You get just enough home fries with your meal to put in between your teeth, not to mention that half of them are completely burnt!
Your eggs benedict yolk will be completely over cooked, so you get none of the nice runny yolk to drizzle over your biscuit.
Other than that the fresh squeezed orange juice was almost room temp, which some prefer. The iced coffee was pretty good though.
We did manage to yank a few of those nifty jam packets which are actually quite nice, thank you Metro Cafe.
I normally am not this harsh, but I was completely disappointed by this restaurant.
ONE STAR.
Can't say this place is the best brunch place but is a decent brunch place for sure-
I had their pancake and omelete, which were both fairly good and it was nice you could mix up different kinds of pancakes and also create your own omelete! They also have fresh squeezed OJ and grapefruit juice, which I think always goes well with brunch-
We went to this cafe before going to the play. The food was very decent, but the service was the worst I ever experienced. We had group of ten and had reservation for 5:30. Nothing was prepared. Waiter did not pay much attention to us, but when we managed to get his attention, he was rude and disrespectful. He did not give us special pre-fixe menu - we had to ask for it. We waited more then half-an-hour for our main entrees and some of us got not what we ordered. During the waiting we were not served bread. We had to wait for the wine. Waitress did not left the bottle at the table but took it with her. Waiter snapped the dish from my friend's hands when she was trying to help him clean the table. He did not apologize when he brought wrong order, but rather acted irritated. One of our friends was left without dinner because we did not have time to wait another hour for the right order. At the end of the dinner everyone left, and I went to the restroom leaving my phone on the table. When I came back there was no phone. The only people that were near the table at that time were waiter and his helper. I asked if they saw the phone, they replied they did not see it. On top of it, I just discovered that they charged 30$ more than what we paid (I did saved the bill). Overall the service was so bad that it's not worth the food. I would not recommend it to any of my friends.
Review Source:Went here with my lady friend last weekend and let me tell you, this place is a hidden gem. Our waiter (i'll get to the service in a minute) made great suggestions, all of which we ordered. The endive salad, gnocci, chicken and rigatoni. Yum! The server knew what he was doing (I overheard someone say that they thought he'd been working at the restaurant for 20 years. Anyway, he was very playful and spunky and really added to the experience. He was quite funny. When we asked him what he liked best for dessert he told us that the only dessert he ever eats is twizzlers but that once in a while he treats himself to a Chocolate Pudding Cake. Since they didn't have any twizzlers, we went with option 2! Delicious! My adivce would be to bring your appetite and try to get the older guy thats been there for a while to take care of you. You won't be disappointed! Oh, also, make a reservation becuase this place is always busy!
Review Source:I would agree with previous reviewers that while the food is great, the service is very questionable. Â We came in as a large group (10 people), and we made our reservation at least two weeks in advance. Â I also called them 3 days in advance to confirm the reservation and told them that we are going to see a play across the street, so we will be under a time constraint. Â The person that I spoke to gave us some tips as to what to expect and how we can make sure we are not late for our play. Â We didn't get our bread until after our appetizers came out, and the waiter showed up only after we asked the manager who will be serving us. Â The waiter kept giving us attitude, and every time we needed something, we had to catch him - he rarely came by to ask if we needed anything. Â One person in our party got her entree together with her desert and her coffee. Â It was a mess. Â The manager was trying to mitigate the situation, it helped some, but not much. Â It's really too bad, because almost everyone actually liked their food. Â I hope they get their act together as far as the service is concerned, though.
Review Source:Food was good, service was odd. Was there on 5/30 for dinner. Ordered rigatoni, waited a half hour and they brought me the salmon. The rigatoni then came out in 5 minutes.
Later, when the self-important guy in the white coat came over and asked if everything was ok, I said "yes, great" but of course it wasn't because my rigatoni was late. I then asked him for more water because we had not seen our waiter since 1987 and he was clearly taken aback. Must be beneath a Cordon Blue graduate to fetch water, so he didn't.
Food was good. Service was odd.
