Formerly known as The Basement, Mussel Box is a casual and community-led restaurant in the heart of Padstow, which overlooks the harbour. Open all day, Mussel Box welcomes both bookings and walk-ins, as well as offering dine-in and takeaway options, so you can choose whether you want to soak up the views from the comfort of your table or enjoy them out in the elements with a takeaway box.
If you’re the kind of person who takes an interest in where your food has come from, Mussel Box is the restaurant for you. As the name suggests, mussels are something of a speciality here, and the restaurant uses Porthilly Mussels which are delivered twice daily from just a mile across the estuary. Furthermore, all of the meat and vegetables Mussel Box uses are sourced locally and everything is cooked fresh on site, so it’s a guarantee that you are tucking into high-quality, seasonal produce.
Dining here is a simple, uncomplicated affair. The a la carte is made up of mussels cooked in various styles, alongside small plates designed to share and a few larger ‘meat and veg’ options. Kick things off with a helping of mussels, which you can enjoy in the classic moules marinieres style (essentially with bucketfuls of cream), or curried, laced with chilli or served Spanish-style - think chorizo, black olive and tomato finished off with oregano.
The small plates take a more globally inspired approach, featuring the likes of padron peppers, brisket mac ‘n’ cheese and a chicken tikka skewer, while larger offerings include steaks, stacked burgers and sea bass with pressed potatoes and pancetta.
In the morning, filled breakfast rolls and fry ups are available, while Sundays are home to hearty roast dinners complete with all of the trimmings. There’s even a kids menu for the little ones, so Mussel Box really does have something for all the family.