Metropolis Cafe

(617) 247-2931

584 Tremont St (Dartmouth Street)
Boston, MA 02118 42.3432 -71.0728

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Neighborhoods: South End, Shawmut

METROPOLISCAFE.NET

Hours:

Mon-Wed 5:30pm-10pm

Thu-Fri 5:30pm-11pm

Sat 9am-3pm, 5:30pm-11pm

Sun 9am-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Check, American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Brunch, View Dining, People Watching, Date Spot

Cuisine:

New American, Mediterranean

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Metropolis Cafe

Featured Review

Eric Grossman

Contributor

The Scene – Part of the Seth Woods empire (Aquitaine, Union), this romantic South End restaurant is a neighborhood favorite, especially during its acclaimed weekend brunch service. Befitting a relaxed bistro in one of the city's most vibrant areas, the Metropolis attracts a suitably diverse crowd. Pleasant, casual waiters traverse the cramped quarters with ease. Window tables provide colorful glimpses of bustling Tremont St. A small but well-chosen wine list--no liquor is served--keeps oenophiles content. – – The Food – Best described as upscale comfort fare, served…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Try the brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 3pm.
Know Before You Go:
Couples looking to enjoy a quiet conversation are best served to wait until off-peak hours, as the cramped quarters lead to little elbow room and overheard confessions.
Call Ahead:
Due to the cozy setting and popularity, it's best to call ahead and make a reservation.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a little pricey and a bit crowded, but if you are looking for a great meal, and a fun yet sophisticated atmosphere, this is the spot, especially for groups of two or three.”
  2. “My girlfriend and I went up and down all of the South End's Restaurants over the past 6 months and this place, hands down has the best value: terrific, hip atmosphere with great lighting, cute layout, great location, and a terrific staff.”
  3. “Plus the setting is cozy and cute ?”
  4. “The service was efficient, curteous and professional, but with a casual friendliness befitting this cozy neighborhood cafe where everyone feels like a regular.”
  5. “The Metropolis it one of those rare finds that is a great place to enjoy a evening over great food, good wine in an inviting, cozy atmosphere.”
  6. “Great staff, great atmosphere.”
  7. “We love the food, the atmosphere and th.”
  8. “love the small space - very cozy, even if it is cramped and a little uncomfortable (and seats by the door are FREEZING in the winter!)”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The wine list, while small in size, had great variety and quality.”
  2. “The lighting was perfect for a date and the stars above the bar are beautiful.”
  3. “While the wine list is a bit shallow it is very well priced with a lot of very good wines in the $30 to $60 dollar range.”
  4. “The Metropolis it one of those rare finds that is a great place to enjoy a evening over great food, good wine in an inviting, cozy atmosphere.”
food quality
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. “They frequently have delicious specials and their chicken entree is awesome.”
  2. “For a start the granola, fruit and yogurt plate is fresh and delicious.”
  3. “The chicken dish is one of the best chicken dishes in the city, and the veal entree with the scalloped potatoes is tremendous.”
  4. “My wife had a veal dish which was wonderful and very well prepared.”
  5. “ordered probably the best chicken I've ever tasted.”
  6. “While the heuvos were good, it seemed as if the chef tried a little too hard to deviate from the norm and in the process lost the essence of the dish.”
  7. “Decent food, but very heavy as is typical in Seth Woods style.”
  8. “My boyfriend loves Metropolis blueberry pancakes and even I have to admit, their granola, fruit, and yogurt dish is delicious.”
  9. “but the Metropolis Cafe simply serves amazing quality food cooked to perfection.”
  10. “The prices are very good for the high quality of dishes.”
  11. “The fresh fruit, granola, omelets, etc. were really high-quality and very tasty.”
  12. “The service was okay but our food was just bad.”
  13. “After being seated we were served a wonderful bread with a oil and garlic dipping sauce to get us started.”
  14. “The Metropolis it one of those rare finds that is a great place to enjoy a evening over great food, good wine in an inviting, cozy atmosphere.”
  15. “We love the food, the atmosphere and th.”
  16. “Dinner is great - pretty simple dishes that are very well prepared with quality ingredients.”
  17. “All our dishes were elegantly prepared with the highest quality ingredients and great attention to detail.”
