The Mussel Bar Fremantle

My wife and I looked forward to capping off her birthday with a memorable dining experience at the Mussel Bar in Fremantle. Well, it was memorable all right - for all the wrong reasons. It was a hot day - 36 degrees. We walked in to the hot, stuffy restaurant and were directed to a table in a corner with the sun blazing through two filthy windows. We asked if we could sit at any one of a number of other tables set for two that were shaded but our request was refused. So we wiped our dirty chairs clean, sat down and immediately broke out in an uncomfortable sweat. We politely advised them we could not stay. They asked if we wanted to dine outside on the shaded deck, so we reluctantly agreed. We were directed to a dirty plastic table that rocked, cheap plastic chairs and waited. We received some tepid tap water and then we placed our order. Entree: Mussel Bar Selection Plate (for two) at $32. Underwhelming and overpriced. A medium prawn and a little prawn. A small oyster and a tiny oyster. The little crab cakes were luke warm. The sushi looked, felt and tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge for a week. I ordered the rare tuna steak at $32. My wife ordered the Basil Marinated Tiger Prawns at $29. We shared Potato Wedges on the side. The girl with the head cold served our mains and I mentioned I didn’t have a knife. I waited for the knife with my tuna going cold, but it I had to ask again. When it finally arrived I ate my tuna steak. I didn't eat the incompatible slush it was sitting on (supposed to be some sort of curry - but it looked awful and could have been made by a child). My wife's five tiger prawns were completely unshelled. She had to use her fingers to peel them. No finger bowls to wash her hands. The accompanying rice was far too spicy and killed the flavour of the prawns. The mood was tense, the day was ruined. My wife and I agreed that we would have enjoyed a burger at Hungry Jacks far more. The $128 the meal was a complete waste of money. 21/01/2012

TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. I went for lunch today at Mussel Bar and could not be more disappointed. I was with a group of 8 people and just 2 of them were lucky enough to be happy with their choices (they ordered mussels). My partner and I ordered a seafood paella. The rice looked and tasted like 1minute-microwave rice. The sauce was canned tomato sauce! Three of my friends ordered the beef steak that was overcooked and tasteless and the peas that came with the dish was completely raw! And when I mean raw, I MEAN RAW! My other friend who ordered a simple fish and chips was disappointed with her choice since the fish was again tasteless, the chips was oily and hard rock and the size of the dish was just a shame! When we complaint to the manager he just said that he was sorry and didn’t give any further explanation. * To be fair our waiter was really good. 07/11/2011