar. It wasn't packed which was okay. I had the lobster roll and garlic fries and they were quite yummy. My friends raved about the deviled eggs and sweet potato fries. I plan to go back.
(4)Matthew L.
Mussel Bar is an improvement over town house. They have huge mussels and I really liked their scallop entree. It has a nice Asian flavor to it. Good place to grab drinks and hang with friends. The place is ginormous so you shouldn't have a hard time getting a seat.
(3)Daniel C.
Mussel bar is a fairly new addition to Harbor East. It is a nicely appointed high end bar, specializing as the name imples in mussels. They have a large amount of beers on draft, and they have the specs of each beer listed in the menu so it is easy to make a good selection based on your preferences. I prefer having wine with seafood, but their selection of wines by the glass was limited. We started with the Baked Calamari, which was good but I can see why most people are used to having it fried. It came on a very pretty plate with slices of pork and vegetables, but it did seem a very small portion. Maybe it's because it's usually fried, but my wife and I usually enjoy splitting an order of calamari and feel like we've eaten something. We opted for the Mediterranean mussels, which came in a large frying pan filled with broth and chorizo. The mussels were cooked perfectly, but no bread is served, and that is odd since the whole point of mussels is enjoying the broth. Fortunately, we did order the excellent French Fries, and while they came with a trio of dipping sauces they served as an excellent delivery system for the broth. We were looking over dessert, and noticed that one of the options was ice cream with Caramel Corn. We asked the waitress if we could get a bowl of just that, and they happily complied. I guess they were pretty tickled to get such a request, because Javier the chef delivered a small bowl of the crispy sweet popcorn to our table personally.This place is pretty pricy, no surprise for Harbor East, but it does look like they have an excellent Happy Hour every day of the week. Given the large number of TV screens, that will be pretty good to remember.
(4)Fred M.
Excellent food. The braised beef short ribs were delicious. Tuna nicoise was perfect. Nice selection of oysters. Will definitely be back....
(5)Alice H.
I heard that the mussels here were amazing, so I decided to try it out. The first thing I noticed was how spacious the place. We got there around 6:30pm and were seated right away. Based on the reviews, I decided to stick to appetizers and mussels. We ordered a full pot of white wine mussels with the $1 side of fries, half dozen oysters, and the lamb meatballs. The lamb meatballs were served over a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with tomato sauce. I appreciated that the meatballs weren't the tiny ones, but were about 2 inches in diameter, and weren't too dense. The oysters were pretty good too, but I was most impressed by the mussels. The mussels were prepared perfectly and the white wine sauce/broth was so flavorful. I appreciated that they stuck whole bulbs of garlic in the pan, which I happily ate with my mussels. Fries were also nice and crunchy, and while I liked all the sauces that came with it, I enjoyed just dipping it into the broth. Not sure about the other dishes, but definitely come here for the mussels.
(4)Brie V.
I am no stranger to Mussel Bar & Grille-Bethesda. So, when I heard Mussel Bar was coming to Baltimore, I was elated. If you are looking for the quick and dirty summary of this review, here ya go: If you love mussels, come to Mussel bar- Baltimore! If you are not in a rush, continue reading... A party of 8 of us decided to make a reservation during opening week. When we arrived, the place was mobbed with Friday happy hour-goers. We were seated at a long high-top adjacent to the bar. As one of the people seated on the side of the table where happy hour and server foot-traffic was heavy, I found the seating arrangement pretty annoying (even took a couple of elbows to the neck). I just had to remind myself that the mussels were worth some mild bodily harm. Though the Mussel Bar has a variety of entree options that do not include mussels, I of course ordered mussels (the Mediterranean mussels to be exact)...it's called Mussel Bar for a reason people. Don't be a numbskull and order the lamb burger and then go on here and Yelp about how sub-par the lamb burger was. Anyways, I had already had the Mediterranean mussels (and 3 of the other mussel options) at the Bethesda location so I knew what to