Mannequin Pis

LOVE the Mannequin Pis. They have a very large selection of mussel recipes, and a diverse menu of other selections. There are very very traditional selections (Mariniere and Provancale) and oddball things for diverse palates (Pop-​Eye, Red Devil, Hawaiian, and Jamaican Isle). Haven’t had one I didn’t like.
They have expanded their menu over the years, to include specialties such as sausage: Wild boar and Cranberry, Pheasant, Merguez, Boudin Noir (Blood Sausage), and Venision and Blueberry.
Something for everyone. Give it a try. If you like mussels, you won’t be disappointed.

Server of this restaurant went outside just to criticize my parking job and told me that women should not be allowed to drive because they can not drive.

«Cozy» is an understatement at this restaurant, and a nice way of describing how they cram you into a table that is literally inches from your neighbor. Definitely not the place to go if you’re looking to have a private dinner conversation.
The food was good. My husband got the snob mussels and tried a couple of the whit beers, and I got the Trout. Our server was friendly, but not necessarily attentive as we sat for a while after finishing our meal and we had to call her over to get another round of drinks.
Overall the food is good, but not necessarily good enough to make up for the atmosphere of being packed in like sardines.

What a hidden gem. If you’re looking for a quaint restaurant with a European vibe, this is a great alternative to flying to Brussels :). It’s known for the mussels so we always get that with the entrees. Of course the pommes frites and sauce are always a winner. The entrees I’ve had are all delicious and I’ve tried all the desserts. The sausages are good too, but not my favorite item on the menu. From the menu, I’ve tried the Bacon Wrapped Whole Trout, Carbonnade Flamande, Steak — Frites, Sea Bass. The mussel pot flavors we’ve had include Dijonaise, Provancale, Hawaiian (surprisingly good even though I don’t ever like pineapple in my savory foods), Bebert, Snob, and whatever specials they’ve had. Don’t know how I can recommend a particular flavor because I liked them all! For the desserts, the chocolat au pot is very rich and can be difficult to finish because the food is all pretty rich. I’ve had it twice and the quality isn’t very consistent but still yummy. The bread pudding is good, as far as bread pudding goes. :) The crème puffs are light and work well after the entrees. In reality, dessert is hard to finish after the entrees (hard for me to admit this because I always make room for dessert), but they’re worth trying.
Also, service is really great. Lovely personal attention and personable wait staff. It’s a nice choice for a romantic meal or with just a few close friends. It’s a place better suited for adults than kids so go out on a date night and get a sitter!

I loved this place the first time I went as the food is delicious and service was good too. The second time I went the service was so/​so as the staff acted a little annoyed. The atmosphere is cozy and nice, I definitely wouldn’t wear sweats but it’s not too fancy either. Definitely worth it if you get the groupon.

4TH time coming here. Noticed that the menu was reduced, but still have ample choices. Took my parents with me. My father has trouble deciding which beer, but the waiter was very patient and helpful. We had 1 order of escargot which had 6 large snails with lots of cheese and fresh herbs. Yummy. the complimentary bread has a crisp crust and soft warm middle. We ordered the wild mushroom & provencal pots of mussels for the 3 of us. The mussels were a very good size and cooked perfect. There where 2 men & 1 woman working there who sat the customers, took orders, brought the food and checked on things. They rotated around the room making sure everyone was enjoying the food.

I had a cockroach run across my table and they made me pay for my meal. Disgusting. Apparently they are infested because the exterminator comes every Sunday. Stay away.

