Monk’s Cafe

This place is a dark, noisy gastropub. But if that’s what you’re looking for, it exceeds five stars. The beer selection is nigh unparalleled, and the food is all unique and delicious.
I’ve been here once before, but this time I was alone and got a seat at the bar right away. I couldn’t believe they had Pliny the Elder on tap — that is NOT an easy beer to find! So I had one of those, and a duck salad sandwich for dinner. Both were delicious and fairly priced. Definitely one of my Philadelphia favorite spots!

Unique beer selection. Really great.
Food is good, not outstanding I have to say nobody of us got the mussles which are supposed to be their specialty.
Nice place also.
Did not give more stars because of the staff and service: snobby and slow

Best rare beers in Philly. The missiles are to die for and the ambiance is low key enough for a beer date or to meet new beer loving friends at the bar.

This was a seriously delicious meal. We had dinner here our first night in Philadelphia. I ended up getting some of the mussels while my husband ordered the duck confit. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

Nice little joint in a very old building. Pretty amazing at what they have done with a very little space. I enjoyed the Monk’s Café as much for the atmosphere as for the food and beer.
Very limited menu, so don’t expect a huge amount. They do run specials from time to time, so make sure you ask the server, if you are eating. I would love to try the mussels, which my friend had, but I can’t eat seafood. I have tried a couple of the burgers, however, and Ardennes ranks as my favorite.
The food is great, but the real reason to visit is the beer. They have a great selection of craft beer on tap and in bottle. I was able to grab a Pliny the Elder, as well as a few other hard to find beers. Did not even get to the bottles, as there were so many good and/​or interesting beers on tap. Did not order a beer I had ever had before once in the few times I have been there.

Oh man! The mussels here are real good!
The place is a bit cramped, but the food and service more than makes up for the tight space. I would love to come back to try the other flavors they have for the mussel broth!
I’d recommend sticking to the mussels as its what this place is known for. The other food is fine, but the mussels are where its at! Don’t forget to dip your bread in the broth!

Finally went here after 3yrs of people suggesting. The mussels were perfection! But the main courses were not so great, the duck breast salad was eh, duck didn’t seem fresh, it tasted like it was pre cooked cooked and refrigerated, it looked Correct for the cook temp requested but it had that dry look like it was sitting out uncovered for hours. The rest of the salad components were good. My friends burger was pretty good but nothing special, maybe she just ordered a boring one. My husbands meal was the worst he got the ribeye, it was pretty good until he got to a really long hair… At that point the meal was over, they were understanding and comped his meal, but this was the first time we all left w/​o taking the Togo boxes home… I will return again just for the mussels and fries.

Yes. it’s Monks… yes they have beer… but the food is terribly lacking, except maybe the mussels

This place earns 5 stars for:
Zero kids spotted.
Awesome chill Johnny Cash+similar music played at an exceedingly REASONABLE volume.
Killer rare bottle list.
Serial-​killer-​rare exciting draft list.
We had AMAZING service. No complaints. We however can IMAGINE poor service possible as this place begs to have snobby staff. Come on. It’s petty amazing.
Knowledgeable beer staff, they had tasted beers on tap & could speak intelligently thereof.
Beer. Eccentric beer. Amazing beer. Insanely awesome well curated beautiful perfect beer.

Was stopped by the hostess as we walked in, who unpleasantly asked us for our ID’s. It wasn’t very busy up front, but the hostess told us the back bar was open and suggested we walk back there. The back bar was small and no seats available so we came back to the front. very narrow area we stood at while we waited for a few seats at the bar. The hostess made it a point to tell us the seating area was for dining only. Very gothic dark type atmosphere, very unwelcoming. On top of it all, the employees all look like they haven’t showered in 5 days, maybe that’s why they look so disgruntled.

Best damn bar food ever. Get the mussels. Live a little. And yes, the fries are that good. Off the beaten path, hipster, trendy and delicious.

Absolutely love the beer selection — it’s a small book unto itself. The food (especially the Mussels) is amazing. I have to say the super spicy Spanish Flies are fun to order with someone new to Monks, but are a bit too hot to eat on my own accord.
Only thing that stops me from giving Monks five stars is the wait. Since they don’t take reservations and always seem to be crowded, it can be very difficult to get a seat anywhere near meal times.

