Mussels with shallot's was amazing, also recommend the seafood chowder. Atmosphere was casual.

Absolutely wonderful mussels, available in a variety of preparations/flavors. Small place, nicely furnished inside, excellent service - reservations strongly recommended. We had a great meal here, and will return if we're in Edinburgh again. read more

I was craving some seafood so decided to stop in here around noon rather than a pub or other local restaurant. It was completely empty inside but they still asked me if I had a reservation (more on that later). To start I had 3 oysters and the queen scallops. The scallops were OK, they didn't have much flavor and several were gritty from the sand they contained. The oysters were excellent and tasted like a fresh sea breeze near the shore. I never knew it was possible to taste something so distinct, fresh, and neat, yet there it was. I should have ordered a dozen. For the main course I decided on the 1/2 kilo of mussels in the blue cheese sauce, which was made with blue cheese, cream, and bacon. It was very flavorful and the mussels were cooked well, although there were one or two which were unopened. I ate almost the whole thing, so if you're looking to share with someone else I recommend the full kilo for two people. Service was very good and attentive, even though it was completely full when I left. So if you show up around noon, you should be good. If you show up around 12:45 or 1, expect that it will be packed. Almost every seat was full when I left, and the reservation question suddenly made a lot of sense. Overall it was pretty good, if the prices were lower I would rate it higher. The only real negative was that my clothes, hair, and skin smelled completely of the restaurant for hours after I left. read more

Make sure you make a reservation as it's always full. Amazing food. Watch out for the portion though as kilo pot is more than it sounds. You may want to consider ordering 2 x half a kilo as the price difference is small and you will get to try different flavors. Tables are relatively small and packed. Not very comfy but hey we're here for mussels, no one cares about the seats! Went with my mum once when she's visiting Edinburgh a year ago and she's still talking about how much she wanna go to Mussel Inn again! read more

Location is great and friendly service. We ordered the Lunchtime Quickie menu and they're pretty decent with very reasonable price.

Recommend lunch quickie - mussel bowl at very good price and the food there is just delicious! Seafood fans should definitely go have a try! This restaurant is obviously very famous, it was full when I went there for lunch twice after 1 p.m. read more

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I'm still too ashamed to return to this restaurant. On what was supposed to be a study break in my first year of university my friend and I instead opted for a spot of afternoon drinking. I was missing my boyfriend who was studying in London at the time and my buddy was looking to cheer me up. Four or five drinks later we stumbled into the Mussel Inn because clearly seafood would help out our alcohol lined stomachs. We ate mussels and clams and basket after basket of bread. I remember raving about the garlicky taste and drunkenly asking the waiter to compliment the chef. We also drank some more... I have vague memories of being very loud and asking to play with a nearby tables toddler. They said no. Two hours later I was on the Sleeper train to London... read more

So, I should start this off by saying that I don't like Mussels and this review is for those of you who may be hesitant about going here if you don't eat Mussels. While the menu is clearly for the Mussel crowd, it's not the only thing they have. I went her with my wife and got their lunch special. I got the seafood chowder while my wife gobbled down her half-kilo of mussels (which by the way, she loved). I was very impressed by the chowder and despite not eating a single mussel, I had a very enjoyable and filling meal. They do offer some alternatives like a steak burger, if fish is not your thing, so don't worry if a friend invites you to eat here because there are options for everyone! read more

Mussel Inn - Seafood chowder - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Mussel Inn is a solid bet for a cheap lunch. I'm gluten free so the bread is off limits (but I remember from before eating about 3 baguettes worth with my mussels). They do tend to cram you in so probably not the best bet for a romantic meal but for a great cheap lunch with lovely fresh food, then its a good choice. Mussels, chips and a glass of wine/beer/soft drink is £7.95. Non mussel eaters can have cullen skint. Mussels are fresh and well prepared, with lots of options of sauce. I like the white wine and shallot and it does tend to be my default choice. I did find that this visit, I had a lot of closed mussels in my portion which isn't ideal so only 3 stars for this visit but the rest of the family enjoyed their cullen skink. I'm now as wowed as I was when I first discovered it in Glasgow (they were better at filling the bread basket then) but for a decent lunch in the centre of town, then it is worth a visit. read more