  18. “It's a little pricey and a bit crowded, but if you are looking for a great meal, and a fun yet sophisticated atmosphere, this is the spot, especially for groups of two or three.”
  19. “Fabulous brunch spot in the South End with great french toast, pancakes and Monte Cristo!”
  20. “try not to order chicken out (so I can try something different), but once you try it, it is hard to resist!”
  21. “Excellent food all around and the staff was very friendly.”
  22. “The waiters were very nice with us when we came back, and every single dish we took was totally amazing, so well cooked and so tasty !”
  23. “Even though I don't generally like fish, I tried the calamari on the server's recommendation and it was delicious!”
  24. “The food is absolutely amazing!”
  25. “I've lived in the South End for 7 years and Metropolis has become my go-to neighborhood restaurant for great food at very affordable prices.”
  26. “The staff and food combine for a fantastic brunch, one of the best in the area.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The wine list, while small in size, had great variety and quality.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The Metropolis it one of those rare finds that is a great place to enjoy a evening over great food, good wine in an inviting, cozy atmosphere.”
  2. “great place to eat before seeing a play.”
service
70.59000015258789% positive
  1. “The staff is painfully slow and inefficient.”
  2. “We've visited the resturant four or five times, and while the service has never been great, on our past two visits, the service has been awful.”
  3. “Best of all, however, was the service.”
  4. “The service was okay but our food was just bad.”
  5. “There are many good places to have brunch in the South End, all of whom reward your patronage with friendly, dependable servers.”
  6. “It begins with the service, which is a sour, bitter, lazy, barely awake and just rude crew.”
  7. “We didn't know and were prepared to leave, but the host/staff were great and insisted on seating us and didn't make us feel rushed or hurried.”
  8. “The waiters were very nice with us when we came back, and every single dish we took was totally amazing, so well cooked and so tasty !”
  9. “The servers are always so friendly - even if they are not designated to your table, they will help anyway.”
  10. “My girlfriend and I went up and down all of the South End's Restaurants over the past 6 months and this place, hands down has the best value: terrific, hip atmosphere with great lighting, cute layout, great location, and a terrific staff.”
  11. “The staff remained nice and helpful, and we really enjoyed ourexperience there.”
  12. “Great staff, great atmosphere.”
  13. “Even though I don't generally like fish, I tried the calamari on the server's recommendation and it was delicious!”
  14. “The service was efficient, curteous and professional, but with a casual friendliness befitting this cozy neighborhood cafe where everyone feels like a regular.”
  15. “Excellent food all around and the staff was very friendly.”
  16. “The staff and food combine for a fantastic brunch, one of the best in the area.”
  17. “Great brunch, mediocre service”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “My girlfriend and I went up and down all of the South End's Restaurants over the past 6 months and this place, hands down has the best value: terrific, hip atmosphere with great lighting, cute layout, great location, and a terrific staff.”
  2. “It's a little pricey and a bit crowded, but if you are looking for a great meal, and a fun yet sophisticated atmosphere, this is the spot, especially for groups of two or three.”
  3. “I've lived in the South End for 7 years and Metropolis has become my go-to neighborhood restaurant for great food at very affordable prices.”
  4. “The prices are very good for the high quality of dishes.”
  5. “While the wine list is a bit shallow it is very well priced with a lot of very good wines in the $30 to $60 dollar range.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “The staff is painfully slow and inefficient.”
  2. “We started with the tour of the many tempting spots on Tremont Street (which were all full with a long wait) when we wandered by the Metropolis.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/19/10

Tremendous Neighborhood Restaurant

by PatrickMBoston at Citysearch

I've lived in the South End for 7 years and Metropolis has become my go-to neighborhood restaurant for great food at very affordable prices. I've tried almost every restaurant in the South End, and I frequently choose Metropolis when I want the sure thing. The gnocchi appetizer, served with shredded brussels sprouts and duck confit is a great starter. The chicken dish is one of the best chicken dishes in the city, and the veal entree with the scalloped potatoes is tremendous. The rustic bread is an added bonus. Metropolis should be on your regular rotation.