Went here on a Saturday night. The estimated wait for 2 people was 45 minutes, but we asked about the bar and they said first come first serve. We got very lucky and 2 seats opened up right away. This place is SMALL, LOUD, and DARK. Like we had to get our phones to use as flashlights to even see the menus, that’s how dark it was.
We had heard about their amazing beer list, but it turns out almost all of that comes in bottles. Very few beers are on tap. And what beers there are of course are really expensive. Like $ 8 a pint.
Ok, all that aside, the beers they do have on tap are delicious. And their mussels!!! You have to try the mussels. They come in a big pot of buttery goodness. For the price it seemed like I was getting a really good amount of mussels. Make sure you scoop around the bottom of the pot for mussels that fell out!
Burgers are also tasty. Best thing to do is 1 person gets mussels, the other gets a burger, and you share :)

Came here for a quick lunch bite. It was not crowed. It’s kind like a dive bar environment, everyone seems laid back and cool. Our server was very nice and attentive. They have a big selection of beer, so if you are a beer fan, definitely try this place out!
For the food, we ordered the chicken wings. It was was sooo spicy but so satisfying! I wish it was fried crispy though, it was so good. The wings come with fries. So if you are ordering sandwich or burger, it might be too much fries for you. I ordered the Monk’s burger, which is very good. Fresh, juicy and tasty!
It was a nice experience eating there. This place is pretty laid back and can be loud, I wouldn’t recommend here for a date night, but definitely a good choice for friends getting together and share some good food.

Very stylish for late night dining in Philly. I’d like to thank Monks Café for being one of oy a few places to still serve food past 12pm. I ordered rum and coke (for the first time), mussels, fries with a nice tasting cheese sauce. Everything was very delicious and made to ordered. I really liked this eatery. I can see myself coming back here sooner than later.

Again, damn you Unilocal and your non-​half stars. A 3.5 for me. High for the beer, 3 for the food and service.
We arrived around 5:50 on a Saturday night and were told 40 minutes for a table for 2. Okay. We snagged a corner at the bar and crammed in. It was hard to get the bartender’s attention considering we were not 5 people back. I had a beer in the time the fiancé had two, and forty minutes had gone by. K — the place was packed. Good soundtrack going, sort-​of friendly crowd. He checked in with the hostess. I could see her make a motion of flipping her pages and saying «we will find you!» …
He finishes beer #2 and we are really hungry. Finally get the bartender to bring us food menus because other people at the bar are also tired of waiting for a table. Then the gal comes to us and asks if we still want a table (at about the one hour mark). She ushered me off because boy had to close the tab. I had to text Pat where I was so he could find me. Pretty cluster f.
We were seated by the front window which was nice, also chilly. We were so hungry so ordered ASAP. Got the Monk’s Mussels which were VERY plentiful and good. Very comforting, especially on a cold night. I wish it came with more bread to sop up the broth at the bottom. The frites that came with were a nice touch and that mayo was divine. Boy ordered a fish dish that should have been less expensive considering that was by no means a fresh catch but he was satisfied.
The waitress forgot a beer I ordered so I had to ask three times, and one of our water glasses was cracked and never replaced. The place was kind of too busy to relax… or maybe I just hadn’t had enough beer. I had two, my first delish but my second was the Flemish Sour and that just wasn’t for me… tasted like cherry Nyquil through and through.
So — I’d be back earlier in the day for a late lunch and beers for sure. But not prime time.