Am I a student? Yes. Do l like eating out? Yes. Do I like good value for money? Yes. Do I love fresh mussels? Yes!! Do I like Mussel Inn Restaurant? Definitely! Good crusty bread (served warm), amazing prices. Could easily split a big pot of mussels between two (if you're good enough friends) for about a fiver each. Now I haven't tried any other dishes here besides the mussels, but I'm assuming they are pretty good. Overall I really like this place. It doesn't get 5 stars because well, I can think of better Edinburgh based seafood places and well, the decor is a little lame! The service is okay, but the experience is good. Like! read more

We were visiting Edinburgh for a few days and a friend recommened this place. And now we thank her!! One of the best seafood places I have been to! The Mussels are apparently their specialty, but honestly, everything here is delicious! So delicious we had to come back! Their seafood is extremely fresh and everything is so tasty. I'm not a big fan of Chowder, but I tasted some of my friend's and it was great! The price is extremely resonable, cheap actually. The service is top notch, everyone is so friendly and efficient. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Fresh upscale sophisticated seafood on a budget? This is the place to come. My family ordered a bucket of mussels, white crab pasta, and chowda. Comes with complimentary bread. All were really, really fantastic. I'd definitely recommend the mussels-- quite inexpensive and keeps your hands & mouth busy for a while! (Although, why wouldn't you order mussels at the mussel inn?????) read more

We stopped in on a recommendation of the sales folks at TK Maxx. They said, "walk down Rose Street to Mussel Inn and hope for a table". We got the last table for lunch. Patricia was our server, she was so helpful and happy. We ordered the crayfish salad special, and two of the daily specials: Mussels and salad; Seafood Chowder and fries. Our tummies were filled with deliciousness. Just a delightful afternoon! read more

Best seafood I've ever enjoyed! Delicious mussels in a shallot, wine and cream broth. The broiled sea bass was perfection. Enjoyed the local ale as well. read more

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The Mussel Inn offers great food, competitive prices and a superb location. I came here the other day for the fabulous lunch deal where I chose a bowl of mussels with fries and a glass of white wine for only £7.50, what a bargain! Service was really quick and I think that this menu is designed for people of their work break so the fast service ensures they get back on time, how considerate! The mussels were amazing if a little bit messy to eat, but I'm really messy anyway. The portion was large and the red pepper dressing I opted for was amazing. We sat outside and I actually felt like I was on holiday watching all the people walking along Rose Street, it was a glorious day! read more

Seriously good mussels. Lick your fingers kind of place. The shallot sauce, the mussels the presentation, the price - Great. I had some scallops, they were cooked very good, not rubbery, juicy and tasty. I also had the sea bass dish once, it was lovely but only served one fillet, which unfortunately didn't fill me up as much and expensive for what you get... but no worries, nothing a 1/2 kilo pot of their great mussels cant fix. The Edinburgh Restaurant feels like a greek taverna and had a nice atmosphere. I love the location too, centre of Edinburgh on the back pebbled Rose street. Enjoy. read more

While on a short visit to Edinburgh a friend and I wandered into Mussel Inn in search of something to satisfy our seafood craving. The ambiance in casual and relaxed without being too informal. Our server was brilliant and very knowledgeable about everything they served. I cant have dairy, but was desperate for the seafood pasta. He suggested that he would have a chat with the chef and - voila - I got seafood pasta with a dairy-free red pepper sauce. This goes down as a HUGE plus in my book. We also started with a huge pot of steamed mussels which were heavenly and a great (but inexpensive) bottle of white wine. This place is everything I love about a restaurant. The staff is casual yet attentive, the food is simple and spot on, the prices are reasonable, the ambiance is relaxed and not rushed. I look forward to returning the next time Im in Edinburgh. read more

Freshest mussels I've ever had... and I grew up in Florida! Hardly even tasted like mussels.. more like clams. We had the blue cheese and bacon ones, we were concerned they would be overpowering but it was just a hint of the blue cheese flavor in the broth. King scallops and sea bass were amazing!! read more

Mussel Inn - Sea bass - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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We had a very disappointing visit to the Mussel Inn. The soup that I had to start was extremely poor. The mussels were better, but it made us "kind of sad that I can no longer keep it in my mind as the holy grail of mussel places." Overall, we said: "It's an extremely popular place, as was evidenced by the lively and diverse crowd packed in for a busy lunchtime service, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the quality, particularly of the soup." read more