Never been before but heard good things so i was excited to try this place. A small place, maybe 15 tables or so. We had a reservation so when we arrived our table was waiting for us, for a Wednesday night the place was packed. The gnocchi with duck appetizer was amazing and could have been served as a main dish. For our entrees, we ordered the risotto, hanger steak, pork and fish. They were all delicious and ample size. We then got 3 desserts, the chocolate pudding cake, Creme Brule and Banana Bread pudding all of which were also amazing. The chocolate pudding cake was wamr and oozing with chocolate, the creme brule was good and the banana bread pudding was also warm and tasty. I'm glad we tried this place, highly recommend. Can't wait to go back and try some other entrees.
Review Source:Location is tough on parking if you are driving there. VERY small place, but cozy, not too loud that you can't have a conversation. All staff were very friendly, didn't feel rushed at all. If I have to pick the worst part of dinner, I'd say it was the bread. Nothing spectacular. The gnocchi with duck appetizer, and beet appetizer were both OUT of this world. I would eat that gnocchi as a main entree if offered. For entree, I got the special risotto which was with pulled organic chicken and asparagus, with a balsamic drizzle. It was pretty good, textures were all great, though would have liked more balsamic. Friends got the rigatoni, pressed chicken, and fish special, all loved it. We split a dessert of the chocolate pudding cake which was equally amazing. Overall great!!! Can't wait to go back!
Review Source:This was one of the most blah meals I had in the South End. Â Two people in my party ordered salmon and one was almost served raw while the other was overcooked. The wait staff really could not be bothered and spent much of the evening, in this very tiny restaurant, congregating to chat with each other while neglecting to refill waters. I much prefer the food at Metropolis' sister restaurants in the area. Â Quite disappointed because I had been looking forward to trying this place for a while. Â Maybe brunch is better?
Review Source:Solid place! FYI they only serve wine and beer - no booze. The food was well composed however I wasn't full afterwards. I enjoyed the horseradish crusted salmon. The service was good and the overall ambiance was cozy. I wasn't overwhelmingly satisfied with every facet of my experience but that's not to say someone else wouldn't love it. The wine cork wall in the bathroom was definitely a nice touch.
Review Source:Tried this place during the restaurant week. Honestly speaking Boston restaurants are not that good in the "value for money" factor. This place is not cheap as well but I had the felling that I paid for a good meal. Their lasagna was very good and the fried gnocchi as well. Worth a try in the South End.
Review Source:Went there with a friend who suggested this place after she was suggested by a good friend of hers. After having breakfast with my friend, I have to honestly say that Metropolis is an actually pretty darn good eatery. We got a table as soon as we got in, which was great given the fact that the Cafe was almost full. The service was really swift and effective too, and the food was very well done. The only thing that is a little bit of a downer is the size of Metropolis: it;s pretty tiny. But if you can deal with h tight space, you will have no problem enjoying the amazing food.
Enjoy!!
I came here for Sunday brunch. It's such a small place, but fortunately we didn't have to wait too long. Our party of four was seated in about 15 minutes. The menu is pretty standard brunch menu, but there aren't too many options.
I ordered the much raved about Huevos rancheros. I was impressed by how quickly our food came out. It was good, but wasn't as flavorful as I hoped it would be. I also got the spicy chorizo on the side, which wasn't spicy at all and definitely need more of a kick to it. I also thought the portion was kind of small, I was still kind of hungry afterwards.
The service was subpar as well as we never got our waters filled. Overall, the experience was average, but I'm not sure I will come back given the other options in the area.
They were a little backed up when we came in (we had a reservation) and the hostess was very accommodating and kept checking in with us, keeping us updated when our table was ready.
Food was delicious, good variety but not too many options. I also noticed the head chef was going around to different tables checking in on everyone as well.
Also, very reasonably priced for how great the food was.
Yelp lists this as a Greek restaurant, so let me begin my review by saying that if you're in the mood for Greek, then go someplace else... but if you're in the mood for awesome food (cuisine is such a pretentious word) in a great atmosphere, then look no futher.