expect taste-wise. Service was pretty (and perhaps expectedly) slow, likely due to a combination of it being their opening week, a huge happy hour crowd, and our large dining party. But when they did come out on their huge, still-steaming cast iron skillet, the mussels did not disappoint. The broth was smoky and tomatoe-y, as advertised, and made for a flavorful bite when both mussels and bread accompanied it. There was a good amount of sausage in the broth as well. The accompanying sweet potato fries had an interesting sweet, slightly spiced, and salty flavor to them. Definitely different than your common sweet potato fry. I enjoyed them and even dipped those into my mussel broth. Heck, I probably would have dipped anything in there. Unfortunately though, I did sample the thai green curry mussels that a couple members of our party ordered and was pretty disappointed. These weren't the same thai curry mussels offered in Bethesda! Where was the actual curry and the spice? If anything, the broth was semi-sweet (perhaps too much coconut?). The broth lacked any real distinguishable flavor. Big womp. I am giving this place four stars (though they probably only deserve 3 right now) because I am, admittedly, a loyal fan of Mussel bar. I think once they get their act together (i.e., prepare the mussels as well as they do in Bethesda and offer speedier service), like I know they can, everyone will leave a very happy diner. If you want the perfect mussel bar experience, perhaps wait a month or two or just trek on down to Bethesda. I'm sure I'll be returning to the Baltimore location within the coming weeks to get my mussel fix and will update this review then. Other notes: - Similar to its Bethesda brother, the beer menu did not disappoint. Both extensive and varied, there's a brewski for everyone at Mussel bar. - When ordering mussels, you have your choice of a half or full pot. I always get the full pot b/c I am a huge mussel lover. What's even better is it only runs you ~$24. That's a deal in my mind. - I hope they plan to offer some live music and outdoor seating like their Bethesda brother. - Inside, the place still resembles the old Townhouse Bar it replaced.
(4)Erica M.
My friends and I made a reservation for 6:00pm on the Fourth of July. When we came in, the restaurant was nearly empty. There was definitely no need for a reservation, for even when we left around 8:30, the dining room had a few empty seats. We came in during Happy Hour, which is from 3:00pm to 7:00pm and ordered two full pots of mussels, 4 oysters from the happy hour menu, and also duck nuggets (also from the happy hour menu). The oysters were local (from Maryland) and tasted very fresh. It was a fun way to start the meal. All of us really enjoyed the oysters. The mussels (we tried the white wine and the green curry) were both extremely tasty, but the broth was a little salt...I don't advise you drink the broth directly! The green curry was the better tasting pot of mussels, and the waiter advised that we dip the frites ($1 extra with the mussels) in the broth. It was great advice. A friend and I both ordered sweet tea. They don't have sweet tea, but our waiter was kind enough to suggest adding a pomegranate syrup to unsweetened tea. We tried that drink. The first time the drink came out very sweet. We both added water into the drink, but the second time (unlimited refills), the tea was just plain weird. I didn't get another refill after that. The desserts were absolutely wonderful. We had the Smith Island cake and also the Butterscotch Rum Creme Brûlée. All of us enjoyed it a lot. The expresso ice cream on the smith island cake was wonderfully refreshing! Overall, the service from that one waiter was extremely satisfying. He was very nice, sociable, and showed us plenty of attention and concern. However, the manager and the busboy who came to visit our table on multiple occasions were extremely awkward and seemed like they were trying to rush us out of the restaurant. Despite the awkward manager, I will definitely come back here again for their full pots of mussels and fresh oysters!
(4)Hannah S.
Went last night with a group of ten. Great vibe. FANTASTIC beer list. Even had a couple sour beers on tap, which few other places in the city offer. Mediterranean mussels were my favorite and the Calamari is a must! The food is well worth the money. HOWEVER! The service was below average. In fact it put a damper on the evening. Just getting a refill was such a hassle. The check ordeal was disastrous. They need some work in that department, hence the 3 rating.
(3)Jeff T.
