Metropole

Metropole is an upscale lounge located in downtown Cincinnati. On my recent visit to Metropole I sat at the bar. I enjoyed everything that I had to eat and drink thoroughly.
I had a cocktail (can’t remember the name) which featured prosecco and raspberry chocolate liqueur. It tasted like a chocolate raspberry coffee — really good. They also have a great draft selection and I was able to sample a local pumpkin beer.
We decided on a light lunch and I chose the kale salad with chicken. It was so fresh and the lemony dressing was great with the salad. Others chose sandwiches and soups and no one was disappointed.
We stuck around after the meal and visited the art gallery. Definitely a must see while visiting Metropole. If you are looking for a nicer and hip dining experience in downtown Cincinnati, I highly recommend Metropole!

Talk about a complete letdown! I wanted to treat Paul and our boys to a nice New Year’s brunch, and I was certain Metropole would deliver. By the middle of the «meal,» I was apologizing profusely for choosing poorly.
We arrived at our reserved time, and were immediately escorted to the most cramped table in the place, despite the fact that there were plenty of other tables open. Paul said to the hostess, «This is a really uncomfortable place to sit.» She just looked at him and then walked away!
Our server was friendly, but both he and the kitchen were incredibly slow. I did not mind so much, as I was so happy to be having brunch with my boys that I was concentrating on our conversation rather than service. Unfortunately, others did mind.
Next to the rude hostess, the biggest insult was the ratio of the price to quality and quantity of food. I don’t mind throwing down cash for a good meal, but $ 25.00 per person for a prix fixe meal consisting of child-​size starters and entrees is simply ridiculous. I had the roasted carrot soup, which was the only thing that tasted exceptionally good. Unfortunately, there were about six bites of soup in the bowl. The guys all had the smoothie in a bowl with berries, which was fine in terms of taste, but again, it was about six bites. I went with the frittata for an entrée; it was rather cold and on the bland side. It came with a small salad that was dressed with a vinaigrette that tasted only of olive oil and lemon. Not good. The guys ordered the waffle. They all said it tasted «okay,» but again, it was small and nothing was served with it.
So, are you ready for the bill? Prior to the tip, it was $ 116.63 for the food that I mentioned plus two iced teas, a coffee, and a glass of water. I’m not kidding! Paul was so pissed that he passed me the check. When I saw the total, I wondered out loud if we were being charged to breathe air.
On the way out the door, Paul said, «Now, where should we go for brunch?» because we were all hungry! All of us run small to average in size, so it’s not like we are large folks with insatiable appetites.
Shame on Metropole for ripping off their guests!

Excellent. Artisan cheese plate with cold smoked grapes, charred bread, and lemon cotton candy for dessert. All the food was delicious.

It was a dark and stormy night… we got stuck in traffic on the way to dinner and I called to let them know and they said it was no problem to hold our reservation. We arrived half an hour late and also were going to see the Nutcracker after dinner, so we were in a bit of a time crunch. The staff assured us that they could get us in and out. We didn’t waste any time ordering.
After walking in the chilly rain, a nice cup of tea was in order. I was happy to see that they had good quality loose leaf teas. I always feel like it’s a downer when you go to a nice restaurant and they being out some run of the mill bag tea that you can buy at Kroger. I got the lavender earl grey and it was fabulous.
We both had the kale salad to start. I asked about vegetarian entrees since I didn’t see one on the menu, and it turns out they have a «secret» vegetarian entrée. It was sweet potatoes with quinoa, veggies and a sauce. I also ordered a side of roasted cauliflower since I wasn’t sure how big the entrée would be. We were brought bread while waiting for our food, and I was not a fan. It was salty and smoky tasting. I was getting a little worried. Our salads came out and were good sized and very good. I enjoyed getting a healthy, kale salad that I didn’t have to make myself.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the inventiveness of my entrée. It was presented well and most importantly, absolutely delicious! The sauce and vegetables worked well together and it was very filling. I didn’t really need the roasted cauliflower, although I was glad I ordered it since it was fantastic. Great use of the wood stove! My husband had to help me finish it.
My husband had the duck and brussels slaw, both of which he very much enjoyed. I tried the slaw and thought the dressing was a little strong, too lemony or something for my taste. He liked it though.
Due to the efficiency of the staff, we even had time for dessert. We ordered the maple cake. It came out in a cute little cast iron skillet. The dessert was delicious, but tiny. I had one bite and my husband made probably four or five bites out of the rest. For the price, it should have been bigger.
I would recommend to the staff to put the vegetarian entrée on the menu since I nearly didn’t go to dinner there because of it. I had decided to make dinner out of the salad and some sides and was glad I happened to ask about vegetarian options. I would love to see even more vegetarian and vegan options since the one I had was so excellent. The Cincinnati area seems to be so anti vegetarian for some reason.
The Metropole ambience is fun and a bit loud. The yellow penguins are funny and I like the vibe of the place. I also think the history of the building is interesting (google it if you care). I’m pretty sure the tile floor is original to the building. The staff are also superb. Everyone we encountered was professional and helpful. They were very accommodating and really took good care of us. I would definitely recommend checking it out and it’s a great place for dinner before a show at the Aronoff.

