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Last weekend my husband and I had the opportunity to enjoy an incredible dinner with family at the Metropolitan Grill. The Met, located on 2nd and Marion in downtown Seattle, is a favorite spot for sports fans and athletes alike. Walking into the lobby of The Met you are greeted by a glass case showcasing the various cuts of steak on the menu. I was far more interested in eating steak than looking at it, so I was only mildly impressed. The 50 oz. bone-in rib eye steak did catch my eye though - it was so big it was almost laughable. My brother in law rightly compared it to something you would see on the Flintstones cartoon. Too rich for my blood!
We began our meal with two appetizers , including an order of Beef Carpaccio. The Carpaccio was a delicious adventure consisting of raw beef pounded paper thin and dressed with shaved parmesan, sea salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil, and a small arugula salad. My favorite way to eat it was to pile it on top of a crostini, and finish it off with a little extra shake of salt. The beef was marbled with the perfect amount of fat, making it buttery and delicious, almost like a spread. It was a highlight for me! We also enjoyed sourdough rolls, and a green salad with candied walnuts, Anjou pears, gorgonzola, and a vinaigrette dressing.
On to the main course! The steak I selected was a 15 oz. top sirloin at the bargain price of $37. This may not seem like a bargain at first glance, but compared to the day's special - a 6 oz. Ohmi filet mignon for a cool $100 - it was. The steak was perfectly prepared, and insanely tender and flavorful. It was served with a baked potato and a rosemary au jus that was pretty incredible in and of itself. I will admit that in the past I have shamefully asked for ketchup to accompany my steak, a habit I inherited from my dad. But here, no ketchup required! (I think they would have asked me to leave anyway.) For $37 that steak had better be either the best steak in Seattle, or be made of solid gold. Fortunately, The Met delivers.
For dessert, we shared an order of Cherries Jubilee, prepared tableside. They even lit it on fire which was pretty exciting, although I don't think our neighbors appreciated the proximity of the flame. The cherries were served on top of vanilla ice cream. It was a scrumptious and entertaining way to end our meal.
In addition to great food, The Met boasts a ridiculous wine list that spans nearly twenty pages. I don't believe they offer wine by the glass, but they do offer by both the half bottle and full bottle. We enjoyed a modestly priced Grenache/Pinot Noir blend that was the perfect complement to our meal. If you're feeling particularly fancy though, you can easily drop $200 on a bottle of wine.
If you are looking for a quick bite you will not find it at The Met. What you will find is ample time in between courses to digest, chat, and enjoy yourself. The service is not slow by any means, but a meal at The Met is an event in and of itself, so be sure to take the time to soak it all in. Don't rush it, or you'll just end up eating three sourdough rolls and the entire plate of Beef Carpaccio, and wind up not having room for dessert.
So, survey says? Overall we give The Met two thumbs up for great food, impressive wine selection, and friendly service. The drawback of course is that it comes with a price tag: a dinner for two will cost you at least $120. What it lacks in affordability though it makes up with quality ingredients, well-executed simplicity, and a steak you can't find anywhere else. In summary, we recommend it without reservation for special occasions, anniversaries, or an excuse to dress up and look fancy.