I've been here at least 10 times since they opened, for business lunches and dinners. Tonight was a special night, Daughter and Wife downtown and we headed to The Mussel Bar. Made reservations and got their right at 7p. I Asked for a booth since they weren't crowded. Unfortunately, they claimed the booths were all reserved and suggested I put that in the reservation request next time. Strange but we moved forward - but not off to a grade A start. Waitress was great for the first 15 mins, very pleasant, attentive and even with my food allergy spoke with the chef to accommodate. The Tuna Tartar - was tasty however, there was a massive amount of greens with stems and all dressed up with a nice dressing to eat but there were so many stems you couldn't get past the stems. BIG MISS for the price and only four chips. By this time the waitress got two more tables and just disappeared for the rest of our meal. I still tipped her well but she started out an A+ and after we left ended a C-. Guess when you are not drinking the bill just isn't large enough... MISS 2. My meal was tasty - ordered the chicken breast. The Presentation was awful. I really appreciate Presentation in a good meal but this was bad... Even my daughter said "...is your meal OK, it looks awful...." My daughters meal - spot on, lobster roll. She enjoyed and I even had a bite. Very good !! My wife ordered something I've had there Four times before, the Chile Salt Salmon. Well, it was awful. I mean to a point, my wife won't ever want to go back to this restaurant. The Mango wasn't ripe she could even cut through it but the biggest problem, this $25 meal found its way to the garbage. The fish was just bad !!! What happened I don't know. I would have told our waitress but my wife just said lets go. So how did it end, the waitress never came by to see how our meal was, and when she did come back my wife's meal was covered with her napkin. A sign something was wrong... So, our Waitress who was great for the first 15 mins finally came back and asked if we were done, if we wanted desert or the check... Well. it's time to go. We ate desert in Fells Point and forgot how bad her meal was. Sad part - I'm not sure I will go back again. I've spent a few thousand dollars there already since they opened and the most important meal, the one with my Wife and Daughter on Forth of July was a complete BUST...
(2)Sara E.
After seeing the menu online, I was really excited to come here, but the experience was just kind of meh. First of all, I have to say they get dinged a star immediately for the server, Catherine. I had to ask her three times for bread. I'm not sure why they don't bring this out beforehand anyway. It was pretty decent bread, so they obviously serve it. But, I mean, I asked for bread when our drinks arrived and none was forthcoming, and I didn't get it until after we had finished our appetizer (and asked three times). They didn't have an oyster list, which I thought was a little strange for a raw bar, so I just said to bring us something big and salty. What they brought was big, but flavorless. I mean, they tasted like nothing. I let my hubby finish those. The next course was the chopped salad, which is really tasty. It has some sort of cured meat and feta over a chopped cabbage and lettuce mix. The tomatoes were cooked or preserved somehow, anyway, I do recommend this salad. As recommended by our server, I ordered the Mediterranean style mussels. They were delicious, though the broth was a little heavy. I ordered the fries with them. I'm not a French fry person at all, but I ordered these for my husband. I tasted one, it wAs fresh and well seasoned. If you like French fries, you'll probably like these. The atmosphere was a little loud for my taste, it was only 6 but they were pumping the music kind of loudly. I do like that they don't cram you in like some other restaurants. I wouldn't refuse to go back if my hubby wanted to, but I'm not suggesting we go back.
(3)Alana M.
Great addition to Harbor East, awesome beer list and great Happy hour 7 days a week. The deviled eggs here are to die for, make sure you try them. The whole orders of mussels are very large and they have a great raw oyster bar. It's a little on the loud side, but that did not bother us at all. Tons of tvs for sporting events
(5)Jarrod F.
Maybe it's just me but I've had a of great meals in Baltimore lately. The city is just popping out new restaurants like a ghetto $&@$ on welfare pops out her offspring. The difference is, we need restaurants in this city... not the latter. Mussels bar and grille is one of baltimores newest establishments. The place has a very open feel To it. We went this afternoon and It was a tad dark inside especially with the black ceilings. But I'm sure it lightens up at night. Our waiter Steven was excellent. Be sure to ask for him if you go. For lunch We had a few great drinks followed by the grilled calamari and a whole pot of the mushroom, bacon mussels. These bad boys were so big and so plump I had a hard time believing they were natural. Typically when you order mussels at a restaurant half of them are still enclosed in their shells. Well here that's not the case. Every single one of these bad boys were wide open. Just how I like it ;). The sauce was drinkable it was that good. The abundance of thyme, bacon and mushrooms made me want to run into the kitchen and make out with the chef. But wait... The grilled calamari was just as good. Sautéed to perfection in a tangy tomato like sauce with bacon it was probably the best grilled calamari I've had to date. And that my friends is saying a lot. The fries were delicious for a measly $1 extra. What also says a lot is the fact that We consumed these dishes so fast that I didn't even have a chance to take any pictures. But just believe me when I say this place rocks.
(5)Gary B.