We food this place because, you guessed it, we wanted Greek. Â But talk about your lucky mistakes. Â Once we got over our initial disappointment (which is NOT the fault of this restaurant, I might hasten to add), we were treated to an amazing meal. Â I was paralyzed with indecision because the menu looked so good... I finally settled on some sort of pasta righatonni with meat sauce. Simply amazing. Â My wife had a fettucinini alfredo of some sort, which was first class.
The restaurant also has a very cool ambience... the booths are intimate and upscale, and there is a cool little diner counter too. Â
All I can say is come here, have a glass of wine, enjoy the food, and relax and let the Metropolis Cafe's first class staff take care of you!
For the love of all that is good and holy, do not bother writing scathing reviews of restaurants in the South End because the brunch service is slow. Shame on you. You give eggs a bad name. In fact. I challenge you to a duel. I am defending the honor of EVERY restaurant that serves brunch, get's busy, and has to pump out 1,000 Mimosa's and plates of Eggs Benedict per hour on any given Sunday. Actually. I lie. I don't really care. Brunch is not my thing. Too busy. Too many egg things that I just don't dig. That being said, that's what you get for feeding the flames of 'Brunch' at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon.
Now, Metropolis. You sly little fox you. You simply put me in the mood for love. And my well deserved, slightly less than occasional, piece of red meat. You killed me dead, you little assassin you, this past Saturday night (a time when a bistro should be frequented, by those of us who shrug off the tyranny of Brunch...).
Yay, woe are all of ye who have sworn off Metropolis. A straight forward, well designed, well plated, well executed dinner (that fit a frightful winter eve) was recently shared. It. Was. Just. Flippin. Fine. Indeed.
Hanger steak and braised potatoes with truffle oil. Let them eat thee.
Free range chicken breast with puree of potato. Fine. They may eat thee as well.
Wines by the glass. Not from the bargain bin. Wines I have wanted to buy. Drink thee well.
Intimate, sort of romantic in a 'Hey Baby, I'm leaning across the table so I can be closer to you, hear you (over the eclectic and sort of indie background music), and steal your beet tartar...' sort of way. Done.
So. Brunch fans. Put on your dinner pants sometime and give Metropolis another go. In fact. Spend your money on dinner and then make Brunch at home.
My work is done here. Metropolis's is not. I will be back. Indeed.
Food here is really mind blowing. You will not be disappointed by any item from
their menu. Â It's my most favorite place in Boston . Easy to get a table ( if you get a early reservation) , very affordable food prices ( for the kind of food they offer) , great service and offers a great ambience. It's a very small place but it feels cozy and comfortable.
Metropolis is a highly overrated brunch spot. I decided to check out Metropolis Cafe for Brunch this past weekend. I remember eating here a few years ago and I remembered it being really good. I must admit I was rather disappointed in Metropolis as the food was only average.
First and foremost, Metropolis does not have a liquor license. Therefore if you are craving a bloody mary for brunch (your standard brunch drink) you cannot have it. They have no beers on tap and a very limited beer selection.
Next, we placed our order for brunch and literally 6 minutes later...the food was plopped onto our table. It usually takes more than 5 minutes to prepare a meal! I also felt very rushed while I was eating. There were crowds and crowds of people at the enterance and outside the cafe just waiting for me to take my last bite. "In and Out" is their motto.
As for the food, it was just okay. I ordered my two standard dishes....I tried the Thick-Cut Cinnamon Brioche French Toast. This French Toast was a bit soggy if you ask me. I also tried the Traditional Eggs Benedict. The eggs just weren't poached right. They were flat instead of light anf fluffy. Quite a disappointment.
I probably will not return to Metropolis, especially because Aquataine (the best brunch spot in all of Boston) is right across the street.
We returned to Metropolis after a long absence (we no longer live in Boston). Still great.
We had a lovely dinner, starting by sharing the really quite incredible beet tartare salad. Which they very nicely plated on 2 plates for us, very attractively in little molded towers. Very interesting texture with perfect beets and some sort of shredded vegetable something  and bits of blue cheese. A wow dish.  Then the veal scallopini, a classic of theirs; veal does not get better than this thin, tender, flavorful. And extremely rich; be ready. (And maybe just a tad salty, but my husband didn't think so.)  And the roasted brussels sprouts on the side; good and healthy.
