Crofters Brasserie in Braintree

omgggggggg one of the best roasts I've ever had!!!!!! nothing to fault.....apart from too nice that u have to eat it alllllllll 🐷🐷 service was fab...food exceptional & price reasonable too. can't wait to go back x

First visit to this restaurant and wasn’t disappointed. The food was delicious, very reasonably priced and excellent service coupled with a soul /Motown vibe as background music. All in all a great experience and will definitely be back when next in Witham

Arrived as a walk in at 13:45 and were immediately shown to a table. Drinks were ordered from the table and after about 15 mins they arrived. After being seated for 25 mins I decided to go up to the bar to order food as it was linked we had been forgotten by the waitress. Then came the wait. The table adjacent to us had their food and left (who also ordered at the bar 5mins before me), there was a group of 6 enjoying a “bottomless brunch”, they had food flowing, no sign of ours. I went to the bar again to order more drinks, and asked if they knew how long the food was going to be as we ordered over an hour ago, and just popped in for lunch 1 1/2 hours ago! The waitress said we should be next. After 2 hours we went to the bar to pay for our drinks, and left. In all fairness they said the drinks were ‘on the house’ but offered no apology or explanation. I’m not sure if they were kitchen staff short or were giving priority to the ‘bottomless brunch’ tables. We certainly won’t waste our time again.

We went for Sunday lunch. It was disappointing the roast pork was lovely but the roast potatoes needed another 20 minutes and vegetables were more raw than aldente. The staff were very friendly and helpful

Made a booking via contact form but no confirmation forthcoming. Rang several times no answer so left messages which weren’t responded to. Ended up eating elsewhere.

The staff attentive and efficient. The food beautifully presented,and delicious. But always thought Dax was an exceptional cook since the hold the anchovies days . Cannot recommend strongly enough.Best place for Sunday dinner in Witham and beyond. Travelled 30 miles for it

A really enjoyable meal. Properly could do with an extra vegetarian Sunday roast but good all round.

As ever Crofters delivered. Service was very good and the food also excellent. A good vibe the night we went also added to the experience. If you want excellent brasserie food in Witham it's the place to go.

Poor organisation Preorder menu items differed on the night

Although pre-booking in advance we were shocked to discover that majority of the food in the restaurant was unavailable. When we did receive our food we were provided with no cutlery, condiments or napkins. We were halfway through eating until we were able to ask a waitress who was serving another table. The drinks were overpriced and flat and the food was average at best.

Friendly staff and helpful, Never been here before and what a lovely surprise, I liked the interior and layout, good menu and amazing food, we all had something different and all dishes looked tasty. Would definitely go again

We visited after being recommended from a friend. Unfortunately the food did not measure to expectations. Starters were lovely but our roast had broccoli which we could not cut with a knife and was rubbery. The roast potatoes were a little too well done. And the one carrot was not hot. Had rave reviews from friends and one visited on Saturday and he was also disappointed.

23/11/23 We had a really lovely evening here to celebrate my friend's birthday. I've always loved the warm feel of this wine bar/restaurant and the beautiful food. I was glad to see that none of this has changed since their refurb and new management. The lady serving was warm and friendly. I will be returning in December with a different group for a live music night. Really looking forward to it!

We visited Friday 10th November as you had singer Nola Jane singing we had never been before. We had food beforehand and can honestly say it’s the best meal we had had in a very long time everything was spot on hats off to that chef ! Great staff and servers also very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Thank you will be coming back.

First time here. Food absolutely smashing (veggie gyoza to start then duck confit on a balsamic salad). Very nice serving staff. Couple of mix ups but everything turned out fine. Very pleasant evening and I would visit again to try the rest of the menu based on how good my food was. No complaints from my guest either (tempura prawns then fish and chips). Worth a visit, recommended.

