Restaurant Review: Mannequin Pis Restaurant (Olney, MD) -A night of Belgian respect with Chris and Dana

Outstanding Belgian food, bier and hospitality!

Ambiance: Small dining area, somewhat tight seating, Belgian decor with a variety of artwork, beer and wine bottles scattered throughout.
Food: Traditional Belgian cuisine- mussels, fries, steaks, fish- something for everyone.
Service: Very friendly and attentive.
Wine List: Limited wine list, but extensive Belgian Beer list with sampler options at fair pricing.
Pricing: $$$ Beer/wine: fair pricing, Appetizers: $7-$10, Sausage plate $12, Entrees $18-$24- good pricing for the quality of food
Attire: No specific dress code- most patrons in casual attire from jeans to khakis, polo’s to button-ups
Overall rating: Very Good-highly recommended: The mussels were spectacular, sausages flavorful and perfectly tender, and the main entrees were top notch. Outstanding Belgian beer, food and hospitality!
Location/Contact Info: http://www.mannequinpis.com
18064 Georgia Ave
Olney, MD 20832
Phone: 301-570-4800

Summary: When our friends Dana and Chris invited us to try out this small, family-style Belgian restaurant in Olney, Maryland Kim and I were very excited. Dana and Chris had just moved back from Boston where they fell in love with Belgian food and beer. Now back in Charm City, the two were eager to find a local Belgian restaurant that would live up to their new standards. On a recommendation of a co-worker here in Maryland, Chris came across Mannequin Pis. Knowing that I love food and beer (and mentioning they had wine too!), Chris gave me a call and after a few weeks of coordinating schedules, dates, times (and drinking plenty of water to prepare ourselves for copious amounts of Belgian ale!), we ended up at Mannequin Pis on a Friday night for an 8:30 PM reservation.

We arrived right at 8:30 PM and it seemed we were one of the last tables to be seated (we were also the last to leave!). Our table was middle of the cozy, intimate dining area, surrounded by 7 or so other tables seating 2-6 patrons. The dining tables and chairs are nothing special, but we were comfortable enough which was important as Dana (Dr. Dana) is many months along in her pregnancy! That’s right, no delicious Belgian beer for Dana on this night (no worries Dana, we’ll go again in a few months!).

Once seated, we were greeted by a lovely Moldovian server (the accent gave it away!) who was enthusiastic and over the course of the night, very helpful. She inquired whether we had eaten at Mannequin Pis before, then guided us through the beer menu. We settled on a 6- ale sampler for the three of us who were drinking (to start!). Throughout the “tasting”, our server kept our glasses full, running back and forth as one bottle was empty to get another from the fridge. We offered that he bottles could just sit out on the table, but she insisted on keeping things on ice which was nice.

We began tasting through the sampler and picked a few appetizers to try out. There are a number of mouth-watering pre-dinner options ranging from Pirogies to mussels made many ways. We decided on a plate of sausages (wild boar/cranberry and boudin blanc) with sauerkraut ($12) and a giant 2.2 lb platter of mussels ($20) that was finished with goat cheese, bacon, beer and leeks. The sausages were perfectly cooked and tender and the mussels were outstanding. I couldn’t get enough bread to sop up the mussel juice nor could I get enough of the sweet and tangy sauerkraut. I’ve had my fair share of kraut and sausages in Germany and I have to admit, these were up there with some of the best I’ve ever had! I can only imagine how great the escargot ($8.50) or brioche ($8) will be when I try them on my next visit!

And there will soon be another visit!

With the beer sampler nearing it’s end, the main courses began to arrive. On the table we had a Carbonnade Flamande ($18) which is a Flemish Beef Stew cooked with beer, a Salmon Fillet that was seared and served with fennel and an orval-paprika sauce ($18), a duck breast special that featured a perfectly seared duck breast ($20, and a medium rare (as ordered) ribeye steak with pommes frites (fries) ($20). There wasn’t an OK dish on the table- everything was very good to outstanding. Chris, who is a flamande expert (he is now, anyway), commented that although it wasn’t the best he’s had, it was definitely very good (I tried it and agreed- it was the best I’ve had anyways!). The meat was tender while the beer sauce enhanced its flavor rather than overpowered it. Dana’s salmon had a nice crisp to it and the fennel root and pommes puree added depth and elegant presentation to this dish. The duck breast, which gets a low score for presentation, featured a mouthwatering variety of spices and flavors, a combination of sweet and savory that highlighted the flavors of the duck meat. The steak (pictured here) was also very good, with a dill sauce that went great with the salty fries and flavorful Belgian ales.

To finish the meal Chris and I went through a round of Rochfort Trappiste’s; the 6, 8, and 10! I’ve had these many times in the past and, if you’re up to some big, bold, flavorful ale, these are highly recommended. Pricing on these (and all their beer) was very good- just over retail. I barely looked at the wine list, but for those who aren’t into beer, there are plenty of quaffable options and all are fairly priced.

The dessert menu features a variety of treats from the delicate to the decadent. We had a white chocolate and dark chocolate mousse that were both rich yet balanced.

I can’t say enough about our service, the beers, the pricing, or the food! Mannequin Pis succeeds at providing great service, a variety of Belgian beer, and traditional, delicious Belgian cuisine in a comfortable, unpretentious and affordable way. There is something for everyone to be found on the menu- from appetizers, to sides, to main course. Mannequin Pis goes among one of the very highly recommended restaurants I’ve been to within the Baltimore area. My recommendation is find a few close friends (thanks Dana and Chris!), make a weekend reservation and take advantage of this tucked-away restaurant. If you’re coming from town, don’t forget a designated drive since the large portions of flavorful cuisine go best with their moderately priced, high alcohol, Belgian beer!