I hate the fact that when you have a bad experience you come to Unilocal.I hope the managers read this review. I’m trying to be constructive not destructive. Trying to help not hurt.
When I first went to metropole it was amazing! Good food, great atmosphere, and it was a hip joint. When out of towner friends came in I always would recommend Metropole. I swear it was my «hey Cincinnati is awesome try this place out you will love it»
Tonight was our second time back and it was depressing. The good, the bartender makes incredible drinks. Hostess was nice, server was too familiar but I can get past it, the service staff is outstanding.
Where you lost the 4 people who ate there tonight. You have a rogue chef. Good food is simple, it’s not overly complicated. It was a struggle to find one meal that sounded appetizing. I get being hip and fresh but you have a wood burning stove and nothing stands out saying you utilize it.
That’s fine if you don’t use that stove but the dishes you serve need to be mind blowing! The octopus we had the first visit is what excited us and we couldn’t wait. It came out like a shriveled piece of jerky stick. Two of four at our table couldn’t stomach down the mushroom rotollo as it was like eating slimy bacon rolled in a pasta. My quail was probably the smallest bird I’ve ever seen and what joke and was part of the $ 55 fork and bottle. Overall a total 180* experience to the first time. The meal was well over $ 200 which is a sin for what we were given. The restaurant had 5 tables seated and empty. I wonder if it’s because others are hating this new menu?
I know you can do better. Keep the food simple and master the dishes. The chef needs to bring it back a bit. You can see the talent but it’s running all over. The base to his ideas are great but then the 20 extra flavors on top of it ruined every dish. Every dish doesn’t have to have a «unique» feature or an ingredient that nobody has ever heard of.
Drinks, and desert were the high
given where deserved.
Quote from mother in law «I think we are going to need to give this place a break for awhile»
Best of luck though and I hope this helps somewhat. Cincinnati needs great restaurants and you guys have an awesome spot. Don’t ruin it.

Went here to celebrate our anniversary during the Restaurant Week and it was a very pleasant evening.
The service was impeccable. We were greeted with a champagne toast complimentary to our date night. Since they were participating in the Restaurant Week, we went with the fixed menu to see how Chef wants to present his style there.
The food came fairly fast and the presentation was phenomenal. My husband enjoyed his pork shoulder cucumber salad. I went with fish and soup. The corn chowder was chilled and I would not order it again, although the sunny colors were very appetizing.
For dessert we enjoyed a chocolate tarte, which was a bit too hard and bitter from the cocoa.
Overall, definitely a quality place to try. The cocktails are also adventurous and give you an opportunity to go outside of your comfort zone and try something refreshingly new.
If I had to mention some imperfections, that would be the atmosphere. It is not exactly romantic, the space is very bright and loud. The tables are too close to each other, so you hear every conversation around you. To get to my seat on the sofa along the wall, the table had to be pushed back and forth each time. It just something that should be better thought over.