The service is unchanged, friendly, real, attentive.
Really still a  terrific restaurant.
I went there for brunch on a Sunday. The four of us had french toasts, omelet, sandwich, and a mexican plate. I thought the French Toast was dry and flavorless. The omelet was greasy. The Mexican plate looks colorful and the taste was good. I like the decor especially in a holiday season.
Review Source:It was a snowy day when I came to Metropolis Cafe for brunch. The location of this restaurant is kind of far from the train station but I didn't mind walking in the snow. But it would be a problem when it gets really cold with the gusty winds later in the winter.
I like how the menu for brunch is simple because I can be indecisive sometimes! I ordered the Traditional Eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was so smooth and creamy! I loved it! The egg muffin also really good. It was slightly toasted and was soft and chewy at the same time. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The yolk was a little runny just how I like it! This dish comes with a side of home fries. The potatoes were seasoned well and it was a good addition to the dish!
The restaurant is small so there are limited tables. So there may be a wait depending on the day you come here.
Spent Christmas Eve here last night and we all loved this place. Started off with the pumpkin soup, brussel sprouts and a bottle of wine.
I have to say, the sprouts were amazing. Cooked to perfection with a lacing of porcetta. Unbelievable!
I went with one of their daily specials, short ribs in a beef sauce over a very tasty bed of mashed potatoes. The ribs were literally fall of the bone, no need for a knife with these babies.
The rest of my party went with the cod, mussels and clams dish, spicy fennel rigatoni and the mahi mahi.
Everything I tried was amazing and we all cleaned each others plates!
It's a small little place so make a reservation. I will be back, this is a top notch place that won't break the bank.
This is a great place to grab a no frills weekend brunch.
I highly recommend getting there on the earlier end...as they fill up quickly. Luckily for me and my friend, we were able to grab the last two seats at the bar directly in front of the door (instead of a 20-30 minute wait for a table).
The service was fine...friendly and hands off. Coffee was never in short supply. I wish I could have had a Bloody Mary...but alas...no liquor license.
The Huevos Rancheros was ok. Very fresh salsa and good eggs...not nearly enough flavor for my liking. I'm still on a nationwide search for the best HRs...this didn't make the list for me.
I'd come back here again. The place was charming and fairly priced.
Delicious bistro. Had a work dinner with an appetizer tasting menu (pumpkin soup w pecans and sage, endive salad, wonderful mushroom polenta, rigatoni w fennel sausage and Parmesan). Main was veal scallopini, so flavorful and delicious. Dessert split chocolate pudding which was like soufflé, and bread pudding, both just rich and perfect mix of hot and cold. Really cute space
Review Source:A hidden gem of a restaurant in Boston, Metropolis Cafe offers rich cuisine at value pricing. The veal picatta was excellent and so was the chopped salad. A very nice medley of beers offered. Service was solid and the restaurant had adequate ambiance. The restaurant is small, so reservations are recommended.
This is truly a good one. Enjoy Boston!
I went to the Metropolis Cafe with a few friends and it was during restaurant week. We had no reservations and decided to do a walk around the south end to see which restaurant struck our fancy. After walking by many places and using the yelp apps on our iphones, we sauntered over to the metropolis. Having almost 250 reviews with an average of 4 stars was all we needed. We dealt with the 25 minute wait (remember no reservations during restaurant week and labor day weekend) by sitting on the benches outside the restaurant on a perfect August night.
Once we got in, we found the wine list to be extraordinary! Meal prices weren't cheap but not ridiculous. I ordered the hangar steak, cooked medium rare. One of my friends ordered the restaurant week menu which, he chose, started with a tomato soup, tri-tip steak, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. All of which he RAVED about! My other friend ordered the chicken with mashed potatoes and he said it was equally delicious
My Hangar steak was TO DIE FOR! perfectly seasoned, required no extra salt or pepper, cooked to perfection, and the truffle cottage fries were amazing! Portions were not big, but I left feeling completely satisfied with the meal I ate because it was so great! For dessert I indulged in the raspberry sorbet which had white chocolate shavings over it. It was by far the best raspberry sorbet I have ever had!
