Mussel Bar & Grille, Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda and Ballston by the Owners of Marcel's

[Dave Pressley]

Ouch, indeed. Before a review like this goes to print, does Sietsma (or print-media restaurant critics in general) give a head's up to the restaurant's owners first so that they can respond? Or is it likely that Wiedmaier had no knowledge that this was coming? Just wondering about the protocol.

No advance notice is ever given of which way the review is leaning. They do a fact-checking phone call so you know that a published review is coming...they'll likely tell you the date it's being run, but that's about it.

[deangold]

The pork belly/mussel flatbread with gruyere is a revelation. I dare anyone to approach the bar, order a beer and one of those, and tell me otherwise.

We didn''t even finish half of ours. Didn't care for it at all. Spectacular beers tho...

[B.A.R.]

No advance notice is ever given of which way the review is leaning. They do a fact-checking phone call so you know that a published review is coming...they'll likely tell you the date it's being run, but that's about it.

I thought that was the case, but Tom did reference in his review a couple of comments from Weidmeir, about the reason for no oyster liquer, changing the mussels to Penn cove, and the French fries.

Seems to me a pre-published conversation was had.

[deangold]

Tonm has definitely been known to call and ask follow up questions, but getting a pre reelease peak at the stars rating or the review itself is a job for the late lamented Deep Throat!

[Dave Pressley]

Seems to me a pre-published conversation was had.

That's what I meant by a fact-checking phone call.

[deangold]

That's what I meant by a fact-checking phone call.

The fact chekcing call is usually made by a staffer with verification of specific claims inthe review {ie names of dishes, houes,etc}. Tom himself may call and ask a question or two as well.

[Escoffier]

Just as a "file and forget" piece of information. While we were waiting for the limo to go to the KenCen last night, we were talking to one of the people at Marcels who told us that before any chef is put into one of RW's restaurants, he has to work at Marcel's first to absorb the RW way of doing things.

[Escoffier]

Before we bury them any further, let me note the shout-out to Thor Cheston.

You're right (about the height and being a beer maven). He's married to one of our favorite people who also happens to work at one of Robert's places.

[JMac]

Might be a little off topic but I want to explain the Montgomery County alcohol pricing. I think I have posted it in another thread on this board so I am sorry if this is a duplicate.

Montgomery County has a monopoly on the distribution of beer/wine and spirits (with minor exceptions for brew pubs and small wine producers which are allowed to sell directly to the restaurant or retailer all over Maryland). Every beer/wine/spirit has to be sold to the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC). The wholesaler of the beer/wine/spirit delivers the product to the DLC in Gaithersburg. The DLC buys the beer/wine/spirit at wholesale. The DLC then does a 25% mark up on their cost and sells the beer/wine/spirit to the restaurant/retailer. Simple example - a bottle of wine that wholesales in DC for $10 gets sold to the DLC for $10. The DLC then has to pay $.08 state excise tax on the bottle. The bottle therefore costs the DLC $10.08. This is marked up by 25% which works out to be $12.61 - but the DLC rounds up the .61 to .65. So a $10.00 bottle in DC costs the restaurant/retailer 26% more in Montgomery County. Couple this with the high rent at the Mussel bar and you get some pretty expensive beer even if it weren't Belgian beer which can be fairly expensive anywhere it is sold.

Also note that the DLC delivery trucks are loaded the day before delivery. If it is 95°F outside in August in Gaithersburg, then it is well over 100°F in the truck as it sits in the late afternoon sun. I am a fan of slow food/slow cooking, but slow cooked beer and wine do nothing for me. If I am not mistaken, the trucks are refrigerated but that doesn't help if they are turned off!

Full disclosure/shameless self promotion - Marcel's, Beck and Brabo are Simon N Cellars' customers. However, Mussel Bar is not a customer (but would like to have them as a customer).

[fuzzy510]

Montgomery County has a monopoly on the distribution of beer/wine and spirits (with minor exceptions for brew pubs and small wine producers which are allowed to sell directly to the restaurant or retailer all over Maryland). Every beer/wine/spirit has to be sold to the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC). The wholesaler of the beer/wine/spirit delivers the product to the DLC in Gaithersburg. The DLC buys the beer/wine/spirit at wholesale. The DLC then does a 25% mark up on their cost and sells the beer/wine/spirit to the restaurant/retailer. Simple example - a bottle of wine that wholesales in DC for $10 gets sold to the DLC for $10. The DLC then has to pay $.08 state excise tax on the bottle. The bottle therefore costs the DLC $10.08. This is marked up by 25% which works out to be $12.61 - but the DLC rounds up the .61 to .65. So a $10.00 bottle in DC costs the restaurant/retailer 26% more in Montgomery County. Couple this with the high rent at the Mussel bar and you get some pretty expensive beer even if it weren't Belgian beer which can be fairly expensive anywhere it is sold.