Mussels aren't really my thing but my friend wanted to go so I said what the heck. Our waitress was on point! Very attentive and smiled a lot. Food wise I enjoyed the lamb meatballs and was surprised how fulfilling they were. That's the good now here's the bad! We sat at the high top next to the host station. While eating Apparently I must have knocked the coaster down onto the dirty floor (no biggie right)? The host picks up the dirty coaster and places it in front of me on our table with our food... WHOA Nelly! Where do there do that at!? Talking about sanitation rules. That bothered me for the rest of the night. Would be 2 stars but the waitress saved her trifling self.
(3)J N.
Bartenders were nice and thurs ladies night 1/2 glasses of wine. Will return soon to try the food.
(5)Kojo B.
I have been here twice since it opened a couple of days ago, keeping my fingers crossed that it doesnt suffer the same fate as its predecessor, considering how expensive rent is in that location, but i digress. First time here was for H/H which runs from 4-7, i just popped in on my way back from work and had a couple of items ranged from $4-7. I had the shrimp $1.50 per shrimp, to me that wasnt good value, i will skip it, shrimps were too small not the jumbo type. I ordered meatballs which came on a bed of potato puree, delicious, the deviled eggs were phenomenal very rich. I am not a mussels eater, so go else where for that review. Brunch this Sunday was fantastic i really enjoyed it. What my table had ranged from steak frites and eggs, lobster roll, french toast, mac and cheese, french onion soup, burgers etc. Of course i had my drinks and we ordered french press coffee, my steak frites were good, as a matter of fact everyone enjoyed their meals, including people on my table who didnt like the previous restaurant. The food is really good, the ambience is cool, it was kinda empty, food took a little while but i wasnt in a hurry, the space is huge if you have been here before. The menu is diverse enough that you will find something, give it a try, pretty positive that you would like it.
(5)Kevin H.
Great food, affordable prices, awesome service; we will be back! Ask for Oscar as your server..attentive, helpful, and easy on the eyes!
(5)Valerio M.
We went just once for brunch and it was very good. The full menu looks good, can't wait to come back and try more of it. I will update my review
(4)Laur A.
Seriously good food. Decent service. Mussels turned out better than some I've had in France. Lamb meatballs & arugula salad also were a hit. Not including more upscale restaurants, this is best Harbor East has too offer. Please do yourself a favor and try Mussel Bar over Gordan Biersch. They also have good HH and daily deals.
(5)Donna H.
This place has everything. Delicious food with great waiters with a fabulous atmosphere. We were seated and delighted to have Sebastian as a waiter. He knew the menu and made a couple of wonderful suggestions. We started with feta cheese and eggplant along with 6 oysters. The eggplant and feta was roasted and delicious and the oysters were fresh and ice cold. Then we ordered Thai mussels and the lobster macaroni and cheese. They are known for their muscles and they did not disappoint. Not only the mussels, but everything was delicious. Definitely worthy of 5 stars. We would go back and bring friends.
(5)Graham N.
Worst restaurant experience I have ever had. Food took 2 hours. Drinks took 30 minutes per order. Food was sub par. And the beer was warm. No. Just no.
(1)Mathew T.
Good food but very strange about the bar. Out of most vodkas and running out of wines. Always a sign a restaurant is in trouble.
(4)Jon L.
Just had Mussell Bar for lunch and they crushed it. Great apps, awesome lobster roll and my friends all had 3 different kinda of mussels that I sampled and all were equally killer. Might be a regular spot for me!
(5)Thy N.
The mussels with bacon, rosemary, and mushrooms and the steak frites. They were both delicious!! Happy hour is awesome here!! And it's everyday!! This will be our go to place from now in!!
(5)Don M.
