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    The Mussel and Steak Bar

    4.4 (204 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Steakhouses
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    The Mussel and Steak Bar Photos

    THE MUSSEL AND STEAK BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - The Mussel and Steak Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Scallops
    Lorie G.

    Located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, this is a great place to go if you want delicious food in a relaxing setting. Friendly staff, warm ambiance, and great service. Our meal started out with a free oyster for each of us (there were 3). We ended up ordering a dozen more, plus we shared orders of scallops, tomahawk steak with salad and steamed rice. For dessert, a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a wafer. So glad we decided to eat here.

    Garden salad
    Pam M.

    This place was recommended by friend who is was with & I enjoyed it so much the first night that we returned a second night in a row. We were given two fresh oysters as a free starter, which was very nice. For drinks, I had an Aperol Spritz which came in a huge goblet & my friend had a Peroni (beer). For our first meal, we shared the order of mussels (1kg) with white wine, cream & shallot sauce. My friend had the seafood pasta & I had the fish & chips. Everything was yummy & the fish piece that was part of the fish and chip entree was huge. We shared the sticky toffee pudding cake that was recommended by our server, Rory. It was a delicious end to our meal. We decided to return for dinner the following evening before our departure via train to Glasgow. This time, we each had our own order of mussels & we shared a green salad & basket of bread. I had a pornstar martini (this drink is common in UK & made with vodka, passionfruit purée, lime juice, simple syrup & Prosecco. It's on the sweeter side which I prefer & was refreshing. We finished our meal with the sticky toffee pudding cake with vanilla ice cream again. Great friendly & warm service from everyone especially Rory! Cute interior dining room with additional seating upstairs. If you love mussels (they also have lobster & crab) you should visit this place!

    Oysters
    Brittney C.

    Service was spot on! Recommended by my boss we went in without a reservation and only waited 20 mins. Food was great, tried a little of everything. Even got their free appetizer to test out!

    Rachel B.

    Wow! Phenomenal! The best mussels I've had in... ever! I had the chili garlic, and it was a delight. Not oily or fatty, perfect balance of garlic with a touch of mild heat in a delightful broth. Ordered steamed rice with the dish so I could mop up the leftover sauce after devouring the mussels. Perfect pair! Husband had filet that was cooked perfectly. He loved the peppercorn sauce and the fries were crispy and delish. Our server was also friendly and attentive. We finished with the skinny cheesecake and were not disappointed. Wish I lived next door to this spot!

    Complementary Oysters

    The best mussels we have had. Surf and Turf was a must! They brought two complementary oysters and they were also some of the best.

    Christina R.

    When you sit down in a restaurant and the first thing they do is give you free oysters, you know you're in the right place. Especially, if you're an otter like me and could live your whole life just eating oysters (and clams and mussels and shrimp and crab, etc., etc., etc.) We had reservations so we sat right away but we were sitting right by the host stand/POS and many people walked up without reservations. I was shocked at the amount of people they made room for. I was quite impressed that they didn't turn away one person (at least that I saw.) The seating was spacious and the décor was beautiful. The place feels very upscale in a cute way, not pretentious. I will say I'm happy we had a reservation for the seating. We had ample room but some of the walk in had a tiny space, but shoot, I'd eat here in a small space. It was good. The bar is a tiny little space but the bartender is a beast and she was pumping out those cocktails and drinks like her life depended on it. They were also delicious and strong. The food was incredible. Of course, the oysters (which we ordered more of) were delicious but the cullen skink was the best version I had while on this trip. I had the mussels in white wine and my mans had a ribeye. Both were incredible. The only thing I wish I had ordered was some bread to sop up the white wine sauce but honestly, I wouldn't have been able to fit it in.

    Cullen skink and grilled scallops
    Siu M.

    Walked in just after 5pm and was immediately seated. They started us off with a couple complimentary fresh oysters, which were so yummy! Ordered cullen skink, grilled scallops, and mussels cooked in white wine and shallots. Seafood was so fresh, well prepared, fairly priced. We were especially surprised with the large portion size of the mussels. Good value. Everything was delicious! Staff was professional and friendly. Environment was quiet and relaxing. We didn't have the fish and chips, but the lady next to us did and it looked really good! Will definitely come back and try other items next time

    Scottish brown crab
    Alfie B.