I still don't think that excuses the issue, though. It still means that the beer list is not terribly accessible for a lot of individuals, and that defeats the purpose. Building a great beer list doesn't matter if you've put yourself in a situation where, because of whatever reason, you have to mark it up to the point where it's not really affordable for most people - you start to get to the point where it's almost more of a conversation piece to show off what's available than it is a functional list of beer options. And if you argue that such a list is vital to the concept, that's fine - I'll start to argue that the concept, at least in some part, is a mistake.

[Kibbee Nayee]

As much as I disagree with Tom S on his "lists" I must say that I applaud his inclusion of noise levels. And seeing the noise level of Mussel Bar at a deafening 86, I know I would never set foot in the place. That's the kind of information I derive value from in a review.

[Go for Gin]

My experience was mixed. I liked the Belgian endive salad with walnuts, pears & stilton, it had lots of flavor and enjoyed every bit of it. I wasn't so impressed with the mussel dish I ordered, the Chimay, Old Bay, shallots, garlic and bacon. At first I thought it tasted sour, but the waitress corrected me and said that it actually should have a bitter flavor to it. Either way, it wasn't for me, so I just concluded that I made a bad ordering decision since I enjoyed my husbands Provencal mussels. The dessert menu needs more options to it and just seemed like it was an afterthought. I can't say MB is as bad as Tom's review since I would need to go back a few more times to try different things, but since I walked away with mixed feelings I don't have it at the top of my dining list.

[margefmartin]

My husband son and I visited mussel bar before all the reviews came out including Sietema. We were all disappointed. The mussels were small and dry and the frites not very good. I can accept small mussels as long as they are plump. I don't get why this place is all the rage. Sergio in Silver Spring has the best mussels and if they aren't good they will tell you so before you order! The mussels across the street at Mon Ami Gabi are 10 times better than at the mussel bar and their frites are spectacular.

[Kev29]

Mussel Bar has added a happy hour...

Click

daily specials offered 4:30 to 6:30pm, Monday through Friday, which include:

* $2.75 Brabo Pils (Mussel Bar’s house pilsner)

* $5.50 Delirium Tremens

* $2.75 Stella Artois bottles

* $10 Tarts (flatbreads)

Looks like some decent deals there, no doubt in response to some negative press of late. More chatter about it on their Twitter page.

[jandres374]

In the mood for a lobster roll today for lunch and was thinking about using my Living Social coupon here today. Has anyone tried the version here?

[darkstar965]

I compared Tom's Mussel Bar review with his Brabo Tasting Room review because Brabo Tasting Room serves similar menu as Mussel Bar does under the same ownership. The messages are basically same but a harsher whip was given to Mussel bar. Both places got no star and food quality is under his expectation.

It is a significant wake-up call.

I visited MusselBar this week for lunch. It was my third visit with the first last fall just before the Sietsema review came out. At that time, I had a a lobster roll I thought quite good. Lobster was fresh and generously portioned. Lightly dressed--that's probably mistake #1 for me with lobster rolls other places serve: too much mayo or butter. Thought mussels ordered then were okay but expected them to really be amazing. When I was there then, I asked about whether the mussels being served at Mussel Bar were the same quality/grade as those used at Brabo in Alexandria. I asked this because I was pretty sure they weren't, having loved the mussels I'd had at Brabo. But I was told they were and wasn't sure what to make of that. The mussels then at MB were smaller relative to Brabo. Both were fresh but Brabo's just much bigger, juicier, tastier, etc. To be fair, haven't had mussels there since but probably need to tive them another try after another Brabo visit to re-check I'd have thought that it'd make sense that RW would use different mussels at both spots since, after all, one is high-priced premium and MB is a lower priced bar concept. But maybe I'm missing something there and do notice noone on this board has ever questioned the mussels. Much more has been said about the frites, pilsner, sandwiches, etc.

In the mood for a lobster roll today for lunch and was thinking about using my Living Social coupon here today. Has anyone tried the version here?

Yes and per my above comment, it was quite good so I'd recommend it!

Finally, at lunch this week, I had a mixed experience with a simple onion soup and a caesar salad to which I added the optional lobster.

Loved the onion soup. Rich broth with sweet onions and nicely baked cheese (I think provolone) atop the soup. Mmmm.

But, the caesar salad was off. The dressing tasted like it might have been a day old or something like that and I didn't have time to send it back and wait for another. I did eat the lobster meat from it, which was the same great lobster meat I knew from the roll. Nitpick there: I'd have thought they wouldn't so directly use lobster roll meat in a caesar salad because it came as a split tail with light mayo and diced green onion so a bit in conflict with the caesar dressing.