My GF and her daughters are Belgian, so I am no stranger to moules frites. When daughters were both in town, one with her husband, mussels were my first thought to treat the whole group, and the Mussel Bar has had a lot of press lately, so there we went. First impression: over staffed and overly noisy, Getting to our table involved threading through the herd of black-clad waitpersons clustered around the central bar, waiting for drink orders (the place seems to sell more beer than moules). All the time we were there, the bartenders were scurrying as quickly as one can move without spilling liquids, yet the time it took for our drinks to arrive was noticeably longer than at any other place I patronize, and GF and I go out at least weekly. Then there was the noise. The current popularity of industrial chic, in which spray-painted air conditioning equipment and vents sprawl exposed across the ceiling, is no friend to conversation or music. It gives the space a hard, metallic resonance that amplifies and scrambles sounds from every voice, plate, platter, and glass. When a sizable proportion of the voices are already amplified by half a dozen beers, the effect is cacaphonous. Back when I was waiting tables, we did not have minions bringing out the food; we brought it out ourselves, and took care to put the right dish in front of each customer. Our waiter was either a poor communicator, or his minions were poor listeners (perhaps English was for them not yet a second language), but our orders were mixed up. While all of our food was on the table, it was not in any particular order, and the minions departed as soon as it was deposited. It is true that they deliver their mussels steaming hot in cast iron skillets; it is also true that steaming hot cast iron skillets are difficult to switch without oven mitts, but we managed. The mussels were ample and perfectly cooked. I had the Kennet Square Mushroom, which features smoked bacon in a thymed cream sauce. It certainly does. There seemed to be more bacon meat by weight than mussel meat in the pot, and smoked bacon flavor easily overpowered that of the mussels themselves. The sauce would have enjoyed a bit of celery, too. The frites were well seasoned, but overbrown and rather greasy, as if they had lingered too long in underheated oil; the beet salad, though, was quite good and interesting. In contrast to the moules, the bread was surprisingly stingy: for five grown people, six thin slices of a baguette, accompanied by a small dab of whipped butter the sheen of which made one suspect margarine, were served. It was a good bread, however, and sad that it died so soon. Another time, Bertha's is about six blocks east.
(2)Eric K.
Holy mussels! This place is awesome. Mussels were amazing. They come in skillets with different sauces and they're all delicious. Got the lamb meatballs and the brisket burger. All good. Beer selection is amazing. A lot of the beers came in glasses with the beers name on it. Great casual eats and drinks.
(5)Cherpumple F.
Ladies' night at the new place, got a few beers and mussels to share. Why three stars? Well, their beer selection is indeed large but not as large as Max's or the Belgian Beer Bar or Churchkey and much pricier. People, remember this is Bmore and we don't like paying $15 for a 12 oz pour! Impeccable service and delicious mussels, fries, and bread. And tater tots. If you're in the Harbor East hood and want good beer and food, go here. Except be ready to dole out$$ for Belgium brews!
(3)Tina T.
Everything was great! The food came out so fast, I think it was faster than McD's. The mussels and sweet potato fries are to die for!
(5)N B.
Stopped in to meet up with friends and family and was greeted by a nice hostess. My boyfriend and I grabbed a seat at the bar and all the bartenders kept walking around like they were too busy to even acknowledge us. The place was empty with around two other people at the bar all around. Eventually one of the miserable looking bartenders was suddenly standing right before me, still saying nothing. I gave her a smile and loud but friendly hello since she looked like she was ready to ignore us again. I then proceeded to place my order, one drink with her and later another with a different, also not so friendly bartender with a bad attitude. I was really looking forward to a good time but the mood and the service in this place was a buzz kill. Luckily I was with friends and family. Its not the kind of place you'd want to stop in and have a drink alone dealing with the attitudes of the bartenders. The wait staff was a little more friendly.
(3)Dave E.
Been here twice, both times during happy hour ($2 off drafts) for a few drinks. Above average beer selection definitely makes this place worth checking out. However the service was painfully slow... both times. Restaurant was definitely not busy either time and there seemed to be plenty of staff so not sure what the issue was. Plus we weren't even waiting for food, just drinks. I do plan to return and hopefully the service improves. Otherwise probably won't be going back.
(2)Alex P.
Went for happy hour and was not disappointed. The large beer selection, including lots of local craft beers, was a major plus. We tried both the Deviled Eggs and Mediterranean Mussels and really enjoyed them. The mussels had goat cheese on top of them too which was an absolutely delicious addition. The happy hour prices were great - especially for the Harbor East area. We'll be coming back here many times in the future!
(5)Bethany P.
We love Mussel Bar! The Mussels are great and we love the french fries with dipping sauces. We will be back for sure!
(5)Genevieve L.
Absolutely loved this restaurant. Had the THAI mussels both times I was there. Excellent! Fries are also excellent. Service is at a good pace and staff is friendly. Loved the atmosphere and the layout of the place, with booths, high tables, lounge area, can accommodate big groups and couples. I also like that the TVs were not too distracting and loud. Will definitely go back again.
