St. Arnold’s On Jefferson

Hit this place up a few months back and was impressed with the extent of their menu. Who knew there were so many ways to do mussels and fries. There were over a dozen options including the one I picked which was called Mussels St. Arnold’s and was done with beer sauce, caramelized shallots, thyme and duck fat. Yummo. Don’t be put off by the atmosphere as it is pretty low key. The food is excellent and service was quick and friendly.

I’m not a big fan of mussels but I am a fan of this place. I came here once just for beers, and pretty impressed with their Draft list. I ended up drinking the Delirium they had on tap. A few times one evening and had a great time. Most recently, I was there for their lunch special 10 bucks for a sandwich and fries and of course they had beer. One visit was on a busy Saturday night, where things were packed but service was still friendly and helpful. The second was on Monday lunch where it was quiet but service was still just as good either way.
Top notch selection of mostly Belgian beers, a great lunch deal and good service.

Delicious! Had 2 different pots of mussels, the frites and also a grilled portobello and goat cheese sandwich, paired with a Duvel…

Husband and I came here with a group to celebrate a birthday. It was a quiet weekday and we were one of the only occupied tables. The restaurant itself is cozy and laid back, and our server was friendly and accommodating. I didn’t love my mussels though — I ordered the St Arnold’s Mussels, as the duck fat and beer sauce sounded decadent, but it really wasn’t… it was salty and not particularly satisfying. I wouldn’t be opposed to coming back, but would probably try a different sauce.

Quite possibly one of the best burgers I’ve had in DC. Although they are not known specifically for these, their burgers are plentiful and definitely serve to fill. St. Arnold’s is also a great weeknight date spot, as it keeps an intimate space but also keeps you accessible to all that DuPont has to offer.

Good Mussels. Great bread pudding! Seating is tight, but the food and beer is worth it.

How much do I love St. Arnold’s? Let me count the ways.
My cousin introduced me to this place a while ago, and I’ve yet to have a bad experience there. Their food is absolutely delicious, as are their beers. Their happy hour specials are a great deal (seriously, if you’re in the area between 3:30 and 6:30, stop by at least once), and their prices in general are very reasonable for the area.
It doesn’t look like much from the outside, nor from the inside if you want to be perfectly honest. Still, it’s a very good example of why «don’t judge a book by its cover» is considered good advice even after all this time. It’s very difficult to go wrong with mussels and beer, so if you’re in the area then definitely give it a try.

One of the best mussels dish I’ve ever had. The beer selection was really nice too. The place is a bit small and crowded but the staff and food more than make up for it.

Not very impressed with food. When I can do better myself that is telling. Bartender couldn’t even make a good old fashioned drink, well took two times. Service was fine for what it’s worth.

My husband and I stopped by on a rainy evening to find a nearly empty restaurant/​bar… but that didn’t mean we were leaving! We received really great service and had some yummy wings at the bar. Our bartender was very informative and helpful to my husband as he made drink choices. He even offered a bunch of samples so my husband could see what he liked. It was a nice stop to end our night!

Jefferson is a little tuck away street between Connecticut and 19^th. I passed by this area for years. I’m always on the lookout for a cute brunch spot to add to the rotation and St. Arnold’s just made the list. This place is casual, kind of an old penny that could use a shine but very cozy.
Drinks are $ 5. I had a Bloody Mary. I had a delicious ham and cheese sandwich topped with two fried eggs with a small salad and potatoes. Total bill for two with two drinks apiece was $ 47. Awesome!
Our server Lisa said she works only Sunday’s and the place has been open for about 3.5 years. Will definitely be back.

This place rocks! Holy cow are their mussels good! I mean seriously though, that was the absolute best broth I have ever had. I think it’s the duck fat that does it or maybe that it’s beer based. I don’t know, but I don’t care. Flat out amazing. They have some great happy hour deals here, including the mussels. Get some, and extra bread, or fries to dip in the delicious sauce.

If only I hadn’t gone to the Mussel Bar earlier that evening…
This is a downstairs pub/​restaurant. more restaurant.
Wine is not good here but cheap. $ 20 – 30 per bottle. Didn’t eat any food here. I saw the meatloaf (don’t ask me why he ordered that instead of the mussels)… he said it was too saucy. Looks like big portions though.

This place is exactly what I hoped it would be. An underground pub with as much structural character, as characters themselves. Never mind the record as it scratches upon entry, although it seems to be frequented by locals, it is equally inviting.
I bellied up to the bar and met Larry. A no BS guy who gets straight to the point and speaks his mind. As his opinion, and you will get it. Make sure to inquire about the beer and food, he wont pull any punches and gives it to you straight.
He recommended the Palm Amber Ale, and I obliged. A great tasty beer that pared well with what came next. Larry’s recommendations, the wings served extra crispy and the house special mussels. All good in the Irish hood. The fries may be illegal in several states, thats how delicious they were. i saw all of the food before me and thought I over ordered, as usual. But my appetite didnt fail, and the mussels were light enough to cancel out the bold flavor offered by the frites. What can I say… down the hatch. Cheers!