I'll definitely go back to MB again and try the mussels after I can check Brabo first to reaffirm what I think I've had there first. Just wanted to share my thoughts on MB here for others on the off chance they're even a bit helpful to at least one person

[jandres374]

Stopped in for a late lunch today with my Living Social coupon in hand, $15 for a $30 lunch. Tried ordering a Brabo Pils only to be told they no longer carry it - should have inquired more as to why but was dealing with some work issues on the blackberry so I ordered the Kasteel Tripel instead ($9).

Started with the French Onion Soup ($8), my bartender tried to steer me to the special Butternut Squash soup, but thought I would give the regular option a shot. Very happy with this soup, great valvor and not overwhelmed with the cheese which I like.

Decided to go with the Lobster Roll ($14) with sweet potato fries - gotta say I was very impressed. I am by no means an expert on Lobster Rolls (I am a Philly native - more of a cheesesteak expert) but this version was very tasty and loaded with lobster meat and little to no mayo on the sandwich. Fries were your average sweet potato fries, nothing special.

Little disappointed with the removal of the Brabo Pils as it was an affordable draft option here, now the cheapest draft is $9.

[jandres374]

Noticed they are now offering Allagash White on tap and in bottle for the rock bottom price of $9. Really $9?

By comparison Freddy's offers it in a bottle for $7.

[Cuddlyone]

Interesting that Mussel Bar's website now says the lobster roll costs $19 at dinner and comes with regular fries instead of sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries will set you back another $4, so the original $14 deal from last year will now cost an astounding $23.

[MMM]

We ate with another couple at Mussel Bar on Thursday evening - during Happy Hour - before the theater (everybody go and see Amadeus at Round House!). 2 people had the basic mussels and frites. They enjoyed them and the frites were great. Our friend and I had flatbreads (which are $10 during HH). Can't remember what mine was called, but it had mushrooms, cheese and arugula and was tasty. He had a daily special with avocado and something spicy and gave it high marks. We liked the food and pleasant service. Our server even turned the blaring music off when we asked if it could be lowered. Still this place is very noisy. Definitely have to talk with raised voice. Sitting outside on a pleasant evening would be preferable.

[DanielK]

everybody go and see Amadeus at Round House

Seconded! Held over through next weekend...

[Choirgirl21]

Had a Living Social coupon that was about to expire so I headed to Mussel Bar last night. Seems I was not alone as when I arrived at 9, the outside was packed and the inside was pretty full as well. Grabbed a seat at the bar where I stayed for the evening.

My original intent was to keep it simple and order the classic mussels and a bottle of white wine and just take home what I didn't drink, but of course I should have known that Montgomery Co won't let you do that so I shifted gears a bit and decided to start with the small goat cheese and arugula salad and a glass of rose. The salad also came with cranberries, egg, shaved baby beets (raw) and a sherry vinaigrette. It was a simple, but satisfying salad and a generous portion for a small. Unfortunately it took a really long time to get there and when it did it was not dressed, but the bartender quickly remedied that.

After that, I went with the classic mussels and the sweet potato fries sub for the extra $2 with a glass of the french sauv blanc. I didn't realize beforehand that they're vanilla sweet potato fries. I wonder if they've changed them since someone else here reviewed them because these things were like crack. I don't even have a sweet tooth, and the vanilla/sweet potato combo definitely gave them a very sweet note, but I couldn't stop eating them. They were cut thinly and had an incredibly crispy texture. The mussels were delicious as well, most about medium size I would say, but plump and juicy and perfectly cooked, and the sauce was really good. I was eating it by the "spoonful" after the mussels were gone.

Unfortunately when the dish arrived, I didn't have silverware and wasn't brought any. I decided against asking since I tend to use an empty shell as a utensil when eating mussels anyway, but as I sat there enjoying them, I started to wonder why I didn't have a bowl for discarding my shells or bread for sopping up the delicious sauce. I was wondering if this was just the way Mussel Bar does things when the 2 young women who had come in after their shift at a nearby restaurant and were receiving the bartender's nearly undivided attention at this point got their mussels, with bowl for shells and bread.

The inattention toward the latter part of my meal was definitely a turn off, especially as at that point it wasn't very busy, but otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The bartender was otherwise friendly, the wine pours were generous, I loved the atmosphere as well (although it is definitely loud) and despite my expectations that I would find the food overpriced and not worth a return visit, I would very much like to go back. I'll just opt for sitting at a table (hopefully outside on a nice evening) where I hope the service might be a bit more attentive.

[Cuddlyone]

Good news. As of a couple of years ago, Montgomery County lets you bring home the balance of your wine as long as it's recorked and bagged.