I have been to Proof in the Louisville 21 C and Metropole holds its own. The tightly curated menu was well thought out. The entrees were tasty and artfully played. We also had pumpkin semifredo for desert and it stole the show with twisted marshmallow underneath.
as we stayed at the 21C, we returned for breakfast too. The coffee was good, the breakfast was too (coffee is typically my priority)

Came in one night for a quick bite at the bar and was blown away by the food, service, and drinks. The hamburger was phenomenal. The night I ate here, their patty used a mix of ground bison, chuck, and bacon. Perfect bun to soak up juices from the patty. Nice proportions of toppings and sauce. I still think about that cheeseburger. Came back the next night for a Manhattan and fish entrée. Equally delicious cocktail and dish. Highly recommend eating at Metropole when you are in Cincinnati.

Fantastic restaurant located in the 21c that offers room service as well. I absolutely loved the burnt carrot salad with avocado, pumpkin seeds, watercress, and feta, all tossed in a vinaigrette. The Metropole burger is literally one of the best burgers in town with a flavorful, thick patty (recommend medium), onion relish, bleu cheese, and creamy aioli. It is just so juicy and flavorful! The accompanying fries are also among the best and have a great crispy shell and soft interior, all sprinkled with a touch of parsley and seasoning. Prices are also very reasonable ($ 25 for both) and portions are VERY generous. Will update after trying the brunch options!

If Metropole isn’t quite the metropole of Cincinnnati dining, I’m ready to say after two visits that it’s one of the five or ten best restaurants in this metropolis.
Metropole’s quite similar to Proof, its sister 21c restaurant down in Louisville: It’s one of the more striking rooms in town, taking great advantage not only of the old building in which its housed but the natural light from its big windows and the effect played by the surrounding building stock. It feels sophisticated without being pretentious, and it’s comfortable and spacious. And it’s one of those 21^st century upscale restaurants where, for some reason, the restaurant staff dresses far less formally than the clientele. Plus, you might get to dine with a big yellow penguin.
As with Proof – a restaurant we’ve been to only once – a single meal is likely to have some ups and downs. The first visit, at least for me, was pretty much a five-​star experience, though. I can’t remember everything I had, but I remember the charcuterie plate and a braised pork shank especially – that was pretty much a perfect update of a country French style, hearty and delicious – and my wife’s burnt carrot salad, which is way better than it sounds. That meal was pretty much all ups.
Second visit was not. Maybe it was because we ordered off the Restaurant Week menu, which we didn’t know was on offer at the time we made our reservation. First course was the main problem: This is going to sound ridiculous, but cucumber salad and Ohio corn soup – I had the soup and sampled my wife’s salad – were just too damn cucumber-​y and corn-​y, respectively. By that I mean they were far too one-​dimensional for a restaurant of this sort. (My wife said the soup tasted like cornbread batter. I’ll have to take her word for it.) We also ordered the wagyu beef flank tartare from the regular menu; I’m going to assume that this particular cut of meat just isn’t appropriate for tartare treatment, because it was relatively flavorless and chopped too fine. (The flavor of the beef was mostly overwhelmed by capers.) By the time I’d gotten through these items, I was suspicious of the main course, a pork shoulder chop, which sounded a little bizarre. But this was actually very good, more tender than I would have thought and very nicely seasoned, and served with braised kale and a very good romesco-​style sauce. Very good plate. Dessert was great, too: a salty semi-​sweet chocolate tarte with blackberries, executed about as well as you can expect.
Given these two experiences, my takeaway is not to judge restaurants by Restaurant Week menus.
Service so far has been excellent – informative, efficient, smooth. And pleasant and congenial without being remotely ingratiating.
Metropole and the hotel itself have been great downtown additions, especially when you consider that the previous tenant of this building was more or less a seedy flophouse only a half-​block from Fountain Square.

Let’s start with the good. Service was exceptional. All of our interactions with staff from seating to check were great. Unfortunately the food didn’t match the level of service. We had the Johnnycakes to start with. They were ok and probably the best thing we had at the table all night. For the meal price I expected better than ok. I can make ok food at home. I ordered the burger. I ate half which tells you how I felt about it. My lovely SO ordered the pork which she said left her disappointed. Now, the real kicker and reason for this review. I just went to eat other half of said burger and as I dig in I see a long black hair. I’m not a neat freak and assumed it was my SO. Go to brush it off and it’s actually in the lettuce/​sauce mixture. No way it’s my SOs this hair came from someone preparing the meal. Now, I know things happen. But, you cannot be a premium restaurant and serve food with hair in it. That’s just nasty. Again, huge disappointment for the price.
Tl:dr I found a hair in my burger that was obviously from the staff. Even if it was a one-​off the food was disappointing.