I've popped in a few times over the years, and while not blown away by anything they do, it's always been a safe bet for a decent lunch. I nipped in for what's billed as a 'lunchtime quickie' today and have to say it wasn't too bad overall, given you get mussels, a small glass of wine, a bowl of chips and bread and butter for £7.50. You do have to have your wits about you though, as the mussels that normally come in either kilo or half kilo sizes are reduced to a smaller bowl size for this deal option. You might be a bit disappointed with this if you're expecting the usual metal pot to arrive on your table. That leaves me with my only minor gripe - the smell! There was a less than wholesome undertone in the air today that, had it been any stronger, would have had me squeezing the lemon wedge onto my top lip (in CSI pre-autopsy stylee) rather than into my bowl of mussels. Hopefully just a bad day in the kitchen. read more

While my sis and I were in the early stages of a weeklong holiday through Scotland, we needed a place to eat for dinner on the first night. Walking around the streets of Glasgow, we stumbled upon this place. After examining the menu we gave it a shot. Looking around at the other tables, my sis was intrigued when we saw that several tables were dining with giant pots of mussels. I am usually not a big fan of the dish, but she was willing to give them a shot. I settled on a seafood chowder for an app and a Crab Pasta (White crab meat cooked in lime, chilli and coriander) for a main dish. Just an opinion: maybe it's just the character of European chefs, but these dishes definitely tasted different and way better than plates that would be served from home. The chowder tasted fresh, meatier and had just the right spice to it. The Crab pasta was served with angel hair pasta (I expected bigger noodles but this dish turned out ok). My sis feasted on the pot of clams. The waitress was great and the service time was fast. We both had happy stomachs after that night. We were planning on visiting Edinburgh later on in the trip so naturally visiting the other restaurant was in the plans. After finding the place we wandered in and had high expectations. On our second trip, my sis ended up ordering and feasting on the same pot of mussels. I ended up ordering a different set of dishes: Fish Cakes (with mixed leaves served with a light lemon and saffron mayonnaise) for an app and Sea Bass (grilled fillet served on a rocket, feta, warm new potato and roasted red pepper salad, drizzled with balsamic dressing) for a main course. Both dishes exceeded expectations. The only bad part about our second visit was how slow the service was. We were the first people to get seated when the place opened that day but must have waited a while to get served. Not to mention how long we sat there waiting for the check. All in all, a mixed bag of a review. The food was excellent both times we were there; however the service at the Edinburgh restaurant could have used a bit of improvement. read more

Went to shopping with my wife and can't stop talking about this place, It become one of our top restaurant, food are freshly prepared, had one kilo mussel with cream sauce and my wife order sea bass and potato. I finish my mussel and use the bread to dip into the sauce , amazing !!! Oh I forgot to mention the fish soup was so good too, I can feel the healthiness of the broth. I finish it of with cup of coffee... read more

I came here almost four years ago when I first visited Edinburgh. This time I went as I stopped by Edinburgh on my way up north, and they actually sat me at the same table. Such coincidence! I had fond memories of the mussels here, and they again did not disappoint. I got the lunch deal so a plate of mussels with salad and bread. I also ordered a seafood chowder. The chowder was quite watery, although the taste was lovely. The flavors were predominately from the fish in the soup, and I enjoyed it. The mussels (I got with shallots) were fresh and delicious, and I mopped up the left over sauce with the bread. read more

I gathered that on my very first visit to the Mussel Inn I should really sample the mussels. I am a huge seafood fan, but the thought of eating things out of shells, especially mussel shells for some reason fills me with dread. I also walked into a chipshop once and witnessed a really fat man gorging them out of a glass jar and that kind of put me off for life. However, I decided to stop being petulant and get stuck in. We actually got there just in time for the lunchtime quickie menu which runs from 12-2.30pm on weekdays and comes in at a very reasonable £7.50. The restaurant itself is nice and spacious, the tables are well spaced and there is plenty of room for a bit of privacy whilst eating- I hate being jammed in a restaurant and listening to the couple next to me arguing. I had the bowl of mussels with red pepper sauce and a glass of white wine. You could choose from mussels with a range of sauces or seafood chowder which my mum had, and she said it was amazing! The mussels looked and smelt beautiful, but there is just something about them that I can't get to grips with and I ended up leaving quite a lot of the dish, but with absolutely no disrespect to the chef who cooked them beautifully and the sauce was so yummy I dipped quite a few slices of bread in! We were in and out within the hour, perfect for our quick shopping pit stop. Next time, no mussels for me! read more