My only negative was that the waitress wasn't too attentive to our table (it's a small place and there's only 2-3 waiters) and my friends ended up asking a different waiter to refill their wines, but without asking for a refill, my waitress came to my table with my second glass of wine and I told her I was just about to ask for another glass.
All in all a fantastic place and I can't wait to take more friends there in the future!
Thanks, Matt, for a fantastic brunch experience!
I was originally introduced to Metropolis for its brunch, which has always been delicious. Yesterday was no exception (love those huevos rancheros). The thing that stood out to us more than anything was the service. Our server was always present, patient, and on the ball. There were a couple adjustments to our orders that required them to be re-made (e.g. the "done-ness" of the food), and though these adjustments were admittedly kinda minor / particular, they were done readily and without hesitation. One such dish was even comped for us--a sign of excellent customer service and class that is, unfortunately, rarer and rarer these days.
Additionally, our server took note of my friend's gluten allergy and steered her clear of the huevos due to the black bean hash (too bad for said friend).
Dinner here is always delicious too. My favorite is the Rigatoni with fennel sausage (kind of a savory bolognese, but even tastier).
Metropolis Cafe first opened in the South End in 1995 and is the first of what are several successful restaurants all owned and operated by The Aquitaine Group. Dinner for two including a shared appetizer, two main plates and shared dessert (not including drinks and tip) costs approximately $50-$60.
Chef William "Billy" Nurse and the loyal and knowledgeable waitstaff consistently provide a pleasurable dining experience whether you join them for a weekend brunch or dinner. Some of my favorite dinner options include for starters: their green salad with crispy crostini, toasted walnuts and a delicious Dijon vinaigrette ($7.95), the roasted mushrooms ($7.95) and asparagus tartare - no meat in this - ($9.95). Â Some of my favorite dinner options include the rigatoni which may be comfort food at its best ($16.95), their daily risotto (price varies) and or the salmon which is uniquely prepared with a horseradish crust ($18.95).
HINT: Â Save room for dessert... its worth the calories.
For years we have been to Metropolis for brunch - best Huevos Rancheros around. Â Recently, we moved to the South End and decided to give Metropolis a try for dinner. Â Absolutely amazing!!!!! Â We made our reservation for 8:00 and we were seated promptly at 8:00. Â Our server was so helpful and made excellent recommendations. Â We each ordered something different so we could all try a little of each. Â Not one dish disappointed. Â Having recently traveled to Grand Cayman I had enjoyed their local seafood (wahoo). Â I was thrilled when I heard wahoo was on the menu - absolutely delicious.
Toward the end of our meal, we were going on and on about how delicious everything tasted. Â Our server went back to the kitchen and minutes later the chef was at our table. Â He ten shared with us how to make the cauliflower at home.
We will definitely be returning to Metropolis on a regular basis for both brunch and dinner. Â
Everyone should give Metropolis a try - you will not be disappointed.
I'd only had brunch here, which was a wonderful experience and was eager to go back to try their dinner menu. I made an 8 o'clock reservation and was seated immediately.
My partner and I had a delicious meal. Â We shared an arugula salad with strawberries and goat cheese (special), wanting to save some room for the rest. Â I ordered the risotto of the day (with chicken, peppers, andouille sausage) which was so flavorful. Â He had the hanger steak and being on a new diet, could not eat potatoes. Â The staff was able to substitute some pearl couscous without any fuss at all. Â His medium steak was cooked perfectly, well seasoned; the couscous was delicious - yes I tasted it all. Â We ordered two sides: roasted mushrooms and cauliflower & potatoes au gratin. Â Very tasty indeed and complemented our mains well.
I have to mention their wine list, which has a wide variety, not overly fussy, and something that is right for whatever one might be having for dinner. Â Unlike a lot of restaurants that give a small choice that is offered by the glass, Metropolis gives a nice range. Thumbs up on that!