An hour and a half wait. Stuffy and crowded. But wait for it… it was worth it.
The food was comforting and delicious. It made every second that I spent annoyed waiting around, feel like I a big olé shrug of I got nuttin’ to do but hang out and drink some dranks. In reality, that’s what ended up happening.
Don’t get me wrong, I was hungry. Correction, hannngry. I had the agreed upon cocktail of the night, Jameson and ginger. There were three of us buying each other rounds so by the time we were seated and that hour and a half passed, we were feeling those. Plus, on an empty stomach, that made the need to eat even worse. I think I’m pretty good at deciphering the difference of belly satisfaction based on plain out hunger vs. satisfaction based on taste-​bud happy. Thankfully the food wasn’t satisfying just due to us starving but that taste of those dishes were really amazing!
The must order is the pot of mussel. I ordered the ghent that I will forever have dreams about. It was beyond flavorful! The parsley, caramelized leeks, bacon, bleu cheese, garlic and the other amazing ingredients that it was combined with to make that broth, turned it into something oh so special. Super tasty and the mussels were cooked on point. I *hate* bread (okay, the carbs) but I couldn’t stop dipping it in. At the end, I even drank. yes, drank what was left of it.
The other dishes that I tasted were impressive as well. First the salmon. While most places, salmon becomes the to-​go-​to can’t really mess it up fish option. Here, it was prepared exceptionally well. Buttery, thick and perfectly cooked. It’s like an equivalent to ordering a rib-​eye at some high end steak place. With the cauliflower and peas, this was very, very, good. I could see why my friend ordered it as her personal favorite here. Then the other was a massive plate with a deliciously filling concoction of mash served with the duck confit. Well, I don’t like duck and well, I had to put my foot in my mouth after tasting this one. Wow… I was blown with that non-​gamy taste and palatable texture that I had never liked about duck. That and overall smokey flavors, it had changed my mind. I will probably still never order one myself but I won’t hesitate to taste it again.
After the long wait, great time, relatively decent service, and with how fantastic the food is here, I’d come back and wait again. Just this time, be smarter about making sure to put in our names in first, run out and get some snacks to hold us over. Then head on back in so I can simply enjoy the meal without the major hanger attack.

I came here for dinner on my most recent Philly trip b/​c it was pretty close to my hotel. There was about an hour wait when we put our names down so we stepped out to walk around. Came back and waited probably for 10 more minutes. Tables are limited to dine in only so if you are just grabbing a drink, you can pretty much stand anywhere near the bar.
Both my friend and I had the burger which was quite tasty. They were super accommodating to my friend who has a peanut allergy. They listed on their menu that they use peanut oil in their fryer so our waitress was able to bring him some mashed potatoes instead of fries.
They also have a great beer selection which you can’t always get in NYC so that was nice. Good prices and a small neighborhood restaurant.

Sometimes, all a girl really wants are a burger and fries. At Monk’s, you can order a huge juicy burger with a side of pomme frites to satisfy your cravings, plus a beer on the side from their all-​inclusive beer bible. You can customize your burger to fit exactly what you want. Patty choices are beef, turkey, and veggie. The toppings choices are named after cities, and vary with different cheeses and vegetables. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Ghent burger (beef, of course), which comes with broccoli rabe (sautéed with garlic) and cheddar. The pomme frites are amazing; thin-​cut and crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. I came with a friend who ordered the duck confit sandwich, and said it was one of the best. Next on my list to try here are the mussels, which I hear are delicious.
I will say that it does get pretty crowded and loud, so it’s not exactly a great place if you’re looking for some intimate conversation. But if you just want to eat some good food and drink some beer, this is the place for you.
With all the choices at Monk’s, the hard part is deciding what you want because everything is so good!

Great spot for some quality brews. Wife and I have been wanting to go here for years and finally had the chance, sorry we waited so long. Staff was super friendly on a Sunday night. Bar tender had great recommendations and even offered up some suggestions for local brewpubs to hit. We will definitely be back.

A bit crowded during primetime, but overall a great neighborhood spot for moules and frites! Personal fan of the Thai curry mussels. The beer selection is plentiful and the prices are reasonable.

Monk’s Café is a treat for those who would like to visit Belgian Cafes without leaving the United States. They have a great selection of beers both draft and bottles. I enjoyed the Veal Cheeks, these were some of the most tender pieces of meat I have ever eaten. My wife and I also shared the Monk’s Mussels which were the highlight of our lunch. These were some of the best mussels I have ever eaten. Recommend going to Monks for lunch. There may be a wait, but it is definitely worth it.

