The Mussel Bar!

I am always in search of new restaurants in the area to try. My friend Naima and I were cruising through Bethesda for dinner and stumbled upon The Mussel Bar located in the downtown area. They are known for their huge cast iron skillets of perfectly seasoned mussels. However, we both weren't too hungry, so we had their Kennett Square Mushroom pizza and Spicy Lamb pizza. As I enjoyed my pie, I found myself checking out each skillet that landed on a nearby table wondering what was hidden under the lid. I knew we had to go back.

A few weeks later, we found ourselves back at The Mussel Bar and I knew exactly what I wanted to order. The tough decision was to choose one of the delicious preparations of mussels. I settled on the Portuguese mussels which included Roasted Red Pepper, Linguisca Sausage, Cream, Smoked Paprika and Cilantro. For an additional charge, you could add hand cut fries with a trio of dipping sauces. We all know how much I do french fries, so that was a no-brainer. When the mussels were delivered and the lid was lifted, I could smell the deliciousness located under the lid. You also get grilled bread for dipping into the sauce in the skillet. The portion size is huge, so don't worry about leaving hungry. The spiciness of the sausage paired with the cream and cilantro was out of this world. The hand cut fries was the perfect pairing of the meal. They were crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. The skillet was so full of mussels and sausage, I could not finish my meal.

If you are in the DC area and you're looking for a different spin on classic seafood or great pizza, try The Mussel Bar!

The Mussel Bar

7262 Woodmont Avenue Bethesda MD 20814