We went for the new bottomless brunch and it was brilliant had lot's of prosecco and cocktails. The food was excellent too and the service definitely be do it again

Went for the bottomless brunch Good choice of food to choose from and all lovely. And good selection of drinks prosecco wine beer and cocktails Definitely go back

Such a lovely relaxed restaurant, food was amazing, and I can’t stop craving my dish I am recommending to everyone, so good I travel from Mersea island to come here , and will defo be a frequent visitor now , And I found it great place for family , business , couples - just perfect

Under new management - extremely disappointing, very poor service, the new staff don’t seem to be trained at all. No wine list (despite being a wine bar), and the staff seemed annoyed to have to go to the bar to check what wines they had. We were asked 3 times if we were ready to order food but hadn’t even ordered a drink at that point. New menu is ok, but nothing in comparison to the great offering prior to closure and re-open in the recent weeks. Children ordered ‘sundae’s’ - which we were expecting more than to scoops of ice cream in a bowl with some shop bought brownies squares chucked on top. Whilst the children were having their ‘sundaes’ we thought a nice grown up finisher would be nice, and as I’d spotted the Kahlua on the bar when I walked in I thought it wouldn’t be unreasonable to order an espresso martini, but was disappointingly told that they ‘don’t do them’. To top this off, we were overcharged for other diners drinks and had to wait 4 full days to be refunded. Won’t be returning.

Live the new decor and the small plates were amazing. Really enjoyed the cheese selection with cured meats Great atmosphere even had live music in the bar which was a great added addition

After visiting regularly for many years, we were totally underwhelmed and disappointed. New management and all new staff need some serious training. No wine menu, just a scrap of paper handwritten with 4 choices and all misspelt, as if written by a child. Wine was brought to the table already uncorked! An absolute no, no, anywhere. Gin and tonics served without any lemon, and when pointed out, we were given a bowl with 3 slices of lemon between us? Now for the food. Small plates were all tasteless, like they'd come from Iceland. Ribs were good, Mussels were soooo small, I gave up bothering and left feeling hungry. Duck leg was good, but the concoction of salad, with what tasted like cherry pie sauce poured on it, was inedible. Overall, it was a very disappointing visit, and we certainly won't be returning again, which is a real shame as we used to love it there.

Lunch today with my husband and granddaughter. The food was excellent all the ingredients were fresh and very tasty. A lovely venue with wonderful cheerful staff. Will be a regular customer.

Revamped new menu that's 100% on point, great service - food came out fast and hot. Everything our party ordered was good, but shout out to the dirty fries which were sublime, couldn't recommend highly enough!

This was one of our favourites for the last 30 years - staff still lovely but the new menu unispiring - if we wanted pub grub we would go to a pub.

Very pleasant with great staff and manager. Reasonable prices and good food. Happy to come back one day. (Last visited in 1991!)

What a gem of a place! So much better than your typical chain restaurants. 5 of us ate here last night, great menus choices and just a general warm feeling throughout the place We will be back Ben

Met a girlfriend for dinner we had a lovely 2 courses plus an expresso martini each. Good service too.

Check your bill. They tried to overcharge us all night. They added on drinks on to our final bill that had already been paid for - that was two rounds plus two bottles of wine. And when I just checked my bank statement I have two charges taken off my card for £90 and another for £28 !! I did go to the bar twice to purchase drinks but I know that a bottle of Prosecco and 8 tequila shots don't cost that much. Totally ripped me off.

We had lunch in here today, we found this hidden gem having moved to Witham very recently. The staff were very welcoming and friendly and the food was delicious. We’ll definitely be back!

Crofters is one of our favourite restaurants, and as a couple, we have been several times. The food has always been excellent and the venue is quirky and cosy, much nicer than the harsh modern, laboratory type restaurants that are now commonplace. We had 3 courses from the menu and a bottle of wine which totalled approximately £120 (wine was almost £30). While the food was perfectly cooked and the service was excellent, it seems the menu options are more limited and mainstream than what they used to be, which is a shame.

Charming restaurant, great food and friendly staff. Workers lunch is a great deal with large portions. Visit regularly with Husband or friends.

An evening meal for a special birthday celebration. Party of 9, very very well catered for. Waitresses were amazing and a credit to the resturant, could not have been any more friendly or helpful. Always checking if the food, drinks, service was OK. All very...

Three of us went to Crofters on a Wednesday night. A nice venue, very friendly and efficient staff with very good food to match. The main menu had traditional choices and the vegetarian menu was excellent as well. Starters around £7 each (Prawn cocktail; garlic...