When I told my friend Tina P that I was headed to Philly, one of the first recommendations she made was to go to Monk’s. It’s a mecca for beer lovers and it’s right in the heart of Philly. And with over 1000 reviews on Unilocal and the majority positive, we figured it may be worth a visit.
We got to Monk’s in the middle of the dinner rush. We put our name on the list and luckily grabbed a spot at the bar. We quickly located one of beer bibles which is quite extensive. They have beers from all over; they specifically have an extensive selection of Belgium beers. I decided on the Monk’s sour ale and my husband ordered a Flemmish sour ale. The wait wasn’t too long and soon enough we were seated in a cozy back table.
I was really excited about the mussels; I mean 16.95 for a pound and a half of mussels is a pretty awesome deal. It’s also apparently what they are known for. I ordered the DeKoninck mussels and frites and my husband ordered the Brussels burger. The mussels here are awesome. The pot is overflowing with mussels and it seems like it is never ending. The mussels were cooked perfectly, flavorful, and definitely soaked in the flavors of the beer, apple slices, and gruyère cheese. The frites were thin, crispy, and a good balance to the mussels. Loved them.
Monk’s Café is definitely worth the visit when in Philly. Good food, fantastic beer selection, and good service. Awesome spot in Philly.

What a great little place — with a great craft beer selection. They are known for their mussels — and they should be. Cooked perfectly with really good crusty brad to sop up the broth. It comes with fries — which I ate only one because of the huge portion of mussels. Maybe I’ll share them next time; not likely.

I stopped by last night when it was snowing and the place was not even packed. A group of four of us sat down and they rudely asked us to move to a
smaller table. Not only that they also kept staring at us until we moved. I thought it was so rude we just got up and left. Poor wait staff that are only looking out for themselves and not providing quality service. We went to Howl of the Moon where the staff was much more friendly and wanted our business.

Best place in Philly to eat mussels and hang out with your friends!
Beers are very good.
Sometimes you have to wait for an hour but trust me.
It is worth it!

Beer selection gets 5 stars but service & constant over crowding results in a 4 star review.
I simply love beer. I travel around the world to drink beer. I sacrificed my «girlish figure for beer. I’m fortunate to have tried many of the world’s best beer bars. Given my self proclaimed credentials, I think Monk’s deserves to be a top beer bar /​destination in the world. Why? see below:
1) Excellent selection of Belgium beers, many of which I never enjoyed outside of Belgium (How are they available in Philly? and on tap!).
2) The constant rotation of Russian River beers on tap (and in bottles) leaves me speechless. 3) Vermont’s Hill Farmstead beers on tap
4) Monk’s constant ability to surprise beer lover’s with new amazing offerings. Feels like XMAS when I walk in every time. What’s under the tree… or on the menu?
There are a few negatives to Monk’s as well. Service can be hit or miss and not always friendly. I never know what to expect in this regard. Monk’s is always incredibly busy. Half the time I leave because I can’t even squeeze into the bar area for a quick beer. Both front and back bars are always packed. I tend to only show up after 10pm or 11pm now.
Monk’s has some good food selections as well but that’s secondary for me. It’s about the BEER
BK

After a 75 mile bike ride, a hot shower and a dose of ibuprofen the clear choice for dinner is salt. Salt in any delivery system is all I was craving. And maybe a beer.
Monks Café was a clear choice on this occasion. The burger selection alone is worth the visit. They were cooked to absolute perfection! The fries provided the salt I was craving. The bread was delicious and soft enough to soak up all the burger goodness attempting an escape from my grip.
The beer menu is extensive and almost exasperatingly so. There are so many gems that it was tough to pick out a beverage. We were so ravenous we devoured our food entirely too quickly but we did appreciate the deliciousness we were served. However, I will need to make another visit to enjoy some of the other offerings in their starters section.
Amazing café… I hope to be back soon.

I went to Philadelphia for a whirlwind weekend, but I was told from some friends that even if it was a less-​than-​48-​hours visit, I MUST go to Monk’s. TL;DR: They were right; go to Monk’s.
Monk’s is a restaurant that reminds me of the row homes in my current home base in Louisville: long and narrow. Thinking we showed up before the rush hit on a Friday night, we got there around 5:45 to find it packed out. We stuck through the short-​but-​crammed 15 minute wait for a table, but oh man was it worth it. I knew going in that this place was THE place for Belgian beers, so when we sat down, we ordered a couple of beers. They have around 15 beers on tap, but if those aren’t up your alley, there are plenty of beers from around the world available in bottles.
If you’re curious about their beers, I’d definitely check out their website that has a list of the bottles available as well as what’s on tap — the rotating tap seems to be updated regularly, which is nice as I’ve noticed sites like that can get left by the wayside sometimes! I would assume nothing less for a place whose business is [mostly] beer, though!
What I also learned about Monk’s prior to going was that they specialize in mussels & burgers. Happy to be back on the east coast, I easily went for their mussels — «Monks» style, whose sauce is composed of gueuze, parsley, and plenty of garlic. You can (and should!) get pomme frites on the side. They are served up hot with an AMAZING aioli. My girlfriend got their veggie burger, also Monks style, which meant in this case caramelized leeks and bleu cheese. Can’t say enough about how mouth-​watering this was.
Throughout the whole eating experience, I’d recommend one thing before you head to Monks, at least based on my one Friday night dining experience there: prepare yourself for a bit of a tight space and high volume. It seemed to be not just a great place to eat and drink, but also just a nice watering hole given its wealth of amazing beers. Perhaps there are better times of the day where it’s less hectic, but if like me, you’re in town for a quick weekend, just drink plenty of beer because the food is worth it!