Went to this place in the summer.
The place was empty, except for me and 2 guys at the bar
and…
One of the owners, his family, and some other family that they were entertaining were all there. They were doing their 1% thing as 1%ers do. Business came up, commercial rents were discussed, all over 2 toddlers bickering and one just roaming the spot as it pleased.
Let’s just say the ambiance was off. I wouldn’t have noticed «Arnold and crew» if the place was packed, but it wasn’t. They were eating lunch like they were at home, which arguably they were. Kinda felt like I was intruding as a customer.
On to the food.
Got their signature mussels + shrimp.
It was cool, but it’s not like the revelation you might get over at Granville’s.
Given the popularity of mussels in this town, I wouldn’t run to this spot, unless you’ve got OCD and need to finish checking each restaurant off on your excel spreadsheet.

Food: Nothing hits the spot like a pot of mussels and a beer for Thursday lunch. Yes, I have a job, and yes, it requires a suit. Sometimes though, you just tuck that tie in between the shirt buttons, roll up your sleeves, loosen up that belt, and go to town on the pot of mussels, and bread, and fries. If you can stand a little heat, go for the spicy white wine mussels. Even though we enjoyed our mussels, I had a little mussel-​envy eyeing those around us. The mussels here look a little more plump than the location at Cleveland Park, and the sauce is better, that’s for sure.
Ambiance: Both locations are very cool, but I like the vibe here more. It’s really small and dark, and weird as it may be, it feels like I’m in the galley/​gallows/​hull (?) of a ship, with wooden seats and tables, and smells of liquor wafting through the air. It started out really quiet around 11:45 and we were able to talk shop for a little bit, but by 12:30 it was pretty packed. We gave up on talking business — and stuck to beers, mussels, exchanging life stories, and laughter. ABC, son!
Service: Nice lady but was overwhelmed by patrons. Hard to judge because we really didn’t need much service, honestly. Food came out timely, and I was able to get her attention to get our check.
TLDR — I’ll definitely be back to try more mussels. The one in Cleveland Park is nice, but it feels like this place has better mussels, ambiance, and service.
dmo out

«Do you trust me?» my friend Tim says, as we were looking for a place for dinner.
«Yes.» But now not anymore.
My friend Tim is Belgian, and he wanted an authentic Belgian experience. This was not it. The fries were good American fries, but not Belgian fries. I had the burger and liked the first half, but ended up not finishing it because it was too salty. That seemed to be this place’s motto: put a lot of salt and spices on it.
It wasn’t an awful meal (for my buddy, it was), but it wasn’t anything I’d jump up and down about. Service wasn’t great, either. Probably wouldn’t return.

$ 19 for mussels and fries is a little tough for me to swallow, much harder than actually eating them. But to be fair it’s right along the prices I’ve seen at other places too, and luckily this meal was expensed for me, so let’s just relax and eat!
I was meeting a friend I haven’t seen in a while (I don’t live in DC), so we got some beers as well. I got a 1L Hofbräu Original ($ 14). We didn’t get any entrees, we just got two mussel selections (Chipotle and L’Alsacienne). For the sauce I preferred the zesty taste from the Chipotle sauce but the added leeks and bacon and potatoes added a great touch to the L’Alsacienne.
The food tasted fantastic overall, it’s just not the kind of place that I would be able to come to very often because of its price, but I would like to come back on a special occasion.

Highlights: Mussels, cheap (good) beer and an awesome bartender
If you are checking this place out for happy hour, get there early and stay all night. The bar seats about 15 people, but there is standing room. An awesome happy hour includes a great deal on beverages, food and awesome staff RE: St. Arnold’s on Jefferson has these three things.
–Mussels (which come with fries) are $ 11. Go with the House Mussels, you won’t be sorry.
-$ 1 off drafts
St. Arnold’s is the perfect place for a snack or an early dinner option. I can’t wait to come back. See you soon!

When you visit a place twice in one week. it’s probably safe to say you may have an obsession. In the words of Queen Bey, I’m «crazy in love» with St. Arnold’s! Nearly 20 different kinds of mussels all at $ 11/​each for happy hour? Yes please! Couple that with the frites (the sauces are all the rage) for $ 3, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic deal.
Let’s get on to the mussels:
— St. Arnolds — delicious but a tad on the heavy side due to the duck fat. I prefer to try a few of these from a friend rather than having a whole pot to myself
— Spicy Italian Style — classic pot and the sausage makes the meal
— L’alsacienne — the leeks and capers add a unique twist, and the cream sauce makes it a tad heavy
— Mexican — not my favorite. probably because I don’t expect mexican flavors and mussels to go together
— Spicy White Wine — SO good! I got this one both times and be forewarned, it’s definitely spicy — but it hurts so good! The broth is light and flavorful and the kick keeps you from getting bored from the first to the last bite
— Eastern Shore — another one like the Mexican. unexpected flavors but not one that I didn’t like. if you’re an old bay fan, this one’s worth a try
Happy hour starts early (3:30 pm) and ends early (6:30 pm) — so make sure you leave work a little bit early so you can make it on time for this cannot miss deal. The space is small but I’ve surprisingly never had a wait there yet. They do take reservations, so I recommend planning ahead, if possible.
Can’t wait to try the rest of the menu — which will probably happen sooner rather than later. No shame in my game! :D