(5)Stephanie I.
Another great new restaurant in harbor east. Really glad that they replaced the old establishment. We went opening week and the place was packed. Luckily, we still snagged a reservation ahead of time so we had no problem with seating. The staff greeted us as soon as we walked in and you could tell they were very well trained and working as a team. We ordered a number of dishes to try including the homemade tots, french onion soup, mussels, and the steak frites. I'm not a seafood fan, so I was happy to see other items on the menu for everyone. The homemade tots were the star for me. It wasn't just fried mashed potatoes like other restaurants do. This was basically like a mini potato latke w/ fried shredded potatoes. The french onion soup was just okay for me, but I'm very particular about my soup. The steak frites were delicious and I loved the herb butter that was melted on top. The mussels dish was HUGE. Also, if you get frites, they are served with different dipping sauces which I am a huge fan of. I am definitely going to be going back.
(4)Dawn M.
So nothing was wrong with this place, but nothing stood out. Drinks were average, service was average. I was honestly disappointed with my mussels (a few of which still were a bit bearded)- I ordered the spicy green curry broth that was neither spicy nor curry tasting. Pretty bland. The sweet potato fries were interesting-a sweet and savory mix that would've been good if they weren't so salty (and this is coming from someone who's admittedly a bit heavy handed with salt and pepper). The bread pudding was okay, but just super sugary, no outstanding other flavors. I will say the beet salad with hazelnuts and pesto sauce was definitely the highlight of the dinner for me- really delicious. But that's not enough to carry a whole restaurant.
(2)Cathryn E.
Good beer selection and set up. However...service is very slow. Server was attentive but getting a beer took at least 5 mins after ordering. There was no one in here so don't know what took so long. Ordered fries and they took 20 mins. Would hate to see how slow service would be on a busy night.
(2)Mandy B.
This restaurant was awesome, everything tastes amazing! We got the bacon wrapped chicken and oysters and everything was awesome!
(5)Yueqi G.
Went there for lunch. Must have: sweet potato fries! Love the 3 types of sauce come with the fries. Lamb sausage hiding in the bottom of Mediterranean mussel pot is awesome.
(5)Robin G.
I went to Mussel Bar for the first time last night for Happy Hour. I have to say I was VERY happy when I left the restaurant. First and foremost, the service is spectacular. From the moment I walked in the restaurant until the time I left, I felt welcomed and pampered by the very friendly staff. To me, good service is as important as good food. Speaking of the food...OMG!!! For Happy Hour they have poached gulf shrimp for $1.50 each (normally you get half a dozen for $15; I got 10 for that price). They were perfectly cooked and LARGE. These weren't cheap shrimp they were serving. I also tried the Lamb Meatballs that are served over mashed potatoes with a homemade tomato sauce and goat cheese. SPECTACULAR!! A friend ordered the the duck nuggets. I'm personally not a fan of duck; but, the curry sauce served with the nuggets made them worth eating. I also tried the homemade tater tots dusted with parmesan cheese and served with a homemade ketchup. I have no words for these little beauties. Saying they were good does not do them justice so I'll just say they are a must try. Finally, to the restaurant's namesake...the mussels. On the recommendation of our waitress we got two half pots so we could sample a couple flavors. We chose the Thai Mussels (which were heavily recommended) and the White Wine & Garlic Mussels. The mussels they brought out were the biggest I have ever seen at any restaurant. The Thai Mussels were outstanding; full of great flavor. The White Wine & Garlic Mussels weren't bad; but, they didn't wow me like the Thai Mussels. Our waitress also recommended that we throw the fries in with the sauce and let them soak up the flavor. BEYOND DELICIOUS!!! I will definitely be back to Mussel Bar again. This has been the best restaurant experience I've had in a very long time.
(5)Katie D.
Fantastic food. Amazing beer selection. Mussels were delicious. 100% recommended. Came on opening night and was expecting sub-par service, let me just say that it was beyond anything I could've imagined. Our server was super attentive to our needs, always filling water asking for beer refills etc. Amazing....
(5)Tina L.
