I remember my disappointment with the closing of Sofram Grill in Tower Place on HWY 51. Call it snobby if you wish but I thought Sofram failed solely because suburbanites are generally too afraid to try anything more exotic than Olive Garden. Had it been uptown or one of the hipper, more cosmopolitan inner neighborhoods things might have been different. Now with the success of Metropolitan Cafe uptown, I'm beginning to think my hunch was right. It's great to see Metropolitan is thriving. The vindication is just a bonus.
I went in for a (very) late lunch; around 5pm. Restaurants generally aren't at their best way after lunch and before dinner because what you're served is often hours old. While my kebab wasn't as hot and fresh as it could've been, it was flavorful and contained a very generous serving of meat. An added bonus was that it wasn't dripping with grease as kebabs so often are. I was told it didn't come with a side, which was annoying. Fearing a kebab alone wouldn't satisfy, I ordered the piyaz appetizer, a cold white bean salad with green peppers, red onion and tomatoes in an olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing. Delicious! It was so good and so refreshingly simple I ended up making it myself at home. So it seems not including a side was a blessing in disguise. The piyaz was way healthier and probably tastier than a side of fries could ever be.
After the meal I couldn't resist ordering a cup of Turkish coffee. You'd do well to do the same. Just a few warnings for those not familiar with Turkish coffee: It's strength is such that NASA is considering using it to fuel manned missions to Mars. It's served hot enough to melt lead. It's thick enough to be used as a personal lubricant in even the staunchest and most repressed conservative bedrooms. Oh, and the grounds form a thick sludge at the bottom of the cup. So let it cool a little, sip it slowly, leave a little at the bottom of the cup and try not to think of santorum.
I can't wait to give Metropolitan another try at a peak hour. All indications tell me I'll be revising this to give them at least another star.