The Mussel and Steak Bar

Cosy Old Town restaurant that delivers on its promise of providing fine mussels and steaks.

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With its Grassmarket location, you'd be forgiven for thinking this inviting white and blue-fronted restaurant could be something of a tourist trap. But there’s no complacency here – it’s a place that prides itself on doing the simple things well. And those things are mussels and steaks. The air is heavy with the scent of garlic as pots of blue shell mussels are delivered to expectant diners. They don’t disappoint: these Shetland-grown shellfish are sweet and fleshy and come with a choice of four sauces. Various chargrilled steaks are on offer, from 38-day aged Scottish beef to a mighty 1kg Tomahawk steak. Besides the eponymous options, other seafood such as grilled langoustines, scallops and oysters form the core of the menu, and their beef dripping chips deserve a special mention, perfectly crunchy on the outside and fluffy within. Desserts, such as a spongy sticky toffee pudding, are crowd pleasers rather than inventive confections, and though a Mellis cheeseboard is served too cold, the addition of honeycomb and quality thick oatcakes redeems it.

• High point: Stunning surf and turf of mussels, crevettes and 8oz ribeye
• Low point: Distracting TV on the wall showing nature footage
• Notable dish: Surf and turf