Meal for six including grandparents and young kids. Sunday lunches were excellent, service was spot on, lovely restaurant with unusual decor nice break from the norm.. we will be back

What a amazing meal!! We had 28 sitting down all the meals were very tasty and hot all 3 courses, and each course came out together Had a dj after and had a very good evening of drinking and dancing Would definitely recommend this venue

Nice ambience, decent service but the food is really average pub standard. Tonight I ordered salmon with a "pea and asparagus risotto". The salmon was not bad but the risotto was basically either boiled rice or a microwaved rice with peas in it that was...

My friends and I came here on Sunday for a cheeky Sunday roast! The roast dinners here are a 10/10! I’ll definitely be making a return very soon and have recommended this place to my family and friends! A special shoutout to Clara and Lauren...

This is a review covering 3 recent visits. First was with my friend who hadn’t been to Crofters before (and has now made it his date venue 😂). Second with my BF and theirs with my mum. They all loved it and were very impressed...

Fantastic entertainment from a soul singer called Irie J, which in turn created a great atmosphere. the menu selection was creative and the meal itself was spot on, the service was good and the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. Great night out, thoroughly recommend...

I’ve been a frequent visitor to Crofters but due to the pandemic, I’ve only recently just returned. Aesthetically, the venue is beautiful and quirky. The food however didn’t meet previous standards. Between our table, the mussels were superb! But the bread offering on the side...

Visited tonight for our Anniversary, Have used Crofters a lot in the past and never been let down, am hoping tonight was simply an 'off night' with my mains. Felt slightly unwelcomed if I'm honest, didnt have it's usual buzzing atmosphere feel, wife ordered some...

Nice place great staff and worked hard all night book a table buzzing good music in the back ground nice wine selection and beers on tap food menu looks good too will be back to eat

Lovely place to meet friends , great atmosphere , lovley people and lovely food even better when it was half price on “ eat out to help out “ .

OMG Delicious food. Sunday Roast was bloody amazing. Please tell your chef. And a massive thank you for the pigs in blankets. Absolutely gorgeous. We honestly couldn’t tell you which bit was our favourite. It was all delicious xx

We had a really lovely Sunday lunch at Crofters this afternoon. The Rib of Beef was particularly good beautifully cooked medium rare and the food came out piping hot which is really important to me. You are always made to feel so welcome and the...

First ever visit to Crofters and highly unlikely to go here again. We popped in for lunch and had Ham, Egg and 'chunky' chips. The chips were absolutely terrible - at best they were like par boiled potatoes. They were cut into ridiculously large slices (some 5 inches long and over an inch in thickness), firm to hard inside and barely fried or crispy. Had we known they were gonna be like this, given the choice to change, we would have opted for the more traditional regular sized fries. We're the last people to complain and only when asked by our server did we say how we felt - his expression seeming to understand where we were coming from. The only good thing to come out our spoilt lunch was a promotion reducing the bill - something we were unaware of at the time - but we'd have gladly paid full price for acceptable food instead.

I took my family (wife, 8, 9 year old and 7-month-old baby) and we had a wonderful time, Decor,food and service is fantastic. The kids want to go back!

Took my son and daughter and daughter in law few drinks and of cause the fish finger sarnie I could go there every day for them there absolutely the best ever. Starters garlic mushrooms are another yes plz. Few unicorn shots wow they were great thank you for a lovely meal. If u haven’t been then do so there menu is perfect loads of options been here a few times with family they have entertainment at times the bouncer castle at times it’s a lovely place. For solo couples family’s meetings they cater for all.

Lovely evening meal, great food and service. Social distancing was well maintained and a good menu. Very nice decor and friendly staff

Amazing experience @ Crofters as always, from the champagne to the attentive staff, nothing was rushed or pressured and the food was exceptional and cooked to perfection.

From the moment we arrived the staff were Incredibly friendly and very helpful. The Starter, Main and Deserts looked and tasted amazing, it was a Perfect night...

