Granville Moore’s is a bar on H Street specializing in Belgian food and beer. I have long wanted to go there, but whenever I was in the area I was not in the mood for that type of food. But when I heard rumors that it was closing (or is it?), I made a special trip just to eat there.

Chef Teddy Folkman opened Granville Moore’s in 2007. In 2017 Ryan Gordon, chef and owner of Queen Vic, another H Street institution, became proprietor of Granville Moore’s. Folkman stayed on as executive chef. As far as I can tell, not much changed after the ownership transfer. After surviving COVID, Granville Moore’s future is now in doubt.

Menu

The menu is a mix of classic Belgian dishes and pub food. Starters include Frites, Brussels Sprouts Gratin, and Stoemp (a traditional Belgian dish consisted of pureed vegetables). But they also include Calamari and Doctors Wings (chicken wings with a honey barbecue sauce).

One of Granville Moore’s most popular menu items is Mussels. They have four kinds: Mariniere, Bleu,Champignons, and Spicy Thai Curry. Next are Sandwiches, which include DR’s Burger, Meatball Baguette, and Roast Beef & Blue Cheese Panini. There is also a kids menu.

My Meal

I wanted to go with one of Granville Moore’s signature dishes, so I went with Mussels. I asked my server for a recommendation. He replied that they were all good, but that the Mariniere was the most traditional.

I went with that. In the Mariniere, the mussels are steamed in a white wine, garlic and herb sauce. The mussels were decent. The sizes varied. Some were big and plump. And some were skimpy. I don’t fault the restaurant. The quality of mussels depends on whether or not they are in season, and I suspect they were not. The mussels were served with a big basket of crispy frites (fries). I had them with truffle mayonnaise, which is an upscaled version of the sauce the Belgians use. Quite tasty!

Drinks

Granville Moore’s has a good selection of Belgian beers, both on tap and in bottles. The ones on tap include: a Witte, a Pilsner, an IPA, a couple of Dubbels, and a couple of Tripels. I decided on a Cherry Chouffe. The beer is a little sweet and has a strong cherry flavor. I once encountered a Belgian that said such beers are for women, but I love them. I liked this one so much that I ordered two.

Dessert

There were three dessert options: Belgian Beignets, Mini Caramel Apple Waffles, and a Smores Baguette. My server told me the beignets were the most popular, but that was not what I was looking for. I ended up choosing the Smores Baguette. I found it a little lackluster, as it consisted of a thin layer of Nutella on French bread, with roasted marshmallows on top. It was not very sweet and the flavors did not blend well together. I should have went with the beignets.

Ambience

It is recommended to make a reservation at Granville Moore’s and as soon as I entered I realized why. They don’t have many tables and they were all booked for the evening. The downstairs bar was full. Fortunately, there was plenty of space at the upstairs bar and I found a seat there. The bartender was friendly and gregarious and made sure I was taken care of. The food took a long time to come out, but it was a very busy night so I was not surprised. The patrons were also very friendly. I had a wonderful conversation with the people sitting near me, discussing politics and how caucuses work. A very DC conversation.

With good food, great beer, and a fabulous ambience Granville Moore’s is a great place to hang out. I hope the establishment continues in some form or another.