  • Pros: Great food, service and ambiance
  • Cons: Closed on Christmas
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/19/09

YUMMY!!

by Karalyn12 at Citysearch

I ordered probably the best chicken I've ever tasted. Excellent food all around and the staff was very friendly. Very reasonable for the trendy location. I would highly recommend.

  • Pros: Excellent Cuisine, Great Staff
  • Cons: Small so may have to wait
2 Star Rating: Below Average

09/22/08

Great dinner spot; horrible for breakfast

by bosfoodie at Citysearch

I live around the corner and have been coming to Metropolis for years. I love the small space - very cozy, even if it is cramped and a little uncomfortable (and seats by the door are FREEZING in the winter!). It feels like a city spot and I like that. Dinner is great - pretty simple dishes that are very well prepared with quality ingredients. I guess I'm pretty picky but at Metropolis I would be happy ordering nearly any item on the menu. It's really too bad, therefore, that their breakfast/brunch is so horrific. I want to like it. I really have tried to like it but, honestly, it just fails miserably. It begins with the service, which is a sour, bitter, lazy, barely awake and just rude crew. And I'm being kind. Coffee is never refilled unless you ask (and, if you do, you're really inconveniencing them...). The staff is painfully slow and inefficient. Aside from the service, the already ridiculously small tables are half filled with any and every condiment you may or may not need (Tobasco, ketchup, jams, syrup, sugar, cream, salt, pepper,...), leaving little room for plates and cups and no room for anything else - including your hands/arms. The food has greatly improved in recent months but it still is nothing special and doesn't make up for the other shortcomings of this place. Make dinner plans here but skip the breakfast!

  • Pros: Great dinner, good location
  • Cons: Terrible service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/22/08

A Delightful Find

by garydragoon at Citysearch

6:15 on a Friday night no reservations and a quest for something different led my wife and I to the Metropolis Cafe. We started with the tour of the many tempting spots on Tremont Street (which were all full with a long wait) when we wandered by the Metropolis. We both took a look at the menu and decided to see if they had any spots. Once inside we were taken by how nice and cozy it was and that you could hear ourselves talk. The maitre'd said that they were full but there was a table that may be available in 10 minutes if we could wait. We sat at the bar, reviewed the wine list and asked the bar tender if we could have a taste of two we were thinking of and to our surprise he said yes. While the wine list is a bit shallow it is very well priced with a lot of very good wines in the $30 to $60 dollar range. After being seated we were served a wonderful bread with a oil and garlic dipping sauce to get us started. The waiter told us the specials and answered a few questions before we ordered. One of the specials was Spaghetti & Meatballs and on a whim I ordered it and I must tell you it was the best I have ever had. My wife had a veal dish which was wonderful and very well prepared. For desert we had a Creme Brulee and and finished off the wine while relaxing and enjoying the view. The Metropolis it one of those rare finds that is a great place to enjoy a evening over great food, good wine in an inviting, cozy atmosphere.

We will be back

  • Pros: Charming, cozy & romantic.
  • Cons: Parking
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/26/08

Cozy South End Restaurant

by jsteff22 at Citysearch

I frequent Metropolis Cafe since it is right down the street and the prices aren't as outrageous as you find at many of the other South End spots. They frequently have delicious specials and their chicken entree is awesome. I try not to order chicken out (so I can try something different), but once you try it, it is hard to resist!!

  • Pros: Romantic, reliable food, average-good service
  • Cons: A bit small, If the bar is full and you have to wait there is no place to stand

The Details on Metropolis Cafe

Place Categories:

  • great quality food
  • helpful staff
  • great small place
  • fantastic sunday brunch
  • terrific hip atmosphere
  • great pancakes
  • totally amazing single dish
  • great simply awful service
  • delicious plate
  • always so friendly dependable servers
  • delicious fruit
  • very affordable prices
  • very good wine
  • mediocre service
  • great lighting
  • cozy setting
  • very cozy small space
  • delicious granola
  • memorable late night dinner
  • order chicken
  • great cute layout
  • not generally like fish
  • best huevos rancheros
  • good heuvos
  • delicious specials

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