We were pretty full, but had to taste some dessert; the banana bread pudding was a perfect end to the meal.
Overall, I have to say this place lives up to my first experience. Â I found it well-priced for the caliber of cuisine it is serving. Â The staff is attentive and friendly. Â I had the same hostess as I did back 4 months ago for brunch when I was i in Boston visiting. Â She is a pleasure and represents the place well!
I reserve 5 stars for truly amazing places (such as Morimoto and extreme fine dining that is a knock out). Â For me, a 4-star rating is an amazing place that can deliver great food without the showmanship/fanfare -and this is one of them. Â I'm back in town next month and you can bet I'll be here again for a meal!
Huevos rancheros yummy goodness! It wasn't what I was expecting to look like, but t was really tasty and I"m so glad I go it. The bean hash was YUM and I loved the crunch tortilla strips on top mixed in with my perfectly cooked eggs. Grapefuit mimosa wasn't that great, next time I"m getting the original. Salmon Benny needed more hollandaise sauce but tasted good and I liked the potato's.
Small, cute restaurant with not alot of seating, probably good to make reservations. Although, they only take dinner reservations, not brunch.
Overall a nice place to grab diner and enjoy the ambiance. The restaurant has large full length windows allowing great south end views. The space is smaller, but quaint. We were seated at a table for two along one of the large windows. Â My only complaint would be the bench seat used for the tables is at a slight angle and not very deep. It was uncomfortable and awkward. Table next to us requested another chair. I just sucked it up, but this should be resolved.
We shared the gnocchi appetizer which delivered pillowy gnocchi in a light broth and just the right hint of truffle. Great starter.
For the entrees, my wife had the veal scallopini with cauliflower and leek gratin. Perfectly prepared, tender veal and the gratin held its shape. The pan sauce was very flavorful and well seasoned. The horseradish crusted salmon was again prepared perfectly with just the right amount of bite from the horseradish to balance out the fatty salmon. The warm cucumber and creme fraiche accompaniment provided a nice creamy tang.
For dessert we chose the key lime creme brulee, which sounded intriguing, but was a failure. The custard was mealy, which is the whole dish.  I'm not sure if the acid from the lime causes this or it was a preparation error.  Cappuccinos  were watery, lacking espresso.
Food - 4
Service - 4
Experience - 3
Met expectations, would return, perhaps after trying a couple other places. Apps and dinner were great. Fix the seating, desserts need to be consistent and espressos made properly. Could be a 4 star, but the issues occurred towards the end of the meal, which is the last impression.
After my initial disappointing dinner at Metropolis and subsequent review, I was approached by one of the owners to give Metropolis Cafe another try. Despite my hesitation, I went ahead to Metropolis again on a beautiful Tuesday night.
Upon entering the restaurant, we were seated quickly and given attentive service by the staff. Our server was diligent and placed attention to details in explaining the specials of the night and different items on the menu.
We took our time in ordering and were not rushed by our server. We decided to try out different dishes from the menu: asparagus tartare, mussels, a side of bacon braised swiss chard, and an entree of sea scallops (served with quinoa and bacon braised swiss chard).
Our appetizer (mussels) came out hot and delicious. The mussels were a good size and the wine and tomato sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. Overall, a 3.5/5 for taste.
For our main course, I had the sea scallops. A good test to see if the restaurant can serve quality food is whether they can serve scallops appropriately. I have often found that many restaurants overcook scallops or pair scallops with overpowering sauce/ sides. For this occasion, the scallops were cooked to its best. The scallops were a good size and was not rubbery/ clammy. The quinoa and swiss chard were complementary to the scallops. Overall score would be 4/5.
My friend, who also experienced the previous dining experience, had the asparagus tartare and swiss chard as her main entree. The tartare was prepared well and we enjoyed the balance of seasoning and the mix of textures (crunchy asparagus and creamy avocado). The bacon swiss chard was tasty but there was a bitter aftertaste. She rate the combination of the two to be 3.5/ 5.
