Restaurant Review – Mannequin Pis Belgium Restaurant

Mannequin Pis is Dutch for little man urinating. It’s the world-famous bronze sculpture landmark located in Brussels, of a small boy urinating into a public fountain’s basin. 

Why it’s famous is up for debate – perhaps a little boy urinated on an invader’s bomb fuse, or maybe on the heads of foreign troops while up in tree, or just a tale about a lost little boy who was eventually found while in the act of peeing.

And with a name like Mannequin Pis, you know the food at this restaurant has to be good.

Opened in 1999, Mannequin Pis in suburban Olney, Maryland has been serving authentic Belgian cuisine in a comfortable setting that makes you feel as if you are inside a small cafe in Brussels.  Located in a small strip mall, surrounded by other small restaurants, this is a jewel in the rough.

With a list of over 60 Belgian beers (and not a Miller Lite or Bud anywhere on the menu) you can sample traditional Belgium bistro cuisine along with countless pale, golden, amber, brown and blonde ales.

The signature appetizers are mussels served in 17 different varieties, with garlic fries and six styles of sausages ($8.50 – $10.00), including wild boar and cranberry, Boudin Noir (blood sausage) and venison and blueberry.

If you order the mussels, expect a black pot filled to be served with a full kilo (2.2 lbs.) for $20.00, regardless of the style.  They’ll come out perfectly steamed and flavored.  Some of the unique ingredients in your options include goat cheese, beer, horseradish, pineapple, harissa (a North African red hot red sauce) and coconut milk.  I was dying to try the mussels in Lobster Bisque, but there were simply too many to try. So you should be able to find at least one style you love.

The mussels are served with an order of Pommes Friets (French fries) and served in a classic paper basket. We ordered an extra order of the Garlic Pommes Friets and they were VERY garlicky and amazingly delicious.

It’s probably best to come very hungry as a pot of mussels and just one other appetizer was enough to satisfy two people.

They also have full entree dishes ($18.50 – $27.00) including sea bass, bacon-wrapped trout, Waterzooi – a classic fish and seafood stew, beef stew, and the classic bistro meal, Steak & Friets.

I’m also looking forward to trying one of their three soups, all if which sounded great, including mussel saffron, potato & leek and lobster bisque which is chef’s special ($8.50 – $11.00).

I can’t wait until I get another chance to visit Mannequin Pis. Next time I’ll try to bring a group so we can sample a few of the other styles of mussels and sausages.

Mannequin Pis
18064 Georgia Avenue
Olney, Maryland  20832 (map it)
301-570-4800

Dates & Times – Monday – Thursday 5:00 to 9:30 p.m.,  Friday – Sunday until 10:30 p.m., plus
Sunday brunch served 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Reservations – Highly recommended, especially on weekends. Reservations accepted by phone or online. 

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Shady Grove – Red line, then a 6–mile cab ride.

Parking – Limited metered street parking and area paid garage parking is available.

Images – statue – public domain, all others from personal collection – ©2009, Jon Rochetti 

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