    I made reservations at Mussel and Steak bar on a whim, trying to scramble together last minute dinner plans. Honestly I had low expectations for this place since it's in one of the most touristy sections of Old Town. I'm happy to say my dinner was fantastic! I ordered their Scottish Brown Crab and a side of fries. The crab also came with a decently portioned salad. I absolutely LOVE crab, and this was one of the best crab dishes I've ever had! In the US, restaurants almost always de-shell them and take away the best parts (the "mustard" and roe in the middle, the meat inside the lateral portions of the shell). I appreciate the more natural, untarnished approach that non-US countries take. Here they cooked it, cut it in half, then I think they seared the ends and added some garlic butter. This was a little bit bigger than a dungeness crab, and came with a plentiful amount of the good stuff! The service here was also exceptional. The food came out very quickly. I noticed they were great about working with the other patrons (the family next to me seemed to have VERY strict dietary requirements) and each table even got a free oyster to sample. I love oysters as well, and this one tasted very fresh. I almost considered ordering a half dozen. This is another Edinburgh restaurant I would definitely revisit!

    During our vacation, my partner and I had the pleasure of dining at The Mussel and Steak Bar, and it turned out to be one of the best meals we've ever had. We ordered the Tomahawk steak, and it was cooked to absolute perfection--tender, flavorful, and paired with exquisite whiskey and peppercorn sauces that complemented the dish beautifully. The oysters were incredibly fresh as well. We were greeted with warmth and professionalism from the moment we walked in. Dana, in particular, went above and beyond to make us feel right at home, ensuring we had everything we needed. The entire staff was friendly and attentive and truly made the evening special. We tried another steakhouse in Edinburgh the next night, but it couldn't compare to The Mussel and Steak Bar. So, we returned for a second night to relive the incredible dining experience. It's safe to say that this restaurant has set the bar high--and now, I am sad to return home as my favorite restaurant will be more than 4,000 miles away.

    Surf and turf
    Mary Grace A.

    I absolutely enjoyed my dinner at the Mussel and Steak Bar. The staff was super friendly and the food fresh and delicious. I highly recommend getting a reservation because when I was there, they were packed and were turning folks away who didn't have reservations. It's a small place located at the end of Victoria St. across from the Grassmarket hotel (which was where I was staying). They do have an upstairs for additional seating. I ordered their surf and turf and it was delicious. I am not a mussel person but truly enjoyed these. I ended up eating all of it. I also ordered a side of butter pasta which was just as delicious and their bread pudding toffee dessert. Absolutely delicious! Highly recommend.

    Complimentary oysters for starters. Passion fruit martini.
    Dorothy G.

    We just stopped in to get a snack and warm up. We were so pleasantly surprised! Complimentary oysters were really fresh! I had grilled muscles with a side of fresh bread for dipping. Others had soup. Everyone was very happy. The place is very pretty inside and overall fancier on the inside than it looks from the outside. The staff was attentive and friendly.

    Mashed peas and fish and chips
    Gerry T.

    This is such a cute restaurant, it may look small but there's a seating area upstairs as well. I didn't know that Scotland farmed so much of its own seafood - oysters, mussels, clams, fish, etc., from its own rich waters. That's great because you can taste that freshness here. Friendly greeters and server. We were seated as fast as gravity would allow. While deciding, we were treated to fresh oysters - yummy and no Yelp check in required. The mashed peas were new for me (kinda like Gerber's baby food) and the seafood sampler was a bountiful cornucopia of all types of shellfish. I even had a few teaspoons of the broth - that would have been great to soak up with a baguette and bottle of red wine - although it was a wee bit too early for that. Great ambiance and definitely a reprieve from walking around The Grassmarket area.

    Pinch (no pun intended ) and zoom in on the sauce made for these mussels - the crusty bread  dipped in the sauce was exquisite!!

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    Food amazing! Started with Cullen skink - highly recommend! Got the special- whole lobster. Worth every penny! Must try when in Edinburgh!

