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Recommended Reviews - Poules Moules
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The restaurant itself is beautiful with historic elements still visible inside. The service was also fine. However, the mussels, while tender and looked great, lacked any flavor and the fries were also very bland. I barely ate and left pretty much the entire pot. It's overpriced and not worth the hype unfortunately.
I made a reservation for lunch when they opened. It's a good thing too, because the place was packed when we left. We walked up the narrow staircase and sat upstairs next to a window, which was nice. We started with the fish soup, which was comforting and perfect for the drizzly weather. As my main, I had to get moules-frites, mussels with a side of fries. It's the national dish of Belgium. The portion was big. I overheard the waiter saying each pot contains about 1.5kg of mussels. Every so often, a waiter will come by to collect the shells. In the end, I was not able to finish. My bf got the chicken (poules) stew, which was creamy. I think we could've ordered just one main, the mussels, and it would've been enough.
We were looking for the best mussels in Bruges, and these did not disappoint. The wait staff checked in on our table with little to no prompting, and the ambiance was polite without being too casual or too proper. We had the bier mussels and the basil/tomato mussels. Both were delicious and so so many, we struggled to finish them (but did of course)!!
Be sure to make a reservation or arrive before opening because this place gets packed! We arrived 5 minutes before opening and they barely had any tables available because most of the restaurant was reserved. We both decided to get the mussels with fries - I ordered them natural and my bf got them in white wine sauce. We also got a garlic cream sauce and tomato & garlic sauce on the side. The mussels were super fresh and the broth and sauces were all delicious. The fries were thickly cut and perfect to dip in mayo and ketchup. The only reason I'm docking one star is because we had already sat down and were in the middle of ordering when an employee asked that we move to a different seat so that they can accomodate a large party (who also had no reservation). We ended up moving to a less than ideal table that was right by the stairs. The employee said they would cover a drink for the inconvenience so we ordered beers, but they ended up only covering our water, which I wasn't even aware would cost money.
This was an amazing restaurant in Bruges. It was outside and very busy . We all ordered mussels and it was a GIANT pot . I chose garlic cream . I was so very full . I paired it with a local beer and life was good . They do close around 3 for a break so we made it in the Knick of time . The service was fast and friendly. The menu was available in English .
If traditional Belgium mussels is on your checklist, this is definitely the spot. They have several different options for mussels including natural, white wine, tomato garlic cream sauce. I got the natural to try the unadulterated flavor of the mussels. The serving size is 3-4 times as many as you would get in the US, about 30-40 mussels in a pot. They were piping hot and delicious. I also got a tomato garlic sauce on the side for dipping which was just slightly spicy and so fresh. There are also some meat and poultry options with classic Belgian fries. Bread, vendette crackers, and olives were included as a starter for no additional charge. The interior was so cozy; three stories in an old stone building with a spiral staircase. Food is sent up with an actual dumb waiter. I can't say enough positive things about the staff. They gave great recommendations for the mussels, wine pairings, and brought extra bread and crackers without even being asked. We felt so welcome. Best meal I had in Belgium.
Since mussels is a must in Bruges, I decided to come by here after some research. The space is rustic and classy with more seating upstairs. It was still quite early for dinner, so not many others dining. I ordered the Mussels in White Wine (€25.50) and a glass of Still Water (€3). The extra cost for the water was a bit of a turnoff, which I wish I knew beforehand --so heads up! Before your meal arrives, they provide you some bread, butter, and mini cheese crackers. The mussels come in a huge pot, which had over 50 pieces of mussels along with a side of crispy frites. As much as I wanted to enjoy the white wine broth, the alcohol taste was too overpowering. I am not sure if I should've chose a different flavor, but the wine had such a bitter alcoholic taste to it that I did not enjoy too much. Overall, this meal was quite pricey as well. If you're looking for a nice, romantic meal then come try this place out. As for myself as a solo traveler, I could've skipped this place for such a pricey meal alone even though both tables next to me were also dining here alone. I have definitely had better mussels for a better value elsewhere though.