The four take-​aways from this are:
1. The food, and especially the beer, is expensive
2. The service is average, but not great
3. The server refused to honor the «specials» sign on the front window
4. The Pommes Frites are not Belgian Pommes Frites — just plain old American shoestring french fries.
Now, in detail. We went there because we really like Belgian food, mussels and good Belgian pommes frites. The restaurant came well recommended by some Belgian friends. So. The food was relatively expensive — $ 24 for a bowl of mussels and fries, or $ 22 for the Carbonnade Flamande, the traditional Belgian beef stew. The beef stew was excellent, but slightly chewier than anticipated. Still, a «spot on» rendition of the Carbonnade. The mussels were slightly small, as others have observed, but that may not be something that the chef can control. The amount of mussels and vegetables in each pot was generous — onion slices, celery, and other traditional pot vegetables with the mussels.
The price of beer was exorbitant. Very expensive. Too expensive. Yet, a Belgian beer is perfect with the mussels and carbonnade. And they know that. Still, we were appalled that they would charge $ 14 for a single 350 or 355 ml beer. Bad vibes there!
The sign on the front window said «3 course meal $ 34.95 Everyday». Yet, the server said, «Our menu has changed. We just haven’t gotten around to changing the sign.» Maybe so, but it really is a bait and switch and false advertising and may actually be illegal. And, no, the «menu» had not changed. They just changed the meaning to (Tuesday, wednesday and Thursday”.
The rest of the service was okay, but mediocre. Nothing bad, but nothing noteworthy either. A few miscues on table management — placing or removing silverware, bottles, etc. but, again, nothing egregious.
The décor was modest — some dark stained wood panels, and post-​impressionist unframed paintings, although why post-​impressionism instead of pictures of Brussels or Antwerp or Brugges to lend authority and gravitas to the restaurant, I don’t know.
Now, for the pommes frites. They were well-​cooked and served in the traditional V-​shaped paper «funnels» and wire frames. But the fries could have come from MacDonalds or Burger King — they were NOT traditional Belgian Pommes Frites, those pommes that the Belgians are so spectacularly proud of. They were not prepared in the Belgian fashion — just fried once in the regular deep dryer. C’est tous! Now, in their defense, Mannequin Pis never said they were «Belgian» Pommes Frites, but there is a certain unspoken expectation that, in a Belgian restaurant, serving Belgian specialties, that anything «Pommes Frites» would be BELGIAN (style) Pommes Frites. As you can see, I was clearly, clearly disappointed. Again, the fries were good. They just weren’t authentic. Quel dommage!
So, overall the entrees were excellently prepared, authentic and very tasty, but expensive. The service was okay, but not faultless. The beer was excellent, but severely overpriced. and the french fries, well, they were just french fries.
Would we go back? Probably, for some special occasion, but also probably not soon.

Very unusual selection of beers. Very tasty!
Entrees were varied wirh daily specials. We had 2 different varieties of their muscles (about 15 different choices), sea bass.
Excellent! Highly recommended!

My daughter and I love this place! So bummed we didn’t get there when I was home for the Holidays. If you haven’t been there, go! You will feel like you stepped into Europe.

A local cozy Belgium restaurant serving a good array of French/​Belgian dishes. We
went there on a busy Saturday night for the mussels which previous reviewers and friends thought some of the best in Montgomery County. They offer a price fixed dinner which includes all main courses including the numerous mussel
entrees. I had the mussels in a white wine sauce which was very tasty, served in a metal pot which stayed hot, not warm through the entire meal. The portion size was good but for whatever reasons, the mussels themselves were on the smaller size, but fresh and juicy. The Cabernet house wine was of decent quality, as was the bread. We started with the palm salad which was good, albeit on the smaller size
for the price. Dessert selection was also quite good but when I requested to wait to select after the main course, was told had to make selections when ordering the price fixed dinner.
I would consider returning but think Mon
Ami Gabi in Bethesda is a good level up both in ambience and food with similar pricing.

Bottled beers are overpriced…
escargots were covered with a thick layer of cheese… i didnt mind that so much… cheese is yummy…
first round of bread, the slices were stale and hard… i thought that was just how the french bread was till the second round came and it was pillowy soft…
1 kilo pot of SNOB mussels and 1 kilo pot of Red Devil mussels: broth is very flavorful and on point. the mussels however… for $ 24 each pot, were the size of pistachios… the shells itself are so deceiving… i never new mussels could be sold for consumption at that size… the restaurant basically paid for its shipment in the weight of shells! I have dined here before and raved about their mussel pots… but this experience would not have me come back.