I think I visited Monk’s once in college, but that was long before I was a beer snob. My return visit was amaaaaazing. That’s right. If you searched all my reviews, I probably use the word «amazing» second only to words like «the.» But not only was this amazing, it was amaaaazing. Monk’s is like a little haven for beer freaks. We probably sat at the bar for two and a half hours and we really wished we could’ve stayed longer. The bar is generally oriented toward Belgian beer and had just an amazing tap list. Then we cracked the bottle list, and our jaws hit the floor. Rare beers, beers that we haven’t seen in awhile and beers that command the same price as a bottle of primo wine. Everything was in play. The bartender was pleasant and fun to talk with, and he really knew his beer. In addition, their tap menu tells you what’s up next, which is a dirty trick designed to keep you coming back. If we had been in town longer, I think we would’ve had to make a return trip to get into the items we saw under «what’s next.» If you’re a beer lover, this is a beer lover’s place.
Atmosphere-​wise, it’s very relaxed. The restaurant (like so many Philly buildings) seems like it’s forever long. There are a number of rooms going back from the main entrance, and we wound up in the back one, which was a cozy wood-​lined space with its own bar.
Foodwise, we got frites, and our friend got the steak sandwich. The frites were totally European in cut and also in the tangy, spicy, mayo-​ey sauce that came with them. The sandwich looked awesome, but I didn’t taste it. We also saw a number of pots of mussels, which I took to be the house specialty. They looked fabulous, but we didn’t order any. Just given the number of orders we saw, though, they must be spectacular.
A definite must stop for the next time we’re in Philly.

My friends and I had a great time here last night celebrating a b-​day.
We ordered 2 pots of Red Light mussels, Spanish flies (sauce on the side), and for dessert a salted caramel cake. The fries that came with the mussels and the wings were SOOO good. And you can’t beat the mussels. I especially loved the broth. Having no spoons, my friend taught me the trick of using the mussel shells to scoop up the broth.
Parking a pain but definitely worth a visit!

Best beer bar in Philadelphia, and possibly the world.
There is no beer lover who cannot be satisfied at Monk’s. I drink IPAs; my wife drinks Belgian wheats — they served us a barley/​wheat pale ale that had everything we both wanted. Unbelievable.
Eat the french fries: they’re incredible.
Eat the mussels: you’ll sing their praise.
Eat the duck salad: you’ll grow wings and fly.
This is one of the most popular spots in the area, and for all the right reasons.

I really really wish I could give this place more than 3 stars, it being the place of one of my favorite sours of all times, plus this place has arguably one of the best selections of Belgian beers on the east coast, if not the best! I ding it because it is just so iffy with service that it merits just 3 stars in my book (and I am sure they are worried ;-))
I love the atmosphere of this place. It really does remind you of the old pubs in Europe with a lot of dark wood and a generally chilled out clientele. The key is to walk all the way to the back bar where its a bit cosier than the front part and they also a different set of beers on tap. Service here can be very very iffy from super friendly to being ignored for a while before anyone takes your order or even asks you if you need another beer. Moule frite are just f’in great here! The half order is more than enough for one person unless you really really love mussels, in which case go at it! Frog legs are perfectly cooked, tender with a nice garlicky bite and good bread to sop up the sauce. Salads are perfectly dressed and all the proteins are quite good (smoked trout and duck are personal favorites).
Absolutely a must go place if you like Belgian beer at all and are in Phillyl!