We indulged and order coffee and dessert. I ordered the ricotta cake while my friend had the key lime creme brulee. Both desserts were good but paled in comparison to the dinner. The key lime creme brulee was a tad bit on the sweet side and missed the tart-crisp-fresh taste of key lime. The ricotta cake was  more lumpy than other ricotta cakes that I have sampled  in the past. The coffee was a weak. We both had our coffee black in which the true flavor of coffee can be tasted and the warmth and taste fell flat.
To sum up our experience at Metropolis this time around, I appreciate their improve effort in their customer service and their quality of food. I venture that I would possibly make a repeat visit to Metropolis in the future.
Thank you to the management of Metropolis in reaching out and making an effort to improve the quality of service that I initially had from my first visit. The effort and care speak of whether a restaurant wants to create a good dining experience or simply to make money in a trendy part of town. As it appears now, Metropolis is trying to create a positive dining experience.
Woo this was awesome!! See the attached picture to get an idea of just how much we liked our food...
I should slow down though, and give you a much better idea of what our experience was like here. The time? Last Saturday night, 8:00pm. Did they take a reservation for two? Oh yes, one of the few places in Boston that seem to understand the concept. Were they understanding when the stupid T delayed us by about 10 minutes? Yes again!
We arrived around 8:08ish, and we were promptly seated. Soon after that we were given access to both the wine and food menus, and not long after that a bread basket arrived, which was much appreciated because we were famished. We each selected our desired glass of wine (she had a Cab Sauv and I opted for the Pinot Noir), and I must say that this is a GLASS of wine. It's not ridiculously large, but it's a good size for the $8-$11 price tag that is so often attached to a glass of wine in a restaurant.
We started with the mussels appetizer and oh boy it did NOT disappoint! There were at least 15-20 mussels in there and the sauce? Oh the sauce. My only complaint is that some of the mussels were sitting on top of others so they did not soak in as much of this delectable sauce as they should have.
I went with the horseradish crusted salmon, and she went for the seared hangar steak. The presentation of the salmon in a sea of Crème Fraîche was awesome, but I was too tempted by the deliciousness of it all to take a photo. Margot G. said that her everything about her steak was great except for the type of meat used. She thinks that a skirt steak would be better fit for the presentation she was given, but it certainly didn't stop her from finishing it off.
With tax and tip included, our sizable meal came out to $100 even. Definitely not bad for what we received (and with two of those being seafood dishes). That's one thing I'll give Boston over NYC: the seafood options in Boston are way more affordable than they are in NYC. I will definitely be back whenever I come to Boston.
This is a brunch review.
I've been to Metropolis for the aforementioned meal quite a few times and like it, which is why I've been back - Hi it's nice to meet you, I'm Captain Obvious. The french toast is really yummy and is a good go to. The eggs are great too, especially the chive and boursin omelette. Personally I could care less about toast with brunch (unless it's deliciously thick and fluffy) and ask the waiters to replace it with more home fries; you can't really go wrong with more home fries. Also, the cocktails are pretty standard brunch drinks but are fun to get your morning buzz going (because why the hell not).
It's a cozy restaurant and has that South End charm and feel to it. It's priced really well for the portions and quality. All in all, can't go wrong if you're looking for a new spot to try out.
The Metropolis Cafe is a rather small restaurant in the South End on the opposite side of Tremont Street just past the Boston Center for the Arts. Â Upon our arrival, we were quickly seated at one of the five tables for two on the left side of the establishment. Â And just as quickly, I slipped off the bench seat. Â For some reason, my pants were unwilling to remain on the bench, so my DC kindly offered me the chair instead.
We were here for Restaurant Week, but our waiter alluded to the menu as a whole, even when we inquired more specifically about the three course menu, which here came along with a glass of wine for the same $33.12. Â In fact, each item on the RW menu was listed with an a la carte price in case you wanted to mix and match with the restaurant's regular menu. Â Service otherwise was pretty good, and my water glass never dipped below the halfway mark.