Finally a place that knows MUSIC! Great music, great food, and the service was spot on. Looked likes lots of big groups with large tables all night. Super friendly staff and I recommend saving room for dessert! Yummy They have a champagne drink with a hibiscus flower that is Delicious! One of the owners stopped by the bar and said hi..... he looked just like Eric Clapton.
(5)Jeffrey K.
Normally I prefer to patronize locally-owned one-of-a-kind Baltimore establishments but I want to welcome Robert Wiedemeier's Washington collection 40 miles up the road. And while I don't remember if in Bethesda the Mussel Bar there offers the six-star deviled crab appetizer we had here, I do know the mussels and the broth and the bread and the beer list are as perfect as anywhere else. This is a higher and better use of this space than the sort-of-standard place that preceded it. And if you know the streets nearby, you can park free. (Secret not to be revealed here).
(5)Justin K.
Decided to hit up the new place that is located in what was Townhouse Kitchen and Bar. The Mussel Bar has a good vibe going for it. It has the exact same set up that Townhouse did with some minor modifications to the interior. The beer menu and drink menu is fantastic. They had some really good beer on tap and in bottles with a lot of Belgium brews. That included 2 Belgium brews that are brewed for the Restaurant specifically. I tried both of them, neither were bad but neither knocked my socks off either. Our server was fantastic. I believe his name was Oscar, so shout out to Oscar for being a great server. We started out with some homemade tater tots, deviled eggs and with some guidance from Oscar, the small Med. Mussels with frites of course. The frites also came with 3 dipping sauces. We were skeptical of the mussels because they had goat cheese on them but our opinions were immediately swayed when we tried them. The sauce contained tons of sausage and the cheese actually worked well with the dish. They were a huge order too, perfect size for two people. The deviled eggs were really good and I especially enjoyed banana peppers that were on the eggs. Really made for a nice bite. The tots were delcious as well, especially for being homemade. We ordered our main courses and we really didn't need to but what the heck. Got the lobster mac and cheese and the steak frites (WE LOVE CARBS!). The steak was well prepared and seasoned properly. The lobster mac and cheese contained my only issue of the night. It came in a huge dutch oven and when you take the lid off, the bottom of the pot contains your eats. The lobster was really tough and overcooked, most likely from sitting in the huge pot! I couldn't finish the dish and ended up taking the majority of it home. Oh well. Overall it was great experience and judging from their happy our listings, I will definitely be back sooner rather than later. This is a great addition to the Harbor East neighborhood. TRY THE MUSSELS!!
(4)Meatdowntown C.
This place was great when they opened. The quality of the food has gone downhill (especially the mussels). The broth flavor was just not there. Maybe the changed the recipe or the good cook is gone now? They also advertise tins of beer selections and they don't have them? They should remove them from the menu. I may come back but no promises. I have been here 5 times. The first 2 times was great and the last 3 times not so good.
(2)Tara C.
Been here a few times now and it's definitely a welcome addition to this neighborhood. The inside isn't much different from the last tenant, physically, but overall this is a much better place. The happy hour menu offers good specials, and there are other daily specials as well. I've tried a few varieties of mussels - definitely recommend the standard white wine type, it's my tried and true preference, but the Kennett Square mushroom was also quite good. If you're here at happy hour, get the deviled eggs. I don't know if they have it all the time - but they also had one of the best cheesecakes I've had around here. I've brought a group here during happy hour/dinner and another for brunch. Both groups, 8-12 people, were accommodated easily and the service was appropriately attentive. There is a great beer selection and the bartenders are friendly. Definitely noteworthy in this neighborhood, where some of the other places work to make you feel like they're doing you a favor letting you be there.
(4)Na H.
I was not able to load the pictures from last time l visited so l have included them with this review. Happy hour is still great (3-7, M-F) and the food awesome. They have half price glasses of wine on Thursday and l asked the server to make a suggestion on a rose. It was tasty and only $3! As l don't eat mussels, my friend loves them, so they always order them when we come, but l have to have that wonderful broth at the bottom of that piping hot cast iron pan they arrive in. So yummy! The place has a nice vibe with plenty of bar area seating. They even have sidewalk dining if that is your preference in addition to restaurant seating inside. There is a valet that cost $9 from 5-10 if you can't find parking in the area garages or on the street. Our server was pleasant and attentive to our needs. I always enjoy my visits here with friends.
(4)