We didn’t love the food! The atmosphere was great and I LOVE that they have local and organic offerings… but the food just wasn’t very good. The mussels were underwhelming and the mac and cheese left something to be desired.
The small bar in the back was great though! Fun atmosphere and great for a tourist wanting to experience some old school Philly.

Monk’s is historic to Philadelphia and to the craft beer world. Monk’s is the first place in the United States to get Belgium beer on tap… awesome right?
If you are in Philly, be sure to stop by Monk’s. They are also known to be one of the few places on the East Coast to have Russian River beers, including Pliny The Elder. Food is decent, I was slightly underwhelmed but don’t come for the food… come for the beer and history.

Rating is a 4.5.
The restaurant is spacious. There is more seating in the back. There are specialty beers available. My boyfriend really enjoyed his «dog fish head» beer. The place is dark and not exactly visually appealing but the place is clean.
Ordered the monk’s mussels which came with fries and a few slices of bread. The mussels were ok. I had better but for the price of $ 16.95, I can’t complain too much (a lot of mussels). The mayo dip for the fries was fantastic.

I was in town for an interview and, naturally, wanted to check out a good spot to go grab food and a drink. I found Monk’s Café on Unilocal and, as has been the case 99% of the time, Unilocal continues to take me to the dopest spots.
I went w/​the Ghent mussels, and they were absolutely amazing. They give you a TON of mussels — it’s seriously like a never-​ending pot (I was full afterwards, and mussels don’t have a lot of meat to em, so that’s saying something). The mussels were fresh and delicious, and the broth they were served in was just heavenly (as you would expect a broth to be when there’s awesome ingredients such as fresh mussels, bacon, leeks, and garlic). In fact, my only regret is not asking for a spoon to slurp up the remaining broth! The mussels were served w/​pomme frites that were also out of this world. The fries were seasoned nicely and served with a dipping sauce that was reminiscent of the love child between garlic aioli and sriracha mayo.
Great and extensive selection of beers. To wash the food down, I had the Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale, which was superb. It didn’t have a super strong sourness to it; it was perfectly balanced. It’s described on the menu as «a real thirst quencher and palate cleanser» — and it definitely was. I also had a Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA because who doesn’t love that beer?!
If you’re ever in the area, definitely drop by!

Came here on a Friday with a group of 6 for some drinks and small bites. I was afraid that there was going to be a long wait, but we were seated right away — we got there around 5:45pm or so.
Other Unilocalers seem to mention happy hour, but when I asked if there were any happy hour specials, the waitress very sharply said «No» as if I had asked something so outrageous. Anyway, there is no happy hour here, which is a little bit sad for my grad school budget.
We weren’t looking to eat dinner per se, so we shared some plates of pomme frites (great dip and good portion to share), a bucket of the Thai mussels (delicious and seemingly endless even though all of us had a bite at it), chicken fingers (good but nothing to rave about), and flatbread with some vegetarian dips. Most of us ordered a few round of drinks, but the waitress seemed annoyed that we didn’t order more food, which was kind of off-​putting (especially given the happy hour interaction earlier).
The beer bible was cool to look at, and we all got pints of Pliny the Elder, which is apparently a rare find according to my beer enthusiast friend.
The bathroom was a little dingy and super tiny for a pretty sizable place.
I left with a full and mostly satisfied belly, but I don’t know if the mussels were worth the hype, and the service was definitely lacking. While I would probably return for another visit, I think I prefer Eulogy over Monk’s.

To be honest, I was a bit turned off when we first entered — dark, dingy, and filled
with nauseating, reeking alcohol smell.
But with glowing recommendations, my husband and I decided to ignore the first impression and stuck around to give Monk’s a try. Even though neither of us drank, we were impressed by the food alone. I was pleasantly surprised by the ginormous portioned smoked duck salad — the skin was perfectly crisped, the meat was flavorful, tender and juicy. The pairing of craisin, blue cheese, and candied walnut was genius.
My husband ordered one of the famous burgers — nothing crazy over the top, well made and delivered exactly what my husband was craving. He loved the sauce that was served along and especially enjoyed the side of crispy fries.
Overall, service was what one expect from a hole in the wall bar — couple of water refills when requested and that was it. Nevertheless Monk’s won me over with their food! I would never expect such gourmet meal from a bar. Only wished we were in town longer so I can try out their mussels!