To start us off, we were presented with two large chunks of chewy bread in a basket along with a plate of olive oil and roasted garlic cloves. Â Ah, memories of the roasted garlic served at (RIP) Vinny Testa's!
I'm not a mushroom person, but still the Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Bisque with Bacon Lardons, Truffled Crouton was pretty good. Â Tasty and with a good consistency. Â And the crouton was crispy and garlicky even after floating in the soup for a bit. Â I knew my DC would like this, and I was right! Â The Roasted Vegetable Strudel, Petite Winter Greens Salad and Creamy Artichoke Vinaigrette, however, was too smooth and creamy a filling. Â The vegetables should have been more rough cut to add some texture to the dish.
For entrees, I enjoyed the crisp panko crust and the tender fish of the Herb Crusted Trout, Crisped Anson Mills Polenta, Broccoli Rabe & Sauce Romana.  The cubed tomato sauce and broccoli rabe were a bit strongly flavored to counterbalance the blander but browned polenta.  The Cider Braised Beef Cheek, Celery Root Puree, Rainbow Carrots Glacé & Calvados Jus was tender meat and fork-tender carrots - you could eat it without a knife, and perhaps any teeth.  I'm glad that we shared both entrees, as I think I would have gotten bored with the beef cheek dish after a while, despite the tastiness of the beef, because of the lack of contrast of textures.
As there were but two choices for dessert, we ordered both. Â The Classic Apple Brown Betty with Tart Lemon Curd & Whipped Cream looked like dry cubed bread, but was moister and tastier than I expected. Â The Banana Mille Feuille with Vanilla Ice Cream & Warm Bourbon Caramel consisted of a half of a banana sliced lengthwise and browned with sugar on the sliced face sandwiched with tender, flaky pastry. Â I liked the caramel sauce. Â But neither dessert are worth a special trip.
Space is tight here. Â In fact, my chair was gently bumped numerous times. Â And there is no out of the way spot to wait your turn for the tiny WC (aka bathroom) set just to the left of the bar.
What's the difference between breakfast and brunch? The question came up in a recent visit to Metropolis. To me it is about the menu. I think a brunch has a combination of breakfast and lunch items. Sometimes separate, sometimes merged together in a brunch fusion. My date said it was about the timing. 6am is breakfast, 11am is brunch. It's likely to remain one of life's great mysteries, like why sour cream has an expiration date.
However breakfast/brunch was good. The place is cute, service was efficient. Food was decent. I indulged and had the montecristo sandwich which was very good. We were there around 9 on a Saturday and it wasn't full, but started to fill up as we were leaving. Pricing was reasonable. I'd go back.
I am seriously starting to question the validity of yelp reviews in Boston. I do my research before spending my hard earned dough at a restaurant, but they seem grossly skewed. Maybe it's because I cook all the time and can make most dishes you find in a restaurant myself, or maybe I am just a deuche. Either way, Metropolis Cafe is pretty mediocre.
Let me start: Butternut Squash, bland and look like it came from a can, based on the texture. The highlight was the crispy Pancetta sprinkled on top, which was sparse.
Seared Scallops: with cous-cous? You serious about that? Enveloped in some tomato-y-sauce, which totally killed the natural flavors of the scallops, which were grossly over seasoned.
For desert, which came with my girlfriend "meal deal" since it's restaurant week in the South End, 3 hard pieces of pears, with some Marscipone  cheese, and ummmm sprinkled cinnamon? It's like the chef just said to hell with it, and through a bunch of ingredients into the air like a bizarre form of dessert roulette .
I forgot to mention my 9$ glass of 3 oz of wine in some glass that could have been bought at the dollar store. I guess if you order a bottle you get the "good" glasses, because I saw people drinking from proper wine glasses but they had bottles. Â It''s like your Mom saving the good china for a special occasion.
Maybe I am snob, but if I am going to pay 24$ for a entree at least use decent stemware.  Perhaps I expect too much from restaurant row in the South End, but so far my best experience has been at Bukowski's ( no where near the  South End) where I spent 50$ on 4 beers and amazing pub food.
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