[Choirgirl21]

Good news. As of a couple of years ago, Montgomery County lets you bring home the balance of your wine as long as it's recorked and bagged.

If that's true, then that's another strike against the bartender because I specifically asked. I work in a winery in MD and we do it all of the time, but he chalked it up to Montgomery County's strict alcohol rules, which seemed believable to me. No skin off my back, he saved me money in the end.

[Choirgirl21]

I doubt Mussel Bar is always loud. I'm sure that you can have a meal there without having to shout - you just have to pick the right time. Thus I wouldn't dismiss a restaurant simply because a review said it's "loud."

We went for lunch today. It was pretty empty. I had to repeat myself after almost every sentence. The acoustics are just rough in that place. That won't keep me from going there, just sharing my experience.

Interesting that Mussel Bar's website now says the lobster roll costs $19 at dinner and comes with regular fries instead of sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries will set you back another $4, so the original $14 deal from last year will now cost an astounding $23.

The upcharge for sweet potato fries is only $2 I believe. At least that's what it is if you sub them in for the regular fries when you order mussels.

As far as lunch today goes (went with a friend who also had a LS coupon to use), I made a mistake ordering the pork belly wrap. That wrap was a total mess. Tons of pork belly, cut into long rectangular pieces, but almost all of it was fat. Yes, I realize pork belly is fatty, I've cooked with it quite a bit, but the proportion of meat to fat here was ridiculous. In one half of my wrap, I could only find one small meaty piece. Almost all of the remainder got left behind, in the pool of liquid fat it was swimming in that I discovered after opening up the incredibly thick flatbread used. The garnish on the sandwich, pickles, cucumbers, and a tahini sauce are tasty, but scant and were all down at the bottom of my wrap (another reason by the second half I ended up unwrapping it and picking out the bits I wanted to eat). Really, this sandwich was a total disappointment. The fries however were delicious, as were my friends mussels in the bacon mushroom sauce. Rich, but very very good. I was also really impressed with the bread now that I've actually gotten to try it.

Despite the sandwich being as bad as it was, I would happily go back for the mussels or to try some of the flatbreads and other salads. It would just have to most likely be during happy hour or when I wasn't feeling like drinking much given the prices of their beers, something I find particularly tough to swallow after having now eaten at Freddy's a few times. It's strange, I keep finding I like this place despite itself.

[DanielK]

For whatever acoustic reason, the booths are much better for sound insulation than the floor tables. I had dinner there last week, and at 6pm, when the room was *packed* with 10 people standing near the desk waiting for a table, I could still hear my dining companion easily across the table in our booth.

[darkstar965]

Late lunch at MB recently. It was late enough that we were virtually the only ones there save one other table and a few at the bar. Like others, we had the $30 Living Social coupon which drove the visit.

I'm still not sure what to make of Mussel Bar. On the one hand, TS crucified it last year, raising issues like the fact MB doesn't cut its own frites in house. From my own perspective, the place has ranged from not so great to pretty good depending on the day, meal and items ordered. I've also had questions about the mussels themselves and whether they're the same as the excellent versions I've had at sister restaurant Brabo. And, yes, when busy, the place is incredibly noisy. I don't normally care too much about noise levels unless I can't talk with my dining companions. That's a rare occurrence for me anywhere but has happened here once.

Anyway, this recent lunch was pretty damn good.

Had a half dozen Washington state oysters ($14); I forget which variety. The waitress, in response to my questions, described them as "more sweet than briny" and "medium sized." She was exactly right. I'd add that they were also a creamier (vs metallic or mineraly) type. But very good and I appreciate it when oysters are served with both fresh cocktail sauce (US style) and mignonette (a la Europe), as these were.

Points also to MB for offering half and full sizes of virtually all their salads. Drives me crazy when restaurants only offer meal sized salads discouraging combining a salad with a main protein-based entree. MB's spinach salad (which I got in half size) was excellent. Fresh, slightly warm with quality blue cheese and freshly sauteed, slightly carmelized onion. Nice sized portion. Very good value at $7.

Finally, got the crab cake which came with frites ($14). This was okay. On the plus side, nicely crisped and little or no filler. Likewise the frites arrived hot and very crispy. On the con side, I continue to wish (like TS) that they'd do more with the frites. And,I prefer cakes made with lump meat versus the backfin or special with which these are made.

I used to get lobster rolls at MB and, many months ago, thought them okay but with Freddys now in Bethesda, I'd never get a lobster roll anywhere but there when in the area.