My husband and I came here on a day trip from Paris on a weekday and enjoyed our meal. Obviously coming to Bruges/Belgium there are a few things that one must try: mussels, chocolate and frites (in no particular order). I ordered the mussels in white wine and seeing as my husband does not eat seafood (his loss, I know), he got a chicken curry pasta dish which he enjoyed. I don't typically eat mounds of mussels on my own so I didn't really know how or what to order. The white wine was good, but I was thinking I probably should've gotten some other flavoring. Besides that, the mussels were delicious and seemingly neverending! I counted about 90+ and by the time I got down to the ones that were stewing in the wine, I started to get that nice tingly feeling =P I ate every single one of those mussels and really enjoyed myself - they were so fresh. The frites tasted like regular fries to me, but were good with the mayo and ketchup. We actually came here because the place my husband originally chose was closed, but I am so glad we did. Service was great and so nice and I would definitely come back when I am in Brugge again!
Best Mussels in Belgium, had to visit twice just to make sure The interior of this restaurant is very nice, rustic meets modern type of vibe, and there is plenty of seating. They have multiple floors of seating, which you take a spiral stair case to get to, or you can sit outside right near the restaurant or in the desginated patio area. The service here is great, quick and helpful. The food: -For starters the Tepid Goatscheese with Honey and Balsamico was jaw dropping, and perfect in every way. -The Cheese and shrimp croquets were not bad, but not anything special or worth getting. -The Mussels in Bruges beer are the best I have ever had, it trumps not only all of their other varieties of mussels in wine but all other places we ate it at. The beer gave the mussels a sweet crab like taste and was realy addicting. -The Pasta with baked scampi and curry sauce was delicious, but don't make me keep mentioning their mussels. The place is a bit pricier compared to other spots, though mussels are standard price, but everything was well worth it both times we went. Stick with the Goat Cheese and the Mussels and some beer and you will be begging to come back read more
3 stars why? The chicken ("poules") was shameful - one teensy weensy chicken breast and some salad for €16? You gotta be kidding! But the Moules were fantastic. We had 3 different varieties and they were scrumptious. I'd recommend the Ricard over the White Wine Moules. Chips /fries were under-cooked but a huge quantity. Salads were lovely and fresh and the dressing a good accompaniment. They don't serve tap water !! ??? Why ? We drank about 7 bottles of water Overall I think they're just cheeky read more
Surprisingly good place - reservations DEFINITELY recommended. This place kept popping up when we searched for places in Brugge to get good moule frite, so we walked over around lunchtime one day and asked about making reservations that night. Nope, they're fully booked. So we compromised and, after taking a walk, came back for a very early dinner. Good thing we did, because by 6pm they were turning everyone away. Anyway, I got the mussels in Brugge beer (when in Brugge...) and my fiance got some sort of steak. The mussels were delicious, perfectly cooked, but I probably wouldn't have gotten it with beer next time just because I tend not to like the flavour of beer. We both got fries, which was a mistake - the portions were so huge that neither of us could finish our dishes and we each barely made a dent in our fries (seriously, everyone says America has such big portions, but I don't think I finished a single dish the entire time I was in Brugge). For dessert I forced myself to eat a chocolate mousse.... okay, I admittedly finished that. It was so good, so unlike chocolate mousse I'd had before. Both light and rich and creamy and.... get it. You won't regret it. I'm honestly not sure I'd go back to Brugge, but if I did, I'd make it a point to go back here. read more
Recalling the deliciousness of mussels and fries from my last trip to Belgium, I came to Poules Moules in an attempt to recreate that experience. Sadly I was disappointed. Food: 1/5 The mussels were such a disappointment: overcooked, flavorless and rubbery. Even mussels I make at home tasted better, and I'm not sure why that was the case. Service: 2/5 The staff were generally pleasant, but were very hard to get a hold of. It took a really long time to get anyone's attention. Atmosphere: 3/5 The restaurant is in a restored house and it is quite charming/cute. Value: 2/5 For around 25 euro/person, the food was uninspiring but at least I didn't leave hungry. read more