Highly recommend the ordering the steak tartare and dining with a yellow penguin! This is a great little date night spot or for a girls night my BF surprised me so this is also good for surprise dinners for your significant other too
The pace of this place is really enjoyable, it’s not a typical hurry up and order eat and leave kind of place, you order everything as you go and the servers aren’t pushy but really take cues based on your readiness. We were able to engage in conversation and really enjoy the time there.
*FOOD* the smoked butter served with grain bread which was really good the smokiness is different in a good way. We shared the charcuterie platter – finocchiona, duck pastrami, and Mimi’s smoked blue, to start and the Waygu steak tartare, which I highly recommend. It is also a regular menu item so if not anything else I will be back for that. It was served with fried onions and a egg yolk, and it something I’d certainly not be able to recreate myself.
The main entrees we had were the grilled duck breast and the grilled NY strip steak both by recommendation. The steak was flavorful and chipotle peppery flavor, and the duck was perfectly fleshy, fatty and crispy and served with blackberries and tiny little potatoes. I would definitely order this again.
For dessert we had a almond éclair served with coconut ice cream.
Ending the moderately inebriated with cocktails in hand checking out the art exhibit was great. There’s a lot to check out and interesting tidbits behind them. We thought to check out the rooftop bar but based on tips by most of the staff its really only enjoyable on week nights, so we’ll def have to come back for that.

We were on our way to a dinner reservation but stopped by to visit, relax and snack after checking into the adjoining hotel.
The long bar was filled that evening, but we managed to find a spot to accommodate our growing group. I was hungry despite the large handfuls of gummy bears I snacked on all afternoon so we ordered a few appetizers just to take the edge off.
The Metropole Fries were recommended highly and I could see why. They were crispy and tender, perfectly seasoned. I could not stop munching on them.
The charcuterie tasting board included: Cabot and Humbolt Fog cheeses and chicken pâté topped with a sweet/​savory jam. Thin bread slices, grilled grapes and truffle honey were a nice accompaniment to the cheese. I especially loved the jam that was a surprisingly good complement. Others loved the truffle honey.
Finally, the charred octopus was great. Served with garbanzo beans, it was a very well prepared.
Service was fantastic. The chef preparing food at the bar provided small bites of food throughout the course of the evening. Yum!

Nice rooftop space with cozy seating. They have used the upstairs space well and it is a very comfortable rooftop cocktail. Our server was great and the drinks were made quickly. The Oxy-​gin was good and although the Alfonzo was recommended, it was much to sweet for my taste.
Drinks were a little pricey, but it’s to be expected for the location and the view.

Wow. This is the quality of cooking I’ve longed for since i moved to Cincinnati. I’ll start with everything besides the food. The décor was awesome, especially the bathroom lol. I thought I’d just stepped into a CGI movie. Then they’ve got cute little penguin that“move” throughout the restaurant. The waitstaff were all very nice and service oriented.
Now, the food. We started with the charcuterie– cheddar, goat cheese, ricotta, fennel salami, roasted grapes. Everything was delicious. Then at my table, i tasted the swordfish, pork chop, the chicken, sides of leeks, and eclairs and fennel cake desserts. Yeah! And it was all ¹⁰⁄₁₀. The chicken and pork chop were my favorites.

I’ve now tried Metropole for lunch and dinner. The space is awesome– elegant, modern, with lots of windows and a big bar. There are big yellow penguins hanging out at some of the diner’s tables and a funny little art projection installation on one of the walls. Service is great.
Lunch: when I went, ordered an avocado toast. It was. avocado toast. I was completely underwhelmed and still hungry. I don’t think something I could replicate myself for about 3 dollars is worth what it cost for a lunch.
However, I didn’t give up! I’d heard of the tasty dinner so we went for date night and were not disappointed. Delicious! Loved the charcuterie board, especially the duck pastrami and the smoked grapes. Yes, smoked grapes. They are delicious. I had a chai bourbon cocktail which was truly delicious. I had salmon and the husband had a strip steak– both were well executed and tasty. Really loved the lemon cotton candy!
You’re not walking out of a dinner at Metropole for under $ 100, unless you eat like a bird… and don’t drink? But, very nice for a special night out.

