I have been in DC over 3 years now and I’m quickly starting to develop a list of my favorite meals if I’m going out.   These are the meals that, as you leave the restaurant, can’t help but make you in a great mood.

Quickly rising to the top of that list is getting mussels, fries, and a couple good Belgian beers at the restaurant Granville Moore’s in Washington DC.

Tucked away back on the H Street Cooridor near 12th street is this gem of a restaurant.   Don’t try to get to Granville Moore’s by the subway because there isn’t a Metro stop down there.  You have to drive, walk, or find a bus.

Yet, if you go there and aren’t there right at 5pm when it opens, you’ll most likely be stuck with some kind of wait to get a table.  That’s because the patrons know what they’re about to experience… pure and utter deliciousness.

For me, there might as well be only one thing on the menu because that’s all I’ll ever order.  That’s moules and frites, which is French for mussels and fries.   Within a few minutes of ordering, our tiny little mollusc friends are places in front of you emitting an array of amazing smells.  My favorite preparation is called Formage Blue, which includes blue cheese and bacon, although the curry mussels are slowly becoming my new favorite.

In addition to the mussels, grab yourself some really great fries, a good Belgian beer (which are kind of expensive), some bread, and you’ll be all set.  The bread is so that when all the mussels are gone that you can soak up all the soupy goodness that sits at the bottom of the bowl.

The decor of the place just kind of adds to it all.   It’s this old kind of run down-ish looking town house where there’s all this exposed brick and exposed ceiling.  They use church pews for booth benches.  It’s pretty fun.

All in all, if you haven’t had a moules and frites experience, it’s something I’d highly recommend.  If you don’t live in the Washington, DC area and can’t make it to Granville Moore’s, check out this online video by their chef on how to make their signature Formage Blue moule.

(Photo at the top by Phillie Casablanca)