Mussel & Burger Bar

I just wanted to be sure than anyone unaware of this new place (opening tomorrow) knows the name and can seek it out. This is my post from the "Fernando Does it Again" thread started by Bill Veneman:

[i]I, too, had an opportunity to dine at a pro-opening. Thank you so much, Christina and Fernando! I can't express enough how generous it is that they open their doors to so many of us for complimentary food. I know that dry-runs are standard, but the fact that they involve so many of the people that they do in these dry runs is just plain sweet. I was there via "vendor invite", and that was a first for me. I really am touched. And these people are simply melting my heart in many many ways.

So to begin with, I knew this menu well going in and already knew what I would order. I had the Moules Basquaise, with chorizo, olive oil, lobster sofrito broth, piquillo peppers, Piment d'Espelette, and onion. With ingredients like that, it's needless to say that it was delicious. It wasn't too spicy, but flavor deep. Served with a crusty square of baguette to tear pieces from at will. We also added a side of Truffle Steak Fries with Truffle Aioli. I. Love. Truffle. They also had other options for frites added on to mussels for $3 or $4 dollars, depending on whether they were with or without truffle oil.

I really wanted to try a burger, but I was on a sexy date , and decided to keep it light with the Chevre Fig Salad - baby crest, fig vinaigrette, goat cheese croquettes, fennel, oranges, dry fig, marcona almonds, and radish. The Goat cheese croquettes were about two inch rounds, three for the salad, and the accompanying ingredients could not have been better proportioned. I'm so pleased to have an option like this and the greens were a big part of that feeling. EVERYTHING on this menu is so well thought through, and out of the ordinary.

My date went with a second appetizer order of mussels for his entree, which makes me really wonder what the entree portion is. $8 for the app, $10 for the entree - as someone previously mentioned, with the price point of this menu, you kind of feel like you're getting away with something. I can NOT emphasize that enough. His sauce this time was the curry cream - lemongrass, curry, shallots, lemon zest, chili oil. Unbelievable tasty.

I can't stop thinking about this concept. I absolutely love burgers, but was not in the mood for one last night. That said, the burger menu looks like the best I've ever seen in my life. The CEO (mentioned above) has an option to add foie gras for $7 - SEVEN DOLLARS!!! You can also get a Foie Gras appetizer for $10 - TEN DOLLARS!!!

And by the way - their hamburger meat is Creek Stone Black Angus ground IN HOUSE. Served on House made buns.

I love Mussel & Burger Bar more than I've loved anyplace in a long time. Thank you again, Christina and Fernando. (But my praise does not mean that you can not give me grief if my service fails you - I promise this is not an attempt to schmooze!)

P.S. I'm going to start a new thread with the content of this to be sure that the name "Mussel and Burger Bar" is the thread title. The location is a little off beat and the word really needs to get about them.

They are located at 9200 Taylorsville Rd, Louisville, KY and their facebook page has menu details and a very nice gallery of photos:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Musselbu ... 0676934497

Oh my gosh, I forgot to mention... The beer list is excellent. Extensive list of bombers and bottles of microbrews. Christina is a beer drinker .

A quick word on anything Christina & Fernando do here in Louisville. I've told them before and continue to espouse the rightness of how much their town loves them. While they may have arrived from different places they have fetched up in Louisville, KY which tends make anyone a native in short order. That being said I can assure you that the latest love story they have blessed us with has all the trademarks of the Martinez magic! Food, service and ambiance all in place and humming along in true form. They are natives through and through now. Outstanding food, great price point and stellar service that is always honest. Is it delicious? Is it truthful? Does it embrace the vision of the Chef? Yes, a hundred times, yes! Viva House Martinez! Go. Eat. Live. .




Edited to remove the repetition and find some new adjectives.

Well, that settles it. Since I have embarked on my meatless diet I have been craving a really good hamburger. I know where I'll be heading on my next "meat treat" day. Thanks for asking the time to post such thorough reviews.

TAKING, taking the time. Darn auto correct.

They better have an ambulance on-hand for when I arrive. I'm going to get FOUNDERED on foie!

Just to add to the rave reviews.... Hubby and I were part of the final "dress rehersal" on Saturday, along with another couple. Here is my play-by-play of the highlights and our observations:

- For starters - they have managed to take the upscale restaurant decor and make it what I'd call sophisticated casual. Are you out of place in jeans? No. Are you out of place in your work clothes, no. It's nice enough to make you feel special, but not special enough that you're intimidated.