Before I begin I want to make it clear that this review has absolutely no bearing on the Waiting staff. They were extremely polite, professional and empathetic towards their customers. This negative review is towards the disastrous food, and the ‘chef’.My partner and I decided to visit Crofters as a treat and to make the most of the last day of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. We both ordered Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken Wonton on an Asian Salad for starters and Roast Turkey with trimmings for mains. Surprisingly the starters arrived on our table within one to two minutes of ordering. I was shocked and concerned how quickly they left the pass. How can one prepare two plates of fresh Wonton in under two minutes?Firstly it wasn’t Wonton. Wonton are either steamed or fried dumplings. This was more akin to chicken teriyaki made with sweet chilli sauce. You need to be accurate what you label things as on your menu. Don’t treat your customers like idiots.Secondly it was barely lukewarm and chewy. It clearly wasn’t freshly cooked. If it was freshly cooked it would take longer than two minutes to send out two portions. My guess is it was prepared earlier and under heated, or it was sent back to the kitchen from another table and given to us rather than binned.The waitress was very apologetic and immediately sought to getting us a replacement straight away. The second batch of ‘Wonton’ aka Teriyaki-ish sweet chilli chicken came out a few minutes later, hotter, but tasted incredibly bland and uninspired. Likely the same crap we sent back but warmed up a bit more.Are you ready for the main course?The waitress kindly brought us out a complimentary side of cauliflower cheese to compensate for the issues with our starters, which was very kind and thoughtful of the kitchen. The turkey was okay, but I don’t think it was carved from a freshly cooked bird. It was dry and tasted processed. The roast potatoes were inedible and rock hard. I could barely cut in to them, but once I did they had dehydrated where they had clearly been reheated more than once, or deep fried to death. If you threw one at somebody you could seriously injure them. The parsnip was undercooked and crunchy in the middle. The cabbage was burnt! It had been stir fried but was black and charred and tasted like charcoal. Even the complimentary cauliflower cheese couldn’t save the day. The florets were undercooked and hard, the cheese sauce was runny, milky and tasteless. Clearly the chef can’t even make a simple roux or cook vegetables properly.I awkwardly called the waitress over again and explained the food was inedible, and again she was incredibly apologetic and understanding, and dealt with our issues professionally and kindly settled the bill on our behalf. We noticed several other diners had issues with their meals too, and the waiting staff were very understanding and quick to remedy there problems. It’s like they were used to the constant complaints.We really want to come back because it has a cracking atmosphere and amazing front of house and waiting staff, but until you replace your ‘chef’ with someone who knows the basics of cooking we will be staying away.

Lovely menu and friendly staff. We had Deep Fried Brie for starter and Red Snapper and Duck and for our mains. Unfortunately the smokers congregated just outside the open door, which meant the smell came into the restaurant. Tables were well spaced, but staff not wearing masks or visors, so we only gave a 4. We would have given a 5 if we had felt safer with the use of masks.

We visited as a large Christmas booking and found everything to be well organised and co-ordinated. All food came out piping hot and the staff were friendly as always!

Amazing hidden gem in Witham. Never been before and what an amazing treat. The restaurant and food are amazing. The shandy fish and chips are excellent and really light. The Steak and frites was cooked to perfection. Cabbage and bacon is an amazing side dish to order. Never thought we would have space for dessert but chose the cheese board and lemon tart & raspberry ripple. Just amazing.Crofters certainly know their wine as I was recommended a Viognier which was light, creamy and refreshing.Thank you so much. We will be back.

We booked a table for two and bustled into a small space with a small table crammed in by a table for four to our right which was a step higher than our table. To our left was a table for four and whilst occupied by only two people further added to the cramped feeling. It was a cold day but there was no heating on and my wife had to keep her coat on to stay warm. We have dined here several times before and have always enjoyed the atmosphere and most of all the food which is always well cooked and presented. It was the same this time and a pity that the occasion was spoilt by the lack of heat and crammed seating. It was the first time that we had seen this server, nice guy but too enthusiastic. I hope this is a one off for a would like to continue my visits which have been over 20 years

Had an amazing evening at Crofters. Staff were attentive and the food was amazing! Especially the steak . Thanks for a great evening we will be returning. Tristan

last minute decision and the lunchtime specials were very nice. bangers and mash - very good and the vegetarian humani special was good too - what more do you want, the service good and slightly unusual in an emptier environment than normal

we went to this restuarant in August to celebrate 2 birthdays . We ordered the sirloin steak which was quite pricey.We seem to wait a long time for the meal so was hungary when ut arrived.I had experienced flat iron steak on my holiday , this was on the menu as aspecial that evening and that was what was on my plate so natuarally we expected to be charges for the special and not what we had ordered.The bill came up and sure enough we had been charges for sirloin. as it was for a birthday celebration we decided not to make a fuss but we will not return to this restuarant as they did not have the decency to charge for what we had and advise us they didn't have what we had ordered!!