Service was excellent, as in best ever experienced, at Mussel Bar for this lunch. Friendly, attentive, never wanted for water despite finishing 3 or so glasses. But, big caveat in that the place was empty. Likewise on the noise--not an issue but I know well it's a totally different story on weekend nights when the place is packed. I'm still not confident enough in MB's consistency to make this a regular stop. I've felt burned a few times in the past. But, this recent lunch was very good so maybe they're getting better? Will try them again for a dinner soon--but maybe on a weeknight. Or, maybe we'll just head to Brabo or et Voila if we're craving mussels.

[Choirgirl21]

For whatever acoustic reason, the booths are much better for sound insulation than the floor tables. I had dinner there last week, and at 6pm, when the room was *packed* with 10 people standing near the desk waiting for a table, I could still hear my dining companion easily across the table in our booth.

We were actually in a booth today. Maybe I was just being a low talker today. Not typical, I tend to be the loudmouth in the room, sadly got that from my mom.

[DavidO]

Noticed they are now offering Allagash White on tap and in bottle for the rock bottom price of $9. Really $9?

By comparison Freddy's offers it in a bottle for $7.

And on tap it's probably a 10 oz pour. That place really makes me wish there was a law requiring places to tell people if a draft beer if going to be less than 12 oz. Not sure why it bugs me so much (I didn't mind the small cocktail glasses at Graffiato that has everyone else bothered) but it does.

[Kev29]

And on tap it's probably a 10 oz pour. That place really makes me wish there was a law requiring places to tell people if a draft beer if going to be less than 12 oz. Not sure why it bugs me so much (I didn't mind the small cocktail glasses at Graffiato that has everyone else bothered) but it does.

$9 for an Allagash White is an example of why I went to Mussel Bar once and haven't gone back. Using that particular brew as a sample... you can get a 13oz serving of the same beer at Churchkey (perhaps the finest beer bar in the country) for $6 (oh and they bother to make freshly cut fries too). $7 at Matchbox in Rockville, who also pay the Montgomery County premium on alcohol. Freddy's is my go to beer spot in Bethesda these days - keep that Bruery Rugbrod flowing!

[Kibbee Nayee]

I finally got around to trying Mussel Bar today, and I wasn't expecting much. And that's what I got.

Mind you, this was a Sunday early afternoon, so the deafening noise that arises later in the day was not apparent. But the service was slow -- I ordered mussels at 1:00pm and they arrived at 2:00pm -- the quality was questionable -- 3 unopened and thus dead mussels in my single order -- and the substitute sweet potato fries were flaccid. And they somehow don't quite understand that their serving dishes and the bowls for the mussels shells do not fit on their tables. For that matter, neither did the fries or the bread basket.

I'm not attracted to this area of Bethesda anyway. It's far too crowded, not traffic friendly at all, and some of the uber-trendy food carts actually detract from the scene by appearing to try too hard to be chic. Nonetheless, when I'm trapped here for one reason or another, there are other places that I will try before I head back into Mussel Bar.

[Choirgirl21]

I meant to post earlier, but I had dinner at Mussel Bar with a couple of friends a few weeks back. We sat outside since it was a nice, if slightly cool night and we were out to spend time with a friend from out of town so I wanted to actually be able to hear her. Service was friendly, if a tad slow at times, but overall it was good. Food was good across the board. My friend loved her classic mussels and frites, the other reported that her salmon entree was quite good (and she's a picky eater). I ordered the mussels with chorizo, goat cheese, and cilantro, which I believe was a newer addition to the menu. The mussels were as always cooked perfectly and I liked the broth, but the chorizo itself didn't impress me in any way. Wines were good as well (I just can't bring myself to order beer at their prices).

The one bit of weirdness (because there always seems to be something) - I could see that I was getting too full to finish my food, so instead of trying to force it, I decided I'd just eat a bit more of the bread with my sauce and leave more mussels to take home. It's not something I would typically want to take home from a restaurant, but I'm on a tight budget these days and figured I could rewarm the broth and just toss the mussels in at the last minute to avoid having total rubber. So when the server came to clear our plates, I asked for a container only to be told that they're "not allowed" to package shellfish to take home. Huh? At the time, from his wording I assumed he meant it wasn't allowed legally, but in retrospect I think it must be a rule imposed by MB itself since I've read of people getting carryout from Freddy's for instance. Frankly I don't understand the reasoning and it kind of pisses me off because it's food I've paid for. It's just one more thing that makes me feel like MB is doing it's best to make me not want to return despite being served consistently good mussels.

[Thor Cheston]

Having worked at Mussel Bar, I know that it is the restaurant's policy to not allow shellfish to leave the restaurant. They consider shellfish to be too fragile and do not want to risk a guest getting sick. Unfortunately this includes the mussels.