- Training - Fernando and Cristina always have done a great job with training, but again, these are knowledgeable servers who will go out of their way to try to ascede to a request/

- Food. Now for the good part....
We all had appetizers. The short-rib nachos were an easy choice and hubby and our friends shared them. I tried to pick something unusual that maybe not many would try, so I went with the Soft-Shell crab sliders. Those. Were. Amazing! Perfectly dredged and crunchy sliders, which came with the same house-made chips in the nachos, that were so good I had to tell myself to stop eating them. The sliders were topped with a zesty slaw and mayo. Perfectly great little bites (2 to an order)

Then I ordered the beet and ricotta salad, that was topped with greens and baby red sorrel leaves. One of the things I love about every menu that Fernando has done is that they know how to dress a salad. That is no small feat, my friends. To have dressing that clings lightly to leaves , and just complements, but doesn't obscure, the flavor of other ingredients, is an amazing thing. SIDE NOTE: It's a lesson I wish more places would learn, and I could stop the habit of ordering my dressing on the side, which annoys the crap out of my husband.

Our friends decided to split the Italian Job burger - which they said they loved, and thought was a great combo of flavors. I had the Curry Cream mussels with lemongrass, which Cristina said were her favorite and the most underrated combo on the mussel menu. Agreed! The aroma was so good I'd call it "heady" and the flavors were so well balanced - forget the baguette on the side, I was tempted to tip the bowl on it's side and just drink the rest of the broth..... Hubby got the mushroom philly. Given that he's a committed carnivore, I was surprised that he ordered something with no meat. However, he said that he'd been craving a cheesesteak, and even though "meatless" it was meaty-tasting and cheezy-melty enough to satisfy it.

I wish we'd had room for dessert, but, unfortunately, there just wasn't. Gee, guess we're going to have to go back. Looking forward to later in the spring when they open for lunch, as they're not too far from my office.

Congrats to the Martinez's on yet another wonderful addition!

Michelle Jones just posted my review of our Saturday evening trip on Consuming Louisville.

We had a great (and delicious) time. Chef Fernando and Cristina are such great hosts. Cristina also mentioned that they plan on ramping up a lunch menu down the road, which has me excited since our office is right around the corner.

http://consuminglouisville.com/2013/02/ ... er-bar.php

You can see the menu here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Musselbur ... 497&type=1

Cristina and Fernando,
I shared the menu on Facebook when you posted it last night. Thought you might want to hear this comment I received:
"Damn you, Deb! - now I have drool all over my keyboard..."


Deb

Hubby and I headed in last night, afraid that it may get REALLY busy very soon. My Greek hubby loved the lamb burger and I had the bouillabaisse mussels. Started with the calamari and ended with the apple gallette. All of it was just fabulous. Looking forward to getting in there again.

Also- for foodies needing event space. Christina showed us the dining room that they will be renting out for events-perfect size for rehearsal dinners or business meetings. Apparently there is another larger dining room that is downstairs that could be rented out as well. Something to keep in mind.

We had great service and great burgers there on Tuesday night... fries (sweet and regular) were both excellent...

My (minor complaints):
1. Red Bulleit - It was decent, not great. I think more alcohol would have made it great...
2. Beef Mini Tacos - once again, decent, not great. Nothing WRONG with them, but they didn't have much flavor.
3. Milkshakes: These were weird. They were not served cold and had an odd sweetness to them... We both drank ours, but I would never order them again. (Chocolate and Strawberry). They had an almost artificial taste to them and a lukewarm milkshake just isn't my cup of tea.

My BBB burger was AMAZING, however... the maple pork belly was outstanding... they whole thing came together in a juicy, delicious mess. Probably the best burger I've eaten in Louisville. Possibly the best I've ever had.

I loved the space, though it was difficult to find (and far away from home). We will be returning.

Fernando, Just noticed the Facebook pages says you are currently only open Mon-Thursday. When do you plan on opening for weekends?

Fernando, Just noticed the Facebook pages says you are currently only open Mon-Thursday. When do you plan on opening for weekends?

They are open for the weekends - that must be a mistake. I don't remember if they told me whether or not they're open on Sunday, though - I think they are???

My hubby and I went the other night. I had the La Frita Cubana. Ah-freaking-mazing. The pomme frites were amazing, too. My hubby had the BBB. It was served with sweet potato fries, and some sort of smoked pineapple/honey sauce. TO DIE FOR. I can't wait to go back.