Modern, spacious place right near Fountain Square with some outstanding food
Ambience/​Service: While I’m a big fan of the OTR revival and the new restaurants there, this place is nice in that it is just spacious. There’s a lot of seating and doesn’t feel cramped. I love the décor, trendy with lighting that is not too bright or dark. The noise level is not too loud or soft. The service here is great. I don’t remember our waiter but he was totally on top of his game — attentive but not obtrusive.
Food: We started off with the charcuterie menu where you can pick from a listing of 12 – 15 or so items. While I know this is becoming a trendy thing to have on a menu, the execution is legit. It’s very clear the chef has thought all of those items through. We ended up getting a Cabot Clothbound Aged Cheddar, which sounded pretty «ho-​hum» but ended up being a great crumbly aged cheddar that we both love. We also got roasted radishes, which were very interesting. Usually radishes have a pretty bitter taste but these came out perfectly tender and actually quite mild in flavor — perfect for mixing with the other items on the charcuterie board. The last thing we ordered was a 7 hour egg — which is effectively like a tea-​infused egg in Chinese culture. However, the inside was perfectly infused and not dry at all. All of those things came with some crusty bread, a truffle-​infused honey, a house-​made fruit chutney, a big dollup of fresh mustard and smoked grapes (really interesting). Everything on that board went well with everything else. The whole board was pretty amazing.
For entrees we both got a mushroom spaccatelli, which is basically a hand-​rolled pasta. The hen of the woods and oyster mushrooms that were in it were delicious and the sauce was perfect. The pasta was a bit too al dente for my taste but was fine.
The cocktails were great too. They make their own bitters and mixers.
Overall a great great dinner. I was really impressed and will probably want to come back again when I visit.

For the bar and drinks only…
Damn good selection of Bourbon… I could stop there but I would not do the specialty drinks justice. I would categorize the bartenders as mixologists! I had the Ziggy Stardust… Something prosecco and star fruit it was tasty! We also had the Annie Hall which was smooth and finished with a bite!
Great place to go before a show, but give your self some time and check out the art gallery some very interesting and freaky stuff!
Walking to the bathroom is cool… The floor has images projected on it that look like some sort of virus. Yes of course I said Ebola… The Ziggy’s might have made me extra funny! Check my pictures out!
Art is definitely in the eye of the beholder! Lol and cheers!

Metropole is a beautiful bar/​restaurant located on Walnut St. inside of the 21C hotel. It’s very hip and trendy and would be a great place to take someone you may be trying to impress. Walking into this place, you will immediately experience a feeling of being in some swanky lounge in NYC or Chicago. The bar area is galley style and gets packed very quickly. It can be very crowded on Friday or Saturday nights. If you can’t find a seat at the bar, the lounge area is available as well. The lounge has plenty of couches and seating, which is great for large groups.
My only gripe about Metropole is that everything on their menu is rather pricey. They also do not offer any happy hour specials which is a bummer because the menu items are rather expensive, in my opinion. Overall, the ambiance is great, our service was fast and the craft cocktails were wonderful. I really enjoy Metropole.

I came here as a surprise for my birthday. It’s a beautiful restaurant. There is a lot to look at, including the bright yellow penguins. The open air kitchen it stunning and the décor here just screams posh. The menu is seasonal and had a few tempting options that I had a hard time choosing between.
I eventually chose the Woodland Farm pork while my boyfriend chose the «basted» cheeseburger. He chose best, for sure. This burger was amazing with sharp cheddar, broadbent bacon, frisee & apple butter. So good. My pork was also tasty, but seriously that burger…
The waiter was fantastic and I wish I got his name. He would glide in and out almost without notice to refill drinks and check on us. The check came with bright yellow cotton candy, how fun! Also, they made my birthday extra special with macaroons and a candle.