Mussel Inn - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The Mussel Inn hosts some high quality fish based dishes. Such high quality is present in the mussel dishes they serve. Nestling in a big rustic pot, available in plenty of delicious varieties (Shallot being my choice), and accompanied by some chunky bread are the Mussel Inn's showpiece: you guessed it, Mussels. If your feeling macho you can even order a kilo of the unsightly gems, around £12 for that liberty. One word of warning: you may arrive smelling of sweet perfume and with freshly washed skin, but by the time you exit your clothes will stink of garlic infused cooking oil and other kitchen smells. It's all part of a decent dining experience though. read more

Mussel Inn - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I've been here twice, once a few years ago for date night and a few days ago when I was back up in Edinburgh. Have to say it checks all the boxes to satisfy my obsession with top-quality seafood at reasonable prices. This time, I had the special mussels - lemongrass and ginger - and some oysters. Oysters here are one of the best values I've seen in the UK £9 for 6, which a few years ago would have seemed egregious to me, but it's a good price for Britain, especially considering these were perfectly shucked, no popped bellies, no shell shrapnel and plenty of delicious liquor in the shells. Sadly, the mussels were overcooked when they arrived, but the friendly-if-frenzied server made sure the problem was corrected immediately and the second attempt yielded a perfect pot. The location in New Town makes this place great for visitors who want a break from the usual slew of frozen pre-packed chain food on offer in many of the nearby places, at prices that don't break the bank. It's close the major tourist attractions and Waverley Station. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Mmmmm, I like mussels. I know some people get a bit squeamish about mussels because they just look a bit squishy and like there's a bit too much going on inside them, but quite honestly there's nothing I like better than a nice lunch or dinner involving mussel chomping. I think it's also the novelty of prising open shells and scooping up the sauce which makes me warm to a good mussel dish, as it makes the whole experience extra fun. Now I've made myself sound like an infant that needs to be entertained while she's eating....anyway, if you're passionate about mussels and other related seafoodie delights, the Mussel Inn is a reliably great place to come to on Rose St. Always busy, and with sharp service, the Mussel Inn has a good friendly feel to it, and the menu has a brilliant range of mussels by the kilo or half kilo, which you can team with a range of sauces. There are also lots of scallops options, as well as oysters and some really tasty starters to be had too. read more

I will sing the praises of this lunchtime deal to anyone who will listen. £7.95 for a half kilo pot of mussels AND chips/salad AND a glass of wine/beer/soft drink. Amazing. Last visit a mate and I sat al fresco and got to enjoy Rose St in the sunshine, which was a treat in itself and even more so glass of white wine in hand. He went for the roasted red pepper and pesto mussel pot and I went for the white wine and garlic. Both were delicious, with hardly any closed shells. They also keep you well topped up with dunkably soft bread that I ate far too much of whilst trying to soak up every last drop of the sauce. There's a wide variety of other things on the menu, even for non-mussel-lovers who've been dragged along. Friendly staff will put a smile on your face too - they're v efficient at turning tables over without hurrying you and attentive even when the place was rammed. Give it a try - the lunch deal is just such good value, you might pull a mussel! (A pun too far?! Yeah, probably should've quit while I was ahead. Ahem I'll be off now). read more

The thing about mussels is that no matter where you get them from, they seem to taste the same every time, with the only real indicator of quality being the level of food poisoning / diarrhoea you find yourself with the following morning. Because of this, I rarely bother with them even though I find mussels incredibly tasty, but The Mussel Inn's lunchtime deal was just too good to resist on a recent visit. To be controversial, I actually went for the chowder instead of the mussels, and found it to be utterly fantastic and full of fishy goodness. I wasn't in the mood for wine so just had a coke while E-Bot slugged back her glass of white, but with a big bowl of fries on the side as well, the £7.50 price was an absolute steal. read more

I would travel all the way to Edinburgh for their seafood pasta -- absolutely delicious.... Good service and actually pretty reasonable given the quality of food. Would return. read more

Pretty nice place for Mussels or sea food. Great service and resonable prices. read more