«Used to be good»… Now, it is a poor dining experience.
1) restaurant is not busy, yet they placed diners at tables right beside each other
2) since when does escargot come topped with a layer of cheese that would give a deep dish pizza a run for its money? Use the bread and you can make a good version of cheesy bread from Little Caesars.
3) sausages are still good.
4) service is very spotty and snotty.
They ask you at the beginning if you are using a coupon or Groupon. Why?
At the end of the meal, they ask you to write a good review and like you on FB… Don’t think so.
Spend your dining $ elsewhere…

I remember when this restaurant opened & getting a reservation was next to impossible. During the ensuing 16 yrs, this was my second visit. The ambiance was the same — small tables with white, starched linens, a dark environment, & one toilet bathrooms. I am not a mussel lover, so on each visit I stick with the stew, pork or steak. Last night we had a party of seven. Tues-​Thurs a full-​menu 3-​course meal is offered for a fixed price of around $ 35. We arrived at 7:30 & did not leave until 10:30. Plan to spend time dining like Europeans do.
I selected the wild boar & cranberry sausage with mashed potatoes for the appetizer, the Loin of Pork for the entrée, and bread pudding for dessert. The sausage was flat-​out fantastic & everyone wanted a bite. The pork loin was flavorful but a bit dry. The bread pudding was excellent but lacked enough raisins to satisfy me. It sat on a custard-​with ribbons-​of-​caramel sauce and the combined flavors were perfect.
I enjoyed ½ price Stella Artois, served in Stella’s brand-​name stemware, while the remainder of our party experimented with Tripel ales, Lindemans Peche & Lindemans Framboise, etc. The Lindemans tasted like peach & blackberry Izzy soda! Our tab climbed — $ 80 extra for libations.
We ordered appetizers of lobster bisque (excellent), potato leek soup (watery milk-​like soup with several potato chunks unlike most potato soups in U.S. restaurants) that is tasty but unexpected in consistency. For entrees other selections included steak w/​fries, tarragon mussel pot, & Flemish stew w/​fries (Carbonnade Flamande). There were no complaints about the steak or stew. I had eaten the fries several years ago & found them to be crisp and delicious. Last night they were tasty and crispy but more greasy than the long golden arcs I remember. Served in a wax paper-​lined cone, I find them superior in flavor to any other fries yet my guests did not go bonkers over them like I do.
The mussels were the size of small grapes and our guest did not care for the Tarragon pot’s overwhelming flavor of celery that obliterated the other herbs in the broth including garlic. She excused herself to use the restroom and the waitress removed her unfinished pot of mussels. We saw this happening but assumed she was finished. She did not mention the missing remainder of her meal until the next day as she thought the mussels were being prepared to take home.
Other selections of desserts included crème brûlée, and a tasty mocha ice cream liqueur concoction. All were excellent.
The french bread was served room temperature and the butter curls chilled. Waitstaff was ever present & we lacked for nothing. Our bill for 7 without tip was $ 370.

Excellent restaurant. Rivals my impression of Ruth’s Chris but with a Belgian twist. Must have the Scaldis Bier (full bodied, sweet and nutty, with a high alcoholic content). The Kilo Pot of mussels comes in different varieties as the cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory. The Carbonate Flamande (beef stew) is very tender and savory. Superb tastes. I can’t wait to go back to try other items on the menu.
Plan for a sitter if you have little ones. This is a small, low noise, intimate setting for a special date night or a mature family.
Come expecting to spend about $ 100+ on dinner for 2 with one Kilo Pot of Mussels, two entrees, and two orders of drinks. The food is worth it though.

This is my second time at this tiny Belgian restaurant with a Livingsocial deal ($ 15 for $ 25). I feel like the atmosphere here is very unique and European-​like (although I haven’t been to Belgium, I’ve been to Germany, Netherlands, among other countries in Europe).
My date and I started with the smoked salmon plate, which was incredible except I would have liked more of the Parmesan Croustade with Horseradish Crème Fraiche. It was a plate shared, and there was only one piece between the two of us. I would recommend to get this plate if you like smoked salmon.
The bread at Mannequin Pis is delicious. It is very doughy and warm. The lady was kind enough to give us plenty of refills on the bread even though we didn’t even ask.
Our entrée was the Bruxelles Mussels with the Pomme Frites. The mussels were plenty and tasty although I actually thought the Snob was much better than this style. I do recommend the Snob if you have to choose one. The Pomme Frites were very tasty although on the saltier side, but I enjoy salty. They also serve their own homemade mayonnaise, which complemented the Frites tastefully.
If you’re in for a small European restaurant feel, I’d recommend you to try this little restaurant. It definitely gives you an unique experience. The food is pretty good, but it is on the pricier side, so without the Livingsocial that I used, I wouldn’t make the trip out here.

