Manhattn's Burgers: Grass fed-burgers in Brussels, Belgium

Manhattn's Burgers on Rue Henri Maus in the heart of Brussels, Belgium — Manhattn’s Burgers on Rue Henri Maus in the heart of Brussels, Belgium

Manhattn’s Burgers is a chain of flame-grilled burger restaurants from Belgium that are bringing a taste of New York City to Brussels. They pride themselves on using only the freshest ingredients, including grass-fed beef, hand-cut potatoes, and baked daily brioche buns.

In October 2014, two brothers opened the first Manhattn’s Burgers location in Brussels on Avenue Louise, just south of the Grand Palace. The restaurant’s mission has always been to serve delicious food with authentic and personal service in a casual yet vibrant atmosphere.

As the name implies, the menu names and décor at Manhattn’s Burgers pay homage to everything New York City. And if you are wondering, the restaurant’s name, Manhattn’s, is spelled correctly. It is also their way of referencing Manhattan.

Since opening their first location, they have expanded across Belgium with additional spots in and around Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and Leuven, along with two locations in Paris. On my recent visit to Brussels, I stopped by their location in central Brussels, not far from the Grand Palace.

Table of Contents

Interior of Manhattn’s Burgers

Interior of the restaurant, Manhattn's Burgers, Brussels, Belgium — Interior of the restaurant

The moment I stepped inside Manhattn’s Burgers, I forgot that I was in Belgium. It felt like I was in any restaurant in Manhattan with the modern and industrial décor.

A lot was going on inside of the open dining room. All the walls were different. You had a brick wall, one wall with white tiles, and others painted black with yellow murals that popped in color. An endless amount of Broadway-style lights made the space feel bright and open.

There were different types of seating areas for you to choose from. There were regular tables, communal high-top tables, and counter seating for those dining alone.

Since I was eating alone, I sat at the counter next to the window. Even though I was sitting inside, the people watching out the window onto Rue Henri Maus was great.

Even though it wasn’t a busy night at the restaurant, it was loud and boisterous with people talking and music such as Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York playing in the background.

There was also outdoor seating available, which would have been great on those warm days in Brussels.

The chef grilling each burger over an open flame in the kitchen, Manhattn's Burgers, Brussels, Belgium — The chef grilling each burger over an open flame in the kitchen

An open kitchen was just behind the cashier. I enjoyed watching the chefs prepare fresh grass-fed burgers and toasting buns over an open flame. The smell was amazing.

Manhattn’s Burgers Menu

The menu at Manhattn's Burgers, Brussels, Belgium — The menu at Manhattn’s Burgers

All the burgers on the Manhattn’s Burgers menu were named after things related to New York, such as the Central Park Burger and Rockefeller Burger.

No matter what burger you choose, you will get grass-fed Irish Angus beef placed on a medium-grilled brioche bun, baked fresh that morning.

Sides included Belgian fries, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw.

Not in the mood for a beef burger? There were two chicken burger options and a vegetarian falafel option.

Other than burgers and desserts, the food options were limited. You only had two salads: a chicken avocado salad and a veggie avocado salad.

Leffe Blond, one of the many beers available

As for drinks, there was an assortment of cold drinks, draft and bottled beers, red and white wines, and coffee.

Flatiron Spicy Burger

While there were many great options on the menu, I ordered the Flatiron Spicy Burger. The burger had an Irish Angus beef patty topped with matured cheddar cheese, avocado, pickled jalapeños, chili sauce, and lettuce.

With each burger cooked on a grill over open flame, I expected the patty to be smoky and flavorful. And it was.

The sear gave each bite a smoky, charred flavor. There is just something special about a burger cooked over a flame.

The thick grass-fed patty was fresh, not frozen. It had a wonderful texture, crispy and seared on the outside while tender on the inside. While I prefer burgers medium rare, the patty was juicy even when cooked medium.

While other burger restaurants use cheap buns from plastic bags, Manhattn’s Burgers bakes their brioche buns fresh every morning.

The bun was medium-grilled until lightly crispy and charred on the edges. It had a fluffy texture yet was thick enough to hold up without falling apart.

Topping the burger were slices of creamy avocado, crunchy fresh lettuce, spicy and salty pickled jalapenos, chili sauce, and a matured cheddar cheese. The slice of aged cheddar, lightly melted across the entire patty, had a distinct sharp, pungent flavor, which I enjoyed.

Drizzled on top of the cheese was a spicy chili sauce. This bright orange sauce was mildly spicy and tangy, reminding me of a buffalo hot sauce.

Unfortunately, if you want bacon, it will cost you an extra €1. For me, the expense was well worth it. While the chewy bacon could have been crispier, you can never go wrong with salty, smoky bacon in a burger.

Godfather Fries

The biggest disappointment of my visit was, by far, the Godfather Fries. These fresh Belgian fries came with mayonnaise or secret sauce. I went for the secret sauce.

Besides beer, mussels, and waffles, Belgium is known for its fries. So when I visited Manhattn’s Burgers, I expected their fries to be amazing. Sadly, I felt disappointed.

The thick, hand-cut fries were cold and soggy, a big letdown for a city known for its Belgian fries. I expected better.

On the side was their signature secret sauce, simply chipotle mayonnaise. The smoky sauce was sweeter than spicy, which I found strange.

Service

At Manhattn’s Burgers, you order from the cashier at the front, grab a buzzer, take a seat, and wait for your food to be ready.

As there was no table service, I had limited interaction with staff members. Since it was a quiet night, I waited at most 10 minutes for my food.

Other than that, I had no issues with the staff or service on my visit.

Conclusion

Manhattn’s Burgers differed from your typical Belgian restaurant of mussels and waffles. And it differed from your usual, low-quality tourist trap found all over Brussels near the Grand Palace.

Sure, the burger wasn’t the cheapest I have ever had, but the high-quality ingredients, such as the grass-fed beef and freshly baked brioche bun, made it a great value.

As for the Flatiron Spicy Burger, I enjoyed it. The patty was fresh and juicy with a smoky flavor, the bun was fluffy, the melted aged cheese was delicious, and the toppings were plentiful.

Other than the Belgian fries, which were surprisingly disappointing, I recommend Manhattn’s Burgers to anyone who is looking for something different in Brussels.