Picked this place for lunch because I love seafood and the reviews were great. Modern decor, cramped cafeteria style tables. Noisy, don't plan on savoring a nice dinner! I ordered grilled scallops, they were over cooked and strangely tasteless. They were served on a bed of greens, 5 scallops for£21,was a bit overpriced! The chocolate mousse was the best part of the meal. Rich and flavorful. I ordered tea, got a teabag and barely hot enough water. . Service good, not super-attentive. Personally, I would go elsewhere..... read more

Wow! Great mussels, super friendly staff. They were helpful with our 7 year old, letting us get a half portion of fish and chips, bringing crayons, and chatting with her. We both got the lunch special, one with leeks and one with shallots. Both were very tasty and fresh. They come with steak fries and bread, and a glass of wine. The salad that came with the fish was crisp and lovely. If you could put these mussels with french-style bread and fries, it would be a perfect 5 stars. read more

Delicious mussels! Good service, nice atmosphere. Good bread. I had a wonderful time. I guess it's a bit crowded and I'm not in love with the decor, but it's solid. read more

When my aunt and I went to Scotland we found this place in the travel books and decided to try it. It had really good reviews. And they were not wrong. We ordered a pot of mussels with white wine and cream and they kept refilling the bread, which was fresh and used it to dip the sauce with. We had to go a second time after that. The next time I went to Scotland with a friend while backpacking, and I had to drag her to this place. She agreed but had no idea why I was so excited to go. We didn't have a reservation, but were nice enough to give us a small table since it was just the two of us. The server took our orders and I was eager for my friend to try it. The mussels came to our table hot and steaming from the pot, and as my friend had her first bite, her eyes lit up, scooched the pot closer to her side of the table and used the fork to stab my hand whenever I reached over for some and said "None for you! Its all mine!" And of course we went a second time that week! I don't know what it was, but I think the rain added to the experience of eating that pot of mussels. It was just so warm and cozy, oh! and the service was great too! read more

If you're in the mood for some mussels or just seafood, this is one of the best places to be. My friend and I found the Mussel Inn by chance as we were walking around New Town. It was pretty busy when we went but the staff was so friendly and accommodating that we didn't mind the wait. The atmosphere is casual and has a bit of a nautical theme (obviously) but we cared little for them mostly because we were distracted by the food around us! We both ordered a meal of half-kilo mussels in a shallot and a natural sauce. They were definitely fresh and light, but also filling with great flavor! The portion sizes were just right and price-wise it's pretty good. Of course, if you're not one for mussels, then there are other dishes to try that are just as good :) The food is simple and clean but full of flavor with a great wait staff! Would definitely come back and recommend to friends if they haven't got the time to hit the coast xx read more

This came recommended from a tiny popup-map guidebook we picked up, and it didn't disappoint mostly. The starters were very good, but I was astounded to see that queen scallops are about the size of my smaller fingernails (and i'm a girl!!!). The mussels were good too, but they didn't leave enough of the cooking juice in as the Belgians do and that was a shame. Generally food was good. The only real disappointment was that for the whole evening, and indeed the next day too, our clothes smelled so horribly of fish that it was nearly unbearable!! read more

We stopped in for the express lunch special- mussels (with choice of sauce), fries and a bottle of Carlsberg. It was great. Staff could have been friendlier but I guess we were there close to closing time. read more

Mussel Inn - Lunch special. - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

After a great day at the Edinburgh festival my partner and I went to Mussel Inn on rose street. We sat outside till 8pm when we had finished. We had queen scallops for a starter and haggis bonbons. The scallops were a tad small for the price tag of £8.95. The mains were the 1/2 kg of mussels one with the shallot sauce the other roasted pepper both sauces were ok but a little watery. All and all pretty good and would definitely come back but prob have the 1kg of mussels with an extra portion of bread. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Edinburgh. I love mussels, and this place makes some GREAT mussels. Huge tureens - you can get full or half kilo pot - of fresh mussels cooked in several different flavor bases. I tried the Shallot (white wine, garlic and shallots), which was divine! I was very curious about the Moroccan and Mexican pots and will try one next time I am in town. They also have the most delicious fresh baked crusty bread, for dipping in the broth. We had chilled Oysters to start - with a bottle of wine and good friends - perfect evening and perfect meal! read more