I have to star saying that is my second time in this rest, for me the classy and small size of the rest make me feel that tranquil thing that u are supposed to feel when u are eating, i have to say that my favorite thing here are the mussels and because they have what for me a good dish should have, a couple of fresh ingredients creating a nice dish fresh with nice flavor and without stupid pretensions, my favorites. The mussels Popeyes ! good that a menu of nice Belgian beer ! If u ask me go to this rest and have as many mussels as i can put down ! If u feel like exploring there are some nice dishes in the menu also, but as i said MUSSELS MUSSELS MUUUUUSSELS!!!
Besides of that they have a nice friendly staff the one that would make u feel home warm and happy…
Enjoy

I thought I had an older review of this place from back in the day but I guess not. I’ve been here a few times over the many years and it never disappoints.
This place is the real deal for authentic Belgian food. It’s small, cozy, and very quaint. While many Belgian and mussel places have popped up since this places inception this is truly the place that you go to for correct mussels.
They give you the traditional kilo pot of them. THAT is how it’s done folks. You come here and get a TON of them, with lots of ample bread for enjoying the sauce. The sauces and variations are truly rich, and varied as well.
So many other places I’ve gone to in the past serve either, too little, or make you pay an arm and a leg for the mussels, which is ridiculous. Not here, this is the place that gets it right. Snob mussels are great as are many of the other concoctions.
Love the endive appetizer also, that’s a Belgian classic and they do that right also, and they of course serve all the Belgian beers in proper glassware. The sausages are also fantastic. Service at times, is a little bit too intrusive somewhat, but the food satisfies very easily in a nice warm setting.
A place I think about going to often if it weren’t so far away at times.

We came for the escargot and kilo pot of «Snob» mussels that everyone raves about. You know what? They weren’t all that. Now that I have been here, I have satisfied my curiosity and do not need to return. I’m not saying these two items were bad, I just think they were overhyped and a tad overpriced.
The escargot was very salty. Perhaps it was the parmesan cheese coating. They were piping hot. They didn’t come with toasted bread points like most places, so we used the house French bread which was terrible for a Belgian restaurant. The first basket had three stale pieces. The other baskets had four, hmmm…
I prefer the escargot at Bistro La Bonne. They are more garlicky and way less salty.
The mussels were not very plump. A kilo is quite a large portion, so I do recommend sharing. The broth consisting of lobster bisque and brandy did nothing for the less than plump mussels. They were $ 24, not $ 22 like the Unilocal menu states. They were passable, but not «wow worthy». I prefer St. Arnold’s mussels in Cleveland Park. Their mussel pots are just $ 10 at happy hour. (Not sure if they are a full kilo, but probably because they are $ 19 during non happy hour times.)
Not that I am trying to sound cheap, but I just don’t think this place is as good as it gets. Beers are expensive (staring at $ 7/​bottle), and they were out of the three I asked for. It is tiny, and loud. Seats are cramped together, so don’t come here for a romantic dinner for two.

Maybe this place was great long time ago when there weren’t many places serving Mussels in MD area… I was extremely disappointed by food and service.
— Basket of bread: appears to be cheap baguette-​like bread. Dry. and somewhat warmed up but not fresh (maybe by Microwave.) Not a real baguette. Only very thin and small 4 slices came out and we had to ask more.
— Escargot was very salty and overcooked.
— Mussel (snob broth) … They mussel size inside of big shell was about the size of small grape. The broth was nothing special. Even if it said lobster bisque based, it tasted like a broth made of seafood-​flavored seasoning.
— Server tried to upsell everything by ignoring our comments on ‘not interested’.
Overall, I didn’t find any good reason to dine here. considering the price and how the food was.