The Metropolitan Cafe

[Rachel Perlow]

We're going to a party at The Metropolitan Cafe, 959 1st Ave (bet 52&53 Sts), in a couple of weeks. I suppose the menu has already been chosen, but has anyone been and can tell us what to expect?

[Robert Schonfeld]

That's my neighborhood, Rachel. The Metropolitan Cafe is, I think, one of Alan Stillman's (sp?) places. It is very cleverly devised to fill a neighborhood need for composed salads, pastas, basic fish and meat. I would call the food unobjectionable. You won't be unhappy, but you won't remember much, either.

The Beekman/Sutton area is notorious for just such places, offering the food equivalent of television's "least objectionable program" strategy.

[tommy]

robert,

what are your thoughts on the thai place on 1st btwn 49/50 (or is it 48/49?).

[jordan]

Metropolitan Cafe is in my neighborhood and the food is nothing special.  As Robert put it unobjectionable.  The service however is horrendous; forgetful careless, untrained, clumsy, blah blah blah.

[Robert Schonfeld]

Tommy, that Thai place has been long gone - more than a year.

I don't know if you'd call it bad luck or not, but my wife and I spent about a week in Thailand about ten years ago. The food was such a revelation that it has completely overshadowed almost all Thai food I've had since in the US. Exceptions: Arun in Chicago, and that unspellable, unpronounceable place in Woodside.

[tommy]

Tommy, that Thai place has been long gone - more than a year.

I don't know if you'd call it bad luck or not, but my wife and I spent about a week in Thailand about ten years ago. The food was such a revelation that it has completely overshadowed almost all Thai food I've had since in the US. Exceptions: Arun in Chicago, and that unspellable, unpronounceable place in Woodside.

nope.  must be a different one.  i was there about 2 days ago.     east side of the street, 1/2 block up from the beekman towers.

arun's in chicago, i thought, was very good.  a wonderful experience, although i can't speak to the authenticity.  however, mrs. tommy returned sans me recently, and said that it had taken a turn for the worse.  they had changed the menu, if i recall correctly, moving away from your normal a la carte into something else.  yes, the details are foggy.  i'll have to ask her.  and the ride to arun's is never very much fun, is it.  

edit:  info on the thai place from yahoo yellow pages:

Bangkok Grand Palace Rstrnt

882 1st Ave, New York, NY 10022

(212) 980-8834

[Pan]

Sripraphai.

[Rachel Perlow]

Every thread I read these days devolves into Thai food.

Thanks for the info on Metropolitan. Extended family party and we weren't consulted on location, so we're there more to see cousins than eat, but good to know what to expect. Will let you know how the party was in a couple weeks.

[Robert Schonfeld]

I'm sorry for the continued detour, but I wanted to let Tommy know publicly that the Bangkok Grand Palace is indeed still there; it's the Thai Orchid, on the next block, that has gone.

For some reason, I've had a blind spot about Bangkok Grand Palace, even though it's so close to me. So, Tommy, what's the word on it (maybe in a new topic)?

[Ruby]

Rachel, on the plus side, they have a really nice outdoor garden. I've had good burgers, salads and brunch there but the wait staff is a bit scattered. Order simply and it will be fine.