I meant to post earlier, but I had dinner at Mussel Bar with a couple of friends a few weeks back. We sat outside since it was a nice, if slightly cool night and we were out to spend time with a friend from out of town so I wanted to actually be able to hear her. Service was friendly, if a tad slow at times, but overall it was good. Food was good across the board. My friend loved her classic mussels and frites, the other reported that her salmon entree was quite good (and she's a picky eater). I ordered the mussels with chorizo, goat cheese, and cilantro, which I believe was a newer addition to the menu. The mussels were as always cooked perfectly and I liked the broth, but the chorizo itself didn't impress me in any way. Wines were good as well (I just can't bring myself to order beer at their prices).

The one bit of weirdness (because there always seems to be something) - I could see that I was getting too full to finish my food, so instead of trying to force it, I decided I'd just eat a bit more of the bread with my sauce and leave more mussels to take home. It's not something I would typically want to take home from a restaurant, but I'm on a tight budget these days and figured I could rewarm the broth and just toss the mussels in at the last minute to avoid having total rubber. So when the server came to clear our plates, I asked for a container only to be told that they're "not allowed" to package shellfish to take home. Huh? At the time, from his wording I assumed he meant it wasn't allowed legally, but in retrospect I think it must be a rule imposed by MB itself since I've read of people getting carryout from Freddy's for instance. Frankly I don't understand the reasoning and it kind of pisses me off because it's food I've paid for. It's just one more thing that makes me feel like MB is doing it's best to make me not want to return despite being served consistently good mussels.

[Chris Cunningham]

Having worked at Mussel Bar, I know that it is the restaurant's policy to not allow shellfish to leave the restaurant. They consider shellfish to be too fragile and do not want to risk a guest getting sick. Unfortunately this includes the mussels.

We dont allow guests to take home or carry out our mussels, steamers or whole lobster either.

[jandres374]

I noticed a Facebook posting today promoting some new menu items. Went to the website tonight to check it out and noticed a few new items but what caught my attention was the price increases. Mussels are now $20, which includes classic frites (sweet potato are $2 additional). If I recall correctly the last time I was in they were $16 but its been awhile. Mussels are still $16 at Brabo tasting room but without the frites.

[bookluvingbabe]

They were $19 at brunch yesterday.

We have enjoyed our visits but I'm not sure we're going back anytime soon.

1) The kids menu isn't printed. I'd rather spend $19 on mussels for the little guy than have the waitress announce he can have x,y or z and then have to have a discussion with him about why I don't think he should x, y or z. Maybe that's bad parenting but I didn't want to chance he would latch on to something we didn't want him to have.

2) The waffle iron wasn't working yesterday.

3) It is really, really pricy.

4) The service is slow.

I just need to bite the bullet and learn to cook mussels at home.

And find someplace a little less expensive for the next birthday celebration.

[DonRocks]

I noticed a Facebook posting today promoting some new menu items. Went to the website tonight to check it out and noticed a few new items but what caught my attention was the price increases. Mussels are now $20, which includes classic frites (sweet potato are $2 additional). If I recall correctly the last time I was in they were $16 but its been awhile. Mussels are still $16 at Brabo tasting room but without the frites.

They were $19 at brunch yesterday.

$20 is pushing the envelope for mussel pricing. As much as I enjoy their preps, seeing that $20 price tag makes me cringe. Mussels are relatively cheap compared to other shellfish, and that's how they can get away with it, but this is exactly what Starbucks did with coffee (and it worked).

That having been said, portion size matters. I recall Mussel Bar as having pretty large portions, with hot iron pots, and lots of broth for bread dunking - I've been seeing some $12-14 broth-less mussel bowls lately where you can actually count the number of mussels, so maybe wholesale costs have increased in general (I should really just ask someone, rather than musing aloud at 2 AM). I was at Pesce last night, and believe they have gotten more expensive recently also, including the wine list (also $20 unvalidated valet parking - it wasn't so long ago when P Street was in turmoil due to construction, dangling dirt-cheap valet parking as an incentive for people to patronize its restaurants).

Mussel Bar is taking what the market will bear. People are used to paying big money for shrimp and lobster, so $20 still "feels" pretty inexpensive for an entree-sized portion of seafood.

They're also opening a branch in Atlantic City, and I don't think it's because they're losing money on each bowl of mussels they serve.

(*) One of the great, lost items of data is copies of restaurant menus that evolve and change over time. It would be a wonderful project (albeit one that would take multiple years to become meaningful) for someone to capture snapshots of a myriad of menus, noting dish and price changes, tracking things over the seasons, and for a period of years. I suspect that even most restaurants themselves don't maintain copies of older menus - it would be a fascinating, extremely useful trail of information that, unfortunately, will probably never exist.

