Best Restaurants Serving Mussels in San Diego

Mussels They Might Become Your New Favorite

Mussels are no longer the overlooked relative of the shellfish family with its abundance, growing popularity and a wide range of recipes. They taste delicious inside a creamy Italian pasta, in a vibrant Spanish paella, or on their own with a side of fries as a popular dish in France paired with wine. Those who love mussels would know that the effort, whether you use your fingers or a paring knife, is worth every try. Here’s the good news for all mussel lovers in San Diego; These three restaurants known for their unique mussel dish will make it into your list of must-try restaurants to visit on your next weekend.

Urban Solace

3823 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

Looking for somewhere trendy yet comfortable? This wood-inspired, friendly restaurant in North Park has been one of the most, and consistently, visited places in San Diego. Opened in the fall of 2007, Urban Solace has provided a wide range of menu with fresh ingredients and a creative twist along with a great selection of beer and wine.

Out of all popular dishes, their steamed mussel dish is extraordinary with a unique approach as a la minute take on a chowder along with bacon, chopped Yukon gold potatoes, and carrots. According to Matt Gordon, chef and the owner of the restaurant, they "deglaze the pan with a generous amount of sherry, add a touch of cream and fresh herbs and the juices from the mussels mingle with the sherry and cream to create a delicious dish!" He also introduced another mussel dish that is featured at times and also in their sister restaurant, Solace & the Moonlight Lounge: "Mussels in Smoked Tomato Butter.". When developing a menu, he explains, "we take a nod from classic dishes, but try to think about what spin would make them unique. We try to layer flavor so that all parts of your palate are activated by a dish." Ultimately, their vision is to create dining experience enjoyable for the guests with food made from a product they believe in.

BO-beau Kitchen + bar

4996 W Point Loma Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107

You can find this eclectic and sophisticated Californian inspired French restaurant in three different locations in San Diego: BO-beau kitchen + garden in La Mesa, BO-beau kitchen + cache in Hillcrest and BO-beau kitchen + bar in Ocean Beach. They are the new family members to the Cohn Restaurant Group, a family-owned company that holds 21 restaurants in San Diego. And the one in Ocean Beach, BO-beau kitchen + bar serves food and wine in an antique and elegant, yet welcoming atmosphere.

One of the items on their specialty menu is a classic French menu with a modern twist: Moules & Frites. When ordering this mussel dish, you get to choose from four different base sauces: Butter and Garlic, Lobster Bisque, Spanish chorizo and Lemongrass Coconut Red Curry Broth. They can either be served as an appetizer or an entrée. Either way, you’ll manage to end up with a clean bowl. Lemongrass Coconut Red Curry Mussel served with mushroom and a piece of warm ciabatta has opened an exotic door to a traditional palate. With this inspiring menu, this restaurant has taken a new approach in transforming this classic French dish into a more exciting array of diverse ingredients.

Another thing to focus alongside their mussel dish is their extensive selection of wine and French-inspired cocktails straight from the lively bar. They are open daily 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. only for dinner to spend your evening with your loved ones. One thing to note is that they don’t take any reservations so make sure to prepare this evening with enough time to enjoy; and once you walk into this cozy and rustic French restaurant, you’ll be glad to be there.

Bottega Americano

1195 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Located in the East Village, San Diego, this stylish Italian restaurant serves an outstanding mussel dish that will make you drool. Bottega Americano has transformed the large space into an elegant integration of the grand European market space and the relaxing Californian atmosphere. In the food industry in which trends are constantly changing, to remain persistent may not by easy; however, this energetic Italian restaurant has managed it well.

Jeremy Oursland, who has been with Bottega Americano for three years since it opened, shared his secret of being a chef at this eclectic restaurant. Although he didn’t start as a traditional Italian chef, he remains motivated and humble by sharing that "you can learn anything from anyone." Working at this restaurant has given him a new perspective and a strong work ethic as a team. Moreover, Jeremy believes that seasonality along with the quality of ingredients is the two most important things when considering a new menu. Correspondingly, this popular mussel dish is also made from ingredients that are fresh and nutritious.  

Regarding the recipe, they use what they call "the mother tomato sauce" as a base sauce. Unlike their pasta sauce, in which they blend it to ensure a smooth texture, they keep it chunky for their mussels. After simmering the mussels, they add chorizo, garlic, shallot for a rich flavor and top it with perfectly toasted bread before serving. "Most of the time, keeping it simple with good ingredients is the key to a delicious food," he added. With this in mind, he’s currently on a journey of launching a new fall menu that everyone seems to enjoy. At the end of the day, Bottega Americano can be described as a powerhouse with genuine staffs, an honest kitchen and most importantly, delightful and authentic food.