Well established restaurant about 5 mins from the markt. Restaurant has steep steps to enter. There is dining on the ground and first floors. Access to the first floor is either by a steep staircase or a spiral staircase. The first floor is not as cramped as the ground floor and seats by the window offer views of the square. At Christmas this is quite an amazing view. Food is varied bit as the name suggests mussels are featured. They can be: natural, with white wine, with zot beer, tomato and basil or with any othe other 10 sauces. We went for the white wine option. The mussels come in a kilo pot where the lid becomes the receptacle for the empty shells. The base broth has celery, carrots and onions. The dish also come with frites in a cone. Overall very tasty and filling even though I don't like celery and discard that with the empty shells. Several beers are on draft plus quite a few bottles. There is a separate wine menu as well. Water is in a bottle and more expensive than beer. Service was excellent as always. read more
13 years ago
Chicken and mussels ("Poules Moules") is a little restaurant in a restored 17th century house that offers decent, yet somewhat uninspired food. Service is very friendly and things happen quickly which means this is a good place to go if you'd like a nibble before heading off somewhere. The beers on offer are plentiful and you can indulge in some Bruges classics. My initial surprise was that there was less chicken on the menu than fish. A further surprise was when I found myself opting for a 'carbonnade' (a classic Flemish ale casserole) which is made with chunks of beef rather than either mussels or chicken, or fish for that matter. My partner did manage to stick to the script and opted for mussels and fries. The casserole was not bad at all and made for a good comforting lunch before our train ride home. The accompanying salad was good, but the acidic vinaigrette did not tie in well with the meaty flavors of the carbonnade. As for the mussels, they were a little overcooked and left my partner somewhat disappointed. In the land of mussels and fries you would, and should, expect better. But the biggest disappointment has to be the fries. I have to be picky about this as expectations are always high for this all so Belgian accompaniment, but these were simply well off the mark. A little undercooked and not crispy enough, in a country which prides itself on having the best fries, these simply did not live up to standards of other places. Sadly we did not make it to dessert, despite what looked like a very appetizing chocolate mousse. Note: not big so may wish to book | good value for money menus to choose from. read more
8 years ago
Our hotel recommended and we absolutely agree. Great waiter! Great service! Great food! We had the tomato buffalo salad. Freshest tomatoes! And the lamb was cooked perfectly with el dantè vegetables. Perfect! Thank you for a great experience. 3 stories high and outside dining. The best read more
7 years ago
Absolutely loved this place! Located in a very cute square, this place was a gem. I was lucky to find seating without having to wait as the place was always full. Overall, food was amazing! The fries were some of the best I've had and the ketchup tasted homemade! White wine mussels were also great and tasty. Cannot recommend more! read more
12 years ago
I had the best dining experience! I'm from Seattle, WA and we have great food. The menu was great and the food looked and tasted even better. We ordered the cheese croquettes - yum! Also had a salad and the shrimp scampi pasta. Everything was delicious and the servers were very friendly. I had a few questions and they were so friendly and luckily for me were happy to speak English. When I come back to Bruges in the future I will definitely come back. Go early to avoid lines or make a reservation. read more
8 years ago
Very nice restaurant in the middle of center city square. It looks small but they have multiple floors (with a tiny tiny windy staircase). We went as a group of 4 around 6:00 and were squeezed in without wait / previous reservation. The food was delicious! We got mussels (after hearing so much about it), the flemish beef stew, and a pasta. My favorite was the pasta, and my friends seemed to enjoy the beef stew sauce as well (good for dipping for the fat fries they give you on the side!). Prices were also reasonable considering the quantity of food. Would recommend a visit. read more
11 years ago
Easily the best mussels we had while in Belgium, and we ate a LOT of mussels. They're my favorite food, and both my husband and I love fries. Both are excellent at Poules Moules. The location of the restaurant is great. It's in the middle of a central square and about a 10-15 min walk from the train station. Since we went in December, we overlooked the Christmas markets in the square which made for a really nice ambience. The inside of the restaurant is cool, they have a dumbwaiter which brings the food up and down the floors (I believe there are 3). We got croquettes to start, and they give these complimentary Parmesan garlic crackers. In hindsight, we would have been fine without the croquettes. The mussels are what it's all about. You can choose a sauce like Provençal, curry, white wine or beer and they're happy to accommodate however you'd like the sauce served. My husband and I both asked for it mixed in - I got the Provençal, he got the mustard. They were perfectly cooked and massive, easily the best I've ever had. There are SO many of them too, it felt like a bottomless pot. The chips were crispy and perfectly salted and so delicious to dunk in the extra sauce. The only downside was the price though - we went for lunch and it was about €80 (!!) To be fair we had 1-2 beers each, two starters of croquettes and two orders of Moules frites, but I still thought it was really pricey for lunch. Still, excellent mussels y'all. Highly recommended. read more