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    The Mussel and Steak Bar Reviews in Other Languages

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    Wildfire - Lobster

    Wildfire

    4.6(84 reviews)
    0.5 miNew Town
    ££

    Wildfire is located toward the end of the pedestrian mall along Rose Street. Just keep walking,…read moreyou'll get there eventually. Walking into Wildfire, the brick and wood of the restaurant exude a wonderful energy and ambiance. We were greeted and shown to a table near the window and in the corner. We were close to the people at the next table, bit it offered an opportunity to strike up a conversation. The wine list was extensive, we chose a cider and the porter. They were both more than satisfactory. My wife and I shared the smoked salmon starter that was very good. It was lightly smoked, that brought out both the flavor of the fish, and enhanced it. The fish was moist and tender. Our main dishes included both the seabass and the combo mussels with prawns. The latter was the better choice with very sweet and tender mussels and an excellent sauce. The seabass was lightly pan fried and my wife really liked her selection. For dessert, we had the cheese platter and toffee cake with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream. The coffee and tea completed our meal wonderfully. I recommend this restaurant highly.

    We had some incredible meals while in Edinburgh but our absolute favorite spot was Wildfire…read moreScottish Steak & Seafood Bistro! Easily in the top 5 best steaks we have ever eaten! Serving premium cuts of Aberdeen Angus by Scotland's Master John Gilmore, Scottish West Coast Mussels & Seafood, and fresh local produce. Every bite was melt in your mouth perfection! I will be trying to recreate the incredible Roasted Red Pepper & Harissa soup at home! The house-made salad dressing was so good and fresh! Service was excellent and not rushed at all. Make sure to make a reservation as this place is small and intimate, seating around 28 people. We were lucky to be able to walk in and grab a table. This will definitely be my first stop on my next trip to Scotland! Montepulciano Conviviale Roasted Red Pepper, Tomato, Chickpea & Harissa Soup Rocket Salad Grass Fed & Aged Filet Hand Cut Chunky Chips

    Photos
    Wildfire - Such a cozy inside.

    Such a cozy inside.

    Wildfire - Basque cheesecake

    Basque cheesecake

    Wildfire

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    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Crown Of Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder With A Rich Horseradish Infused Gravy

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

    4.8(542 reviews)
    0.1 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    When you think Scottish food, you don't think "gourmet."…read more In fact, if you're the average person you probably don't have have even a conceptual idea of what the food is like other than similar to English food. You wouldn't be wrong, but also not the greatest of reputations. Then a place like Makars stands up and says "We can be Scottish and delicious" and the result is a humble restaurant in old town dishing out quality comfort food. I wish I had come here hungover. It's one of those places where everything on the menu seems to be aimed at reviving a wounded tourist. For most people the people will consist of a meat of your choice on top of a mash potatoes of your choice. All of the options looked awesome. I was just coming from an 11 hour flight, so I didn't get too crazy. I pulled trigger on a pork over bacon mash and it did not miss. The meat was exceptionally fall off the bone tender and the mash potatoes were flavorful and complimented the meat perfectly. One bit of advice - the portions are big so either come hungry or consider splitting an entree. I'd feel confident recommending this place to anyone who thinks that the Scots can't cook. It'll prove them wrong.

    Having tried unsuccessfully to make a reservation before arriving in Edinburgh, we instead used the…read morewalk-in line, where they take your phone number, give you a wait time and text when your table is ready. Very convenient. The decor is somewhat industrial, probably because of the AC ductwork. Much appreciated during a warm spell in July! Staff were all welcoming and friendly. Service was great! Food came out of the kitchen quickly. It's all about the mash, but the meats stole the show! The lamb shank was large, meaty and complimented by the cheddar potatoes. We thoroughly enjoyed the juicy pork shank with applewood smoked cheddar mash. In addition we sampled the savory beef shoulder with horseradish mash as well as the Lions Mane mushrooms topped with rocket (arugula.) Each was satisfying and full of delicious flavors. Definitely worth the wait!

    Photos
    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Downstairs inside the restaurant

    Downstairs inside the restaurant

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

    Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

    Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Makars Wild Boar Sausage With Beef Dripping Gravy

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    Makars Wild Boar Sausage With Beef Dripping Gravy