[Choirgirl21]

That having been said, portion size matters. I recall Mussel Bar as having pretty large portions, with hot iron pots, and lots of broth for bread dunking - I've been seeing some $12-14 broth-less mussel bowls lately where you can actually count the number of mussels, so maybe wholesale costs have increased in general (I should really just ask someone, rather than musing aloud at 2 AM).

Except that there comes a point where you no longer want to pay more money for more food because you can't finish the food and in this case, you can't take the food you can't finish home.

I can't speak to wholesale prices, but I bought mussels at Whole Foods last week for $3.99/lb. At least at the Silver Spring location, they've switched from selling them pre-portioned in mesh bags to selling them loose so the fishmonger hand picks them, ensuring virtually no waste.

[DonRocks]

I can't speak to wholesale prices, but I bought mussels at Whole Foods last week for $3.99/lb. At least at the Silver Spring location, they've switched from selling them pre-portioned in mesh bags to selling them loose so the fishmonger hand picks them, ensuring virtually no waste.

I got this message from an extremely knowledgable person (and I promise there's no way anyone can discern who it is, so no privacy is being violated, and please don't bother trying to guess because you'll be wrong). I'm passing it along without editing and without comment:

"I read what you posted on Mussel Bar's mussel prices. Robert gouges people to be sure. But to respond to the line you wrote about costs, they have really gone up (mussels no so much however)over the last year. Finfish are through the roof, shellfish too, produce is higher than ever, beef is actually not up much, except for the cuts that used to be cheap, i.e. oxtails, shortribs, bones etc. Veal Bones used to be $.65 a pound and they are now $3.50. A fuckin pound. Tertiary things like oils, flours, cornichons, cream, eggs, cheeses etc are up a lot and it is really hard to raise any prices and tell folks your oil costs more. I pay about $75 in delivery charges per week that have been tacked on in the past year. I mention this because I bet you will start to see most restaurants, if they haven't already, start to creep up their prices. Everyone I know, except Robert and Landrum, has been trying to hold prices steady so we don't scare anyone off. Strange that the two busiest guys in town had to raise their prices first."

[Kibbee Nayee]

The last time I was at Mussel Bar, on a not too busy Sunday afternoon, my order arrived an hour after I placed it, with three clearly dead and unopened/cracked mussels in the batch. That visit will always be the last time I was at Mussel Bar.

[jandres374]

$20 is pushing the envelope for mussel pricing. As much as I enjoy their preps, seeing that $20 price tag makes me cringe. Mussels are relatively cheap compared to other shellfish, and that's how they can get away with it, but this is exactly what Starbucks did with coffee (and it worked).

Now up to $22 and $24. Was about to head here for today but just can't do it.

[TSchaad]

From the Washingtonian's Young and Hungry Blog:

Restaurateur Robert Wiedmaier will open his third Mussel Bar & Grille at 800 N. Glebe Road in Arlington this summer.

The rock 'n' roll-themed gastropub already has locations in Bethesda and at the Revel Hotel in Atlantic City. Wiedmaier says the Arlington spot will be "bigger and nicer" than the Bethesda restaurant, but not
as expensive at the one in Atlantic City.

TSchaad

[DonRocks]

Hell, that's a concept Wiedmaier could pull off during REM sleep.

Good call, Edgar Cayce.

(Get it? Sleep? Profit?)

[FunnyJohn]

From the Washingtonian's Young and Hungry Blog:

Restaurateur Robert Wiedmaier will open his third Mussel Bar & Grille at 800 N. Glebe Road in Arlington this summer.

The rock 'n' roll-themed gastropub already has locations in Bethesda and at the Revel Hotel in Atlantic City. Wiedmaier says the Arlington spot will be "bigger and nicer" than the Bethesda restaurant, but not

as expensive at the one in Atlantic City.

TSchaad

Hot Damn! I guess Green Turtle will have itself some competition.

[cheezepowder]

The Mussel Bar at Ballston, 800 N Glebe Rd, expects to open next Thursday, August 8 according to ArlNow.

[SeanMike]

Since Mussel Bar opened, it's been pretty busy, so I hadn't been there yet. Last night I was craving seafood and ended up there. I've not been to any of the other ones.

It looks big from the outside but inside it seemed even bigger. There was a decent crowd at the bar, where I sat, pleasantly surprised to find my old favorite bartender from Hard Times working there.

First "oof" - beer prices seemed high, though they really weren't that bad for "regular" beers, there's just a lot of expensive Belgians on there. I did really dig the Ommegang Scythe and Sickle and the Brabo Pils.

