Excellent food, service not rushed, but noisy
DESCRIPTION: Every food item was excellent, we never felt rushed (although the bread could have come before we had to ask, but it was very busy). Only problem: we were seated near the bass speaker, and that's all we heard of the music, the bass (and a little loud). I wish they played French music; the restautant IS Belgian (Dutch & Flemish), and there was a Jacque Brel poster right near us.
DATE: 2003-03-02
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
Just lovely!
DESCRIPTION: The food is unbelievable; the service quite good; the atmosphere charming; the chef talented and personable.
DATE: 2003-05-29
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : mushroom brioche
Just Like Being Back Home!!
DESCRIPTION: We finally had a chance to try "Le Mannequin Pis" in April 2003 for the first time, while my sister was visiting from Belgium. We have it made our regular restaurant when we're in the mood for excellent Belgian food. The atmosphere, service and the food are excellent. I highly recommend the smoked salmon appetizer or the mushroom brioche followed by the mussels. The owner Bernard Dehaene always takes the time to check on his customers and to make sure they are enjoying their food. I highly recommend this restaurant. Reservations are highly recommended because even on a Tuesday night the restaurant was very bus
DATE: 2003-06-19
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Mussels
GREAT
DESCRIPTION: A FEW WORDS --- BEST EVER!!!!! A must go!!!!
DATE: 2003-06-23
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : ALL!!!!!!!!
Wish I had tried it sooner!
DESCRIPTION: I had been meening to try it about a year ago when I first saw a write-up in Washingtonian. Ordered appetizers (mushroom brioche and pan seared sea scalops) and entres (braised lamb special and salmon) off the menu before I realized how good the mussels must be. The resteraunt is quite cozy and tables for two were squeezed into awkward positions; we were right next to the greeting area but it wasn't bad at all in the long run. Next time I'll be sure to bring a couple of friends. Otherwise, the food was fantastic and the wait staff assisted with some beer selections, which were excellent. Met with the owner as we were stepping out...a pleasant surprise. Although we didn't get a chance to try it, we heard someone order the mussels with double goat cheese, double bacon, and double garlic. It will be the first thing I order when I return at my earliest opportunit
DATE: 2003-07-24
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : The chocolate mousse or the chocolate almond terine
Fabulous Food - Fawlty Towers Service
DESCRIPTION: What a shame such disorganized service accompanies such fine food. Described as 'erratic' by friends when they went, I would describe it more Fawlty Towers. Service determines my non return. What a shame!
DATE: 2003-10-06
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Mushroom Brioche/Pork Entree
One of our favorite restaurants!
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I recently had a spectacular dinner at Le Mannequin Pis in Olney. The service was friendly and attentive. This chef is doing something right. The food was just phenomenal. The carrot soup and escargot appetizers were cooked to perfection - excellent, subtle spicing, not overdone. The New York Strips covered in a brandy-peppercorn sauce were the best we have ever had. Great selection of wine, very reasonably priced or you can indulge in some of the finest Belgian Ales in the world.
DATE: 2004-06-01
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
Excellent Belgian Beer and Cuisine
DESCRIPTION: I took my girlfriend here on her recommendation and now have my new favorite "must-go" restaurant. Everything we ordered was excellent. I ordered the mushroom brioche, followed by the mussels (their specialty) and drank some very good, out-of-stock, Belgian beers, on their recommendation. My girfriend got the salad to start, and something I cannot recall, but she loved them both. The price tag was a little steep ($110 with tip for two), mainly due to the excellent quality and selection of beers, which kept _me_ ordering (wink, 4 total, her, of course, 1) and my tendency to tip a straight 20%. If you avoid slight overindulgence in fine Belgian beer, your tab should be quite a bit lower. The decor takes you back to Europe (if you've been there), and we kept remarking how much we felt like we had left the U.S. and been transported to Paris, Brussels, etc. and considering the location, a slightly worn strip mall in Olney, this is an impressive accomplishment. They managed to fit us in, considering we called an hour and a half before-hand, and we considered ourselves very lucky! The tables are very close together, but fortunately, we sat next a lovely couple from Canada, who were excellent dinners companions (and neighbors to boot! They live 7 block from me.). 5 stars, without reservation. They are so busy, that the slight delay in getting our bread was more than made up for by the friendly and involved staff. We may even go with the restaurant staff on their annual trip to Beglium for brewer tours in September! Ask them about it, they will gush. I eat out a lot, and have been in the restaurant industry for many years and I loved this place. Terrifi
DATE: 2004-06-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Mushroom Brioche and their Mussels.
We were rushed out!
DESCRIPTION: The food is excellent, no doubt. But the service has much to be desired. They were quite busy and we had to wait quite some time for our food. On a recent visit with two of our friends, we were asked to leave about 2 minutes after we got our check because another group was waiting for our table (we did not ask for the check, by the way, we had just finished our desserts). When we left, angry people were lined up out the door. What is worse is that the Maitre d' was actually pointing us out to an angry person who had been waiting for his table! How rude! The angry person actually made some nasty comments as we left, even though we had done nothing wrong -- we had just finished our desserts. What a shame that the whole experience could be ruined by untalented service staf
DATE: 2005-01-16
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 4
Bernard, we miss you!