    Hawksmoor - Chicken and Sweet Potato

    Hawksmoor

    4.4(47 reviews)
    0.4 miNew Town

    We were in Edinburgh on a Sunday and had to experience a Sunday roast. The Hawksmoor was a terrific…read moreplace for it. Be sure to book. Our server explained how to the Sunday roast ordering worked. We watched the kitchen work, while we waited for our meals. Our Sunday roast meals came with medium rare beef roast, crispy on the outside and creamy soft inside potatoes, carrots, cabbage, a head of roasted garlic, a very large deeply browned Yorkshire pudding, and the most delicious gravy in a small pot. Every drop of that gravy was eaten. I think that the Yorkshire pudding exists to be a vehicle for the gravy. I really did not need any dessert after all that food. But we wanted to share an ice cream. We asked what was clotted cream ice cream. The server explained that the ice cream is made with clotted cream, which has a fat content of 60% and there's no other flavoring. It is not a common ice cream flavor. So that's what we had. The tiny beads of fat in the ice cream was very interesting. It had a sweet cream flavor. The ambiance was upscale with a lot of wood on the walls and furnishings. But at least on Sundays, we saw a lot of families and friend gatherings and did not seem exclusive.

    Visited Hawksmoor while in Edinburgh and wanted to treat ourselves. The atmosphere was slightly…read moreupscale, and the service was friendly, though at times a bit elusive. Tried the ribeye steak -- perfectly cooked, flavorful, and exactly what I was hoping for. My wife really enjoyed her chicken and sweet potato as well. Overall, a great spot and worth the visit. Saluti.

    Photos
    Hawksmoor
    Hawksmoor
    Hawksmoor

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    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - Complimentary dessert that comes with the bill ...

    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill

    3.9(74 reviews)
    0.5 miWest End, Old Town
    £££

    This was a very average experience at a place that should be better…read more The food was good, but nothing stood out. The Corn Brulee sounded interesting and fun but is ultimately a miss. The tableside presentation is the thing that sounded fun, but really should just be done in the kitchen, unless a more deft hand can prepare it at the table. Ours was just clumps of sugar and uneven. Service was nice, but it was just not great. Everything took so long! Also, we were asked when we were seated about food allergies and preferences, and we mentioned tomatoes, yet they ended up on our plates. Additionally, upon booking, I mentioned a birthday but zero acknowledgment. That's not a huge deal, but it was noticed. The getting to choose a steak knife was fun, and the ambiance is nice, but I wouldn't go back.

    Very nice staff. Location was great. Ambience was fine. Food was dull and uninspired. This…read morewas my first dinner in Scotland - is all the food so bland? According to the server, Scottish law requires hamburgers to be "cooked through". Believe him. This means well, well done, which basically means your $36 hamburger isn't worth finishing. French fries were hot, thick and crispy, but lacking anything special. Bread was not great. Beef Wellington was nicely presented, but lacking in flavor. Blooming onion and ribeye were good, as were the potato soups.

    Photos
    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - The room

    The room

    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - S'mores

    S'mores

    Kyloe Restaurant & Grill - View from our table

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    View from our table

    Chop House Market Street

    Chop House Market Street

    4.0(24 reviews)
    0.4 miRoyal Mile, Old Town
    £££

    Five star service, delicious food, great ambiance! We loved our meal here and had the best…read moreexperience with Xanyu as our server. She went above and beyond to keep our kiddos fed and happy while providing us exceptional service. Attentive without hovering we wanted for nothing. We recommend the fillet and ribeye, the apple toffee pudding, and the Candy floss milkshake for kiddos, Many thanks for a memorable night!

    Came specifically for a Sunday Roast. Was a bit put off about how empty it was around 3pm, so I…read moreguess most people come here for steak dinners instead. Even so, the roast was quite tasty. Sunday Roast: All the standards, but fancy. The really differentiator was the beef, which seem aged and very high quality. Great tender texture and nice gravy to go with it. Though a wee bit small portion of meat. The veggies were cooked very nicely with a lot of freshness and textures, not mushy like some pubs serve. The only weird thing is that the yorkshire pudding seemed to be deep fried. Added an overly crispy texture which as kinda weird; I prefer traditionally baked. Toffee Apple Pudding: More like a bread pudding than a sticky pudding. Filled with great flavor and a few nice baked apples bit on top. Great toffee sauce and ice cream to round it out. Blackberry & Lime Soda: So much better than those highly sugared sodas you get at the store. Definitely tasted the fresh fruit and artisanal methods.

    Photos
    Chop House Market Street
    Chop House Market Street - Steak with Chimichurri sauce and chips

    Steak with Chimichurri sauce and chips

    Chop House Market Street

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    The Mussel and Steak Bar - seafood - Updated August 2026

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