Great mussels, though not cheap. They come with fries so are pretty filling. My sister and I came hungry and were stuffed after sharing one order. Of course, we HAD to order dessert to and the chocolate mousse was spectacular, not too sweet and just rich enough. Service was great, though they were busy we never felt rushed. The bathroom was up two flights of a spiral staircase that was not the easiest climb. Beers available were also great! read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
Ate here for lunch on a cold rainy day. Only two waiters on the second floor who were very busy. Be prepared to wait. Mussels were okay. read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
multi level restaurant very romantic, beautiful view. Little Pricey, but You get what you pay for here. fresh mussels and fish soup were full of flavour and generously portioned. The canned, American music didn't fit with the romantic vibe of the restaurant but it was what it was. Verdict: You won't be disappointed ~ great experience. read more
13 years ago
What a great restaurant. My wife was looking for some good Belgium mussels. I looked it up in yelp and found this restaurant with little but great reviews. Then I went to a local store to ask them recommend a place with too mussels and guess what? Same place. We went there early and seated upstairs with window view. The waiter is very nice. Their food is great. My wife ordered original mussel with side source. The best mussel we have and you don't really need any source because it tastes great. I had half chicken and my daughter has pasta and young one has kids meal. They are all great and price is reasonable. Highly recommended. read more
11 years ago
Excellent restaurant with kind and good service. We had the Fillet Steak and the Lamb Rack, both were very tasty and well cooked. Very good option for the dinner in Bruges. read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
Dining outdoor. Get the moules with white wine. Also, the bouillabaisse. Enjoy people watching in the square! read more
12 years ago
We arrived in Bruges by train last night - it was late, and when we wandered the city to find an open restaurant (around 10pm) unfortunately Poules Moules kitchen was just closed. However, the staff we're so lovely - and the setting so great - that we decided to return tonight. Gotta say, we loved it, we're given impeccable service, plenty of beers and tasty mains served quickly and abundantly - and was really reasonably priced. The building is great too. Totally have dinner here, but maybe make a reservation. Winner. read more
We did as the tourists do in Belgium and dined on mussels and frites for our first lunch in Bruges. I ordered mussels steamed in Belgian beer and was not disappointed by the heaping pot of fresh, large, flavorful mussels. The beer list was quite good and I paired my meal with Orval. Despite being close to the city center, I didn't find the restaurant to be overrun with other tourists. The old home that the restaurant is housed in is quite charming and the atmosphere was cozy and nicely suited for smaller parties and tables of two. If we had more time in Bruges, we would have returned! read more
11 years ago
8 years ago
11 years ago
We had a fantastic experience here! The service was excellent despite being crazy busy and the food was prepared perfectly, worth every penny! read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
11 years ago
Excellent!!!!!! :) I don't love seafood, but the mixed fish pan is amazing. (Clams Vispannetje) It's in a cream garlic sauce that's to die for. The ribeye is pretty good as well. The goat cheese is delicious. I didn't like the pumpkin soup it was too watery. read more
10 years ago
Huge plump mussels, crispy frites, and a lovely view outside. Ah, definitely relaxing spot for vacation. Only bad thing I would say is the free bread was stale, even heard a kid protest to his mom about it. But it's free so shrugs to that. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
Yuuuuuuuuuuum. Oh my gosh, this place is decadent. I had the half chicken and frites which were both amazing. The chicken was moist and perfectly baked with delicious flavor. My friend had the mussels and frites which she said were amazing. Great staff, fast service, and the location/ambiance is unbeatable! read more