If you're after somewhere a little bit more special for a celebration, for example, I'd recommend crofters. Good food, freindly staff. I had a very enjoyable time here.

Great restaurant, best in Witham. Fantastic service always with a smile and helpful, great food. Music evenings also very good.

Excellent quality food and presentation. Good service, great atmosphere. Very reasonable prices (January menu). Lovely evening out for my husbands birthday,

We came for a Birthday celebration, it was ok. My food was ok, well cooked and hot. Some of our food was ok but some of our party had very small portions for their mains. My wife had a Ceasar salad which consisted of only sliced Chicken and shredded lettuce. Service was ok, not helped by us pre-ordering and then not remembering what we'd ordered. This is a clean spacious venue with clean toilets and parking outside. The venue was very busy, a good sign

Saturday 14th December, a much needed dinner for two exhausted members of Witham 41club, both just couldn’t be asked to cook our own meal, CROFTERS once again came to my rescue.The welcome as always was wonderful just when l needed it, another fabulous meal, food delicious, chef always delivers exactly what l ask for, exceptional service great house wines & our host Bailey made us extremely welcome.I cannot recommend this place more highly, just such great value for money!

We have just left stuffed to the max having just had an absolutely gorgeous meal. Pate starter, lamb shank that fell off the bone,and a chocolate orange cheesecake to die for. Staff were fantastic,a really lovely friendly welcoming atmosphere, Thankyou for making our christmas day even more special xxxx

We went as a party of 7 and ate from the Christmas menu, overall it was good, the staff in particular were excellent, but the food didn't quite match expectations.

I like it here a lot. Great place for a drink and bar tapas. Main menu is really good too, chilli beef dish is delicious. Service is always good and reasonable prices.

Love this place. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. It has a great vibe. Was totally entertained last night by Jordan.

Met here with two friends as Witham is a good halfway house and we had good memories of the Crofters going way back. Fast and efficient service at lunchtime and good quality food, well presented. A minor quibble that the bar area seems a little gloomy in terms of light but overall a pleasant experience and we will return.

We happened upon this little gem in Witham. The oysters were nicely prepared and fresh as was the rest of the meal. The staff were lovely. Altogether an enjoyable lunch and would certainly visit again.

Popped in on the off chance and was extremely pleased with the food. Service was amazing. We had seen a menu online which was in the process of being changed but the lovely lady owner went out of her way to help us and we stayed to eat. So glad we did, absolutely great and we will definitely be back. Thank you.

Came for Sunday lunch. Initial staff we came into contact with were very accommodating. Cleared a space for our buggy etc. Past that point, staff were a real disappointment. My husband ordered a pint of Coke Zero, a half pint of Diet Coke arrived (apparently they don’t do Zero but no-one mentioned it, just gave him something else). Second staff encounter, my husband asked where their baby change was to be told they didn’t have one (not overly unusual unfortunately) so when he asked where he could change the baby the waitress replied ‘the car??!!’ Then laughed and walked off.

Service was really good and the food was really good too. We would definitely recommend this place and will definitely be going back. Only thing that was a bit weird was getting the bill in an old dvd box hmmm. No relevance to the meal or building other than that it was perfect.

Following a week long run of Sister Act at Witham Public Hall, and the cleanup, a few of us decide to have a recuperative Sunday afternoon at Crofters. Great menu, great service, highly recommended!

Thank you Crofters we booked a table for a birthday when we turned up the table was all decorated and ready for when weturned up, the staff was delightful was a really good meal.

Service was good but food was not up to the standard we expected. Didn’t look like photos of food advertised. Good place for drinks and nibbles but not for a special occasion.

I had been told by a few people to visit here but never got round to it. On Friday, my partner and I decided to go for dinner and wanted to go a little bit out of town, I called the restaurant and they were able to book me a table no problem - with excellent telephone manners.

Food still good service getting a bit shoddy, think they have taken their eye off the ball a bit. Shame

Popped in three of us for Friday evening supper. Really nice meal with great service and ambiance. Staff were very attentive and friendly. Love this place

This brasserie is a well appointed bar/restaurant which has a great atmosphere and accompanied with great food and excellent staff makes for a fantastic night out.

some people have to be up at 12.45 am for work and got to do 12 hour shift on no sleep as music is far to loud thks

So me and my partner went for lunch at Crofters. You'd think well it's just lunchtime so it won't be as good as an evening. No no! The food was superb. Large portions of tasty, well seasoned, well cooked food. 3 amazingly presented courses that went down a treat. Do eat here, it's a treat for your taste buds!!