Reading this thread from the past was interesting to see how prices went up. I ordered a half dozen raw oysters, half wild Maine, half Lynnhaven Virginia. ($14 for 6, $26 for 12.) The kitchen sent out a half dozen of the Maine only at first, so they gave me a half dozen of the Virginia to follow up. Yay! The Lynnhaven were FANTASTIC with a spritz of lemon and the apple Kasteel Rouge mignonette. I could eat a bazillion of them. According to my bartender, there's a $1/oyster happy hour on Tuesdays. I may have to test that out...

I had a hard time deciding what to order - my bartender suggested the swordfish, I was really tempted by the salmon, but decided since I was in a place called "Mussel Bar" I should try the mussels. I got the white wine order ($21 for an order, though I was only charged $14 for a listed half-order) with an additional $1 for fries. There were TONS of mussels in the iron pot! I also was given bread to soak up the broth. They were good. Not fantastic or life-changing, but good.

Also, the portion size for the fries was MASSIVE. There was no way I could eat more than just a few of them. Even at full price, that was definitely worth it in my opinion (also because I was starving), but knowing there are half-orders would make it much more likely I could get through a portion most nights.

Still, my tab (before tip, after tax) was just short of $80, which was a bit more than I expected to pay last night, but I did really enjoy the beers I drank (I switched to some of the more expensive ones, including the Antigoon and Delirium Tremens). I think I'd have a lot more fun if I was there with folks, but I did really dig the ambiance and the music playing. I'll have to cram myself up to the bar more often...especially at happy hour...

[ktmoomau]

I was there Tuesday night.  I didn't order mussels because every dish had cream in it, and it was busy enough at the bar, I just didn't want to bother with a special order.  We also were with pescatarians so we didn't go meat-centric.  The "meatballs" was really only one bigger meatball.  It was ok, but if you recently had Casa Luca's meatballs don't order these.  The fries were a huge order and I liked the dipping sauces particularly the mustard one, which I would buy in bottle form.  The calamari was very good, I liked that it wasn't breaded.  The tater tots came with REALLY spicy ketchup which I loved, but the bartender tried it and said, "let me take that back." To which I told him no with my best you-touch-it-you-die look.  But I like spicy.  The tots were good, but I have to say normal tater tots with some good parm grated over top would have been better.  Our friends order crab dip which looked really good, but I did not eat.

I had a bourbon cocktail that was a little sweet, but not cloyingly sweet, more balanced sweet, but I don't know if I would re-order it.  I then switched to sauv blanc.  They did have a VA chardonnay on the menu that I liked too, I don't know whose it was.  Hubby had beers which he seemed to like.  The dinner menu looked good, I would definitely go back to try more, and it is a good place for pescatarians.

[SeanMike]

I wanted to try the calamari because of the fact that it was char-grilled and not battered rather than fried. Next time I'm there I'll definitely give it a shot (assuming my dietician says it's okay )

[NolaCaine]

Forgive me if this is misplaced.

I wanted to write a quite review of the bar at Mussel Bar.

First, whoever opened MB in Ballston;  Thank you!  Clarendon and Courthouse get all the love and frankly, I wanted a high-end establishment were I could dine, drink, and walk home. Now I have it.

I took a small party to MB's bar one Sunday night.  There was a small crowd so we had no trouble getting a seat at the bar.  The place looks fantastic. THe wait staff was really friendly. I had JUST given birth to a baby and wanted the perfect glass of red wine and the bartender(ess) let me try a few before we settled on one.  We also had a couple of appetizers that were very good.

I looked on DR for reviews b/c I plan on dinning there soon and am curious about the food.  ANyone?

Thanks! NC

[agm]

NQD and I have been to Mussel Bar three times - twice in Arlington, once in Atlantic City. We had mussels each time, of course. Different preparations, but each very, very tasty. One on occasion the mussels were the fattest, roundest little morsels of deliciousness we've had the pleasure to eat. I have no idea why they were so plump, but we're not complaining.

We've also had oysters all three times. The quality, of course, depends largely on the source, but they were at least good each time, and one batch from Canada was delicious. The exterior of the shells in Atlantic City could have used a bit more cleaning.

Frites have also always been excellent. French onion soup was wonderful on a rainy night. A duck breast, medium-rare, was more rare than medium, but was otherwise very enjoyable. (I'd give more detailed descriptions, but I was just eating, not taking notes.)

The beer selection was nice, if you like Belgian beers. Robert Wiedmaier has a couple of beers made for his restaurants, and they're worth a try.

Cost - a little higher than we expected. Enough to be noticed, not enough to keep us from returning. Higher in Atlantic City, of course, but it's in a big, expensive, and amazingly butt-ugly casino/hotel, so that's to be expected.

Overall, not fine dining or a destination restaurant, but as a neighborhood restaurant (or bar), I'm glad to have it around, and we'll definitely be back.