DESCRIPTION: We ate at Le M P from the month Bernard opened and it was our last meal out when we left the USA towards the end of 2004 to move to Switzerland. First we were deeply attracted to the excellent and inventive approach Bernard has to cooking, then charmed by him and his gorgeous partner Cecile, continued to be impressed as the years passed by and spent many wonderful, lengthy, leisurely, often late dinners there. Our son even helped out in the kitchen from time to time! Now living in Geneva, we have found a lovely local auberge to dine in regularly, but how we miss those marvellous evenings at Le Mannequin Pis. Overlook the occasional inconsistencies in service (I have to say it could be your attitude that's at fault as an excellent meal should be slowly savoured!), indulge in the splendid wines and beers, chill out and enjoy the magnificent cuisin
DATE: 2005-01-23
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : the moules (of course...he is Belgian)
Awful service with a attitude
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I made reservations and arrived on time to the Mannequin Pis. Within ten minutes we were seated at our table, never to be seen again. After waiting 45 minutes, our Busboy dropped off a basket of black burnt bread. Minutes later, I stopped the same Busboy and explained to him we have been waiting 45 minutes and deserve better than burnt bread. The Busboy grapped the bread basket, stated they were busy, then disappeared without an apology. Fifteen minutes later, my wife and I got up and left. We had a very nice meal at Chicken Out. The problem is mis-management. Mannequin Pis only had 2 waiters and 2 busboys for the entire restaurant. I don't believe the owners mis-management of hiring employees should ruin peoples dining experiences. If you are easily frustrated by poor service, definitely avoid Mannequin Pi
DATE: 2005-07-25
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Not the bread basket
HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, AVOID THE STRIP MALL
DESCRIPTION: Well, since the owner didn't even have the decency to call me back, I'd like to tell you all about my Valentine's Day experience at mannequin pis. I had a 6:15 reservation. My girlfriend and myself arrived around 6:05 and were seated immediately. They brought champagne and a small oyster dish of some kind. Both were great. This is where the story goes downhill. After we'd ordered and the plate for the oysters was cleared, we sat with our champagne for about 45 minutes and no appetizer. Finally I asked the waiter about it, explained we'd been waiting and he goes off to find out. We'd both ordered lobster bisque for the appetizer, so the waiter reappeared with 2, only the chef had lost our order; they just happened to have 2 bisques made. I was made to reorder everything and it was another 45 minutes until the main course. I had steak and my girlfriend had lamb. The steak was alright, nothing to write home about. Then, as I was taking one of the last bites, in the candlelight I noticed something hanging from my fork. The bite I had just picked up appeared to have a hair in it, I extracted it, held and pulled it through my fingers, and certainly was sure it was a hair. I told the waiter of this, he took the plate, apologized profusely (which was all well and good) and said the manager would be out to talk to me shortly. A blonde woman approached the table and said, verbatim, "Hey, I heard about the... hair and I checked it out. It appears it's just some kind of synthetic fiber." She offered no apology, no retribution, asked if we would like dessert, to which I replied no. "Would we like espresso, coffee?" No. "Just the check then?" Sure. Now, as you probably know, this is a rather small place, so I didn't want to cause a scene. I paid the check knowing full well I would call the owner the next day explaining the situation. This not only ruined what could have been a lovely Valentine's dinner, but the entire evening. My girlfriend was extremely upset, as was I. So the next day, after several run-arounds with restaurant employees saying the owners weren't available, I called and finally spoke to the owner's wife, supposedly, who informed me she was sorry and would have the owner call me back to see what could be done. This never happened, which is why you're reading this now. So, if you expect hospitality from this place, don't. The food wasn't even spectacular as the prices might lead you to believe. And on Valentine's that's not saying much for an everyday menu. Mannequin Pis, indee
DATE: 2006-03-06
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 2
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Eat At Home
Expensive Treats "A little slice of Belgium"
DESCRIPTION: This is a very small establishment, very difficult to find (tucked in the back of a strip mall next to Domino's Pizza), but serving the kind of food people drive miles out of their way to enjoy. OK, its fairly expensive for a suburban restaurant without elaborate decor. Figure $40 each for a full dinner. They specialize in mussels, and they have a wide variety of preparations. But they also have other entrees, all good, all superbly prepared. Indeed, everything is supberbly prepared, from entree to dessert. Even the french fries are a cut above the ordinary. Its very busy and very crowded. Think European, as well you should, since this a little slice of Belgium. You will wait a long time without a reservation, if they can seat you at all, and often you need to reserve days in advance. They make the most of their limited space, however, and I have always found the service to be friendly and courteous. I sometimes wish they would move to a bigger space, but then I suppose the quality of the food would suffer. The boutique nature of this little restaurant has earned it a big reputation.
DATE: 2006-05-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Anything on the Menu