Food is fab - seasonal, local and beyond every expectation. Superb.

Came in Friday August 2nd for the first time with my boyfriend after seeing reviews online. We were not disappointed. The ambiance of the place instantly put us in that good Friday feeling, with the rustic dining settings and fairy lights. We both had starters, mains and an alcoholic drink and it came to just over £30 each including a tip - which I would say was reasonable for most places nowadays. The food was beautiful! I had the calamari and pork belly starter and it was so tasty and presented to such a high standard I almost didn’t want to eat it. My boyfriend had snails, which were again lovely. For main I had the duck leg which was so juicy and light with a crispy skin (not many places can achieve both), whilst he had a special “trio of lamb” (lamb rump, lamb croquette and then a mini Shepard pie). The waitresses were very attentive but not instructive!

We ate at Crofters last evening and had a great evening. Food as always was excellent and service from staff very friendly and helpful. Thanks again for another great time.

Another fabulous evening, great food, wonderful service and good entertainment, l can’t fault Crofters thats why l come back, l know lm going to be looked after, thank you Emma,Croc & your attentive staff, 100% satisfied

A super little place in Witham. We are new to the area and wandered around looking for a drink. Found Crofters and was very impressed. Really lovely staff too. Highly recommend.

Visited recently with a large party; everyone enjoyed their meals very much and the staff were nice and friendly. Great selection of drinks too - a must visit place if you’re looking for a decent place to eat, drink and socialise.

From the G&T; in the beer garden to the friendly staff, amazing food and lovely atmosphere, you cannot fault this place!!

I arranged a long awaited get-together with my cousins and my daughter. The staff were very pleasant throughout our time there ( we certainly didn't feel rushed!) and the setting was delightful - quirky but cosy. Food was tasty, very reasonably priced and with good-sized portions. I'd definitely recommend it, though be aware that parking is quite limited so may be wise to park elsewhere and walk!

This is a delightful place. They have some how managed to make a small area seem very large. The bar is compact, but the dining places are spacious, whilst still keeping that cosy feeling.

Met with friends for a 40th anniversary. Very friendly atmosphere. Good for families, small children. Simple menu but brilliant presentation and preparation on the food. I had a classic burger with fries. Loved it. Definitely coming back

There was 20 of us today here for a ruby anniversary. I got to say we all had a great time and the food was really lovely. There was quite a variety and some real old favourites. I can recommend the liver and bacon for sure. Great selection of Gins plus nice beers. The staff were friendly and polite. We did have to wait a little while for our courses but this was to be expected as there was 20 of us. Certainly worth a visit.

Just returned from an excellent lunch at Crofters, Witham. Very warm welcome, friendly & attentive staff, great food and relaxing decor & atmosphere. We chose from the Bistro Lunch Menu and, although small, the choice was good. The Garlic Herb Mushrooms on a Toasted Ciabata starter was truly excellent ( I could easily be tempted to vegetarian with a dish like that!). Each course was plentiful and scored highly for taste and presentation. Our waitress was genuinely friendly and attentive. All in all a very enjoyable lunch time experience. Highly recommended.

Friendly and helpful staff,didn't wait long for service lovely food,cosy bar and dining area Food portions just right!

I was going onto an event and I found the service was prompt and food tasty. The palce has a great atmosphere and is ideally situated in Witham.

Having eaten here several times with family, the service is always bright and bubbly and despite the fact we are generally a large table of 12+ we don’t find ourselves with a long wait. The food is always hot and deliscious and the menu is always fresh and plentiful in choices. I’d highly recommend eating here.

This was the latest of our major celebrations at Crofters. Staff were attentive and friendly as usual, buffet is excellent. If you are looking for a a great atmosphere in classic bistro surroundings this is the place

We attended this venue for one of our friends birthdays and we were in a large party.

We went as a group of 4 on a Friday evening. The place was buzzing and the service was good. However the food was a disaster. The Mussels were tasty but there was not a drop of broth to be seen. Why then serve them with "crusty bread"? To mop up what?