Dining Out: Metropolis Cafe

Tonight my mother and I checked into the Inn @ St. Botolph in the South End. After unpacking we decided to head down to Tremont Street for dinner. Our original plan was to sit outside at the Beehive, but the whole restaurant, including the patio, was closed for a wedding. How could we be upset about that?

We walked up the street and decided to try Metropolis Cafe, a place neither of us had ever been. Metropolis Cafe is owned by the Aquitaine Group, which owns Aquitaine, Union Bar and Grille and Gaslight.

Metropolis Cafe has a very charming store front. I particularly loved the cherry red benches.

When you first enter the restaurant, the bar is directly in front of you. The bar twinkles beneath star shaped light fixtures.

The right side of the restaurant is lined with booths.

The left side, where we were seated, has free standing tables and chairs. I think the exposed brick walls are so beautiful.

Once seated, I was immediately struck by the intricacy of this napkin fold!

We started the meal with two appetizers. My mother selected the asparagus tartare. The presentation was stunning and if you got a bite with the crunchy onions on top, that was sheer perfection. Our plate looked so delicious, the table next to us asked what we were eating and then ordered a plate for themselves!

I chose the mozzarella, oven cured tomato and arugula salad, served with a balsamic glaze. The mozzarella was so fresh and the tomatoes were heavenly. I could feel my mouth turning upward in a smile.

There was a bit of a wait for our next course, which was just fine, as we needed time to digest.

For dinner my mother ordered the rib eye steak. She asked for roasted mushrooms instead of mashed potatoes, which our server happily accommodated. She loved the cut of the steak and said the mushrooms were fantastic.

There was no vegetarian entree on the menu, so we asked our server what he would recommend. He said the chef makes a delicious vegetable risotto and that he was positive I would love it. I asked, "Really? Do you cross your heart and hope to die?" He said, "I don't want to die from your last meal, but I do promise it's great." Unconvinced, but lacking other options, I agreed to the risotto.

Well, he was right! The risotto was excellent. It was the perfect consistency, the vegetables were delicious and the flavor was superb.

We were both quite full, but in true Galler family fashion, we had to see the dessert menu. Though we normally go for the brownie sundae or the chocolate cake, we gravitated towards the cherry pie with vanilla ice cream.

We waited a full fifteen minutes before our slice of pie arrived. Having cleaned our dinner plates, we didn't mind the interlude.

The cherry pie was the ideal size slice and came with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. The pie was incredible! We gobbled it right up and sang its praises with every, single bite! This was the absolute perfect summer dessert.

After a positively delightful meal, we walked back to our hotel and wandered the idyllic streets of the South End. While crossing through the park on West Canton Street, I got this glimpse of the Prudential Tower through the trees.

A perfect, summer night in one of my favorite neighborhoods.

 

Molly Galler

Welcome to Pop.Bop.Shop. My name is Molly. I’m a foodie, fashionista, pop culture addict and serious travel junkie. I’m a lifelong Bostonian obsessed with frozen confections, outdoor patios, Mindy Kaling, reality television, awards shows, tropical vacations, snail mail and my birthday.

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Address:
Metropolis Cafe
584 Tremont Street
02118 Boston , MA
United States
Massachusetts US