Finding Metropolis, the new venture of Chef Marcus Samuelsson that opened few weeks ago, is a bit challenging if you do not know that it is inside the Perelman Performing Arts Center. There isn’t a sign outside indicating that you have to go inside the art center and immediately see a busy place with a sleek dining room.

The menu, crafted by executive chef Ed Tinoco, who was culinary director at Alinea until July 2023, is meant to be shared, but understand small plates and not family style. For sure, when you see the dishes and the price tag, it is a bit expensive. Fine dining expensive and worth it if you can afford it. First are the cocktails that are quite original, like the Catskills old fashioned that I got, made with brown butter, coffee, new york state malt, and bourbon, or the lychee highball, a mocktail made with lychee, rose tea and soda water, that Jodi tried. It is always nice when restaurants offer mocktails, so if you do not want to drink alcohol, you are not just stuck with soda.

For appetizer, we decided to try their fried olives and cornichons that seem like a nod to fried pickles, and was surprisingly good.

Fried olives and cornichons at Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson in NYC

For our main, Jodi got their triangolini cacao e Pepe that was succulent, very creamy and fortunately with the right amount of pepper. On my side, I could not resist trying their lamb trio that was composed of neck, sausage (slightly spicy), tenderloin, and a kare kare inspired sauce (Kare Kare is a Filipino stew made with peanut sauce). It was served with a homemade pita that was delicious. Both dishes were superb and I certainly recommend the lamb if you love this meat, but $51 is a but pricey.

Desserts were a nice way to end the meal: one of their new desserts was the makrut lime tart, served with charred meringue. Nice and not too sweet, with the perfect level of tartness. But my favorite was the stout sticky toffee cake that was served with whiskey anglaise, candied walnuts and marshmallow ice cream. I loved the texture that was slightly crunchy on top and not dry. I recommend it.

Overall, we had a great meal at Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson: the service was courteous and efficient, and the dishes were delicious. This is a nice place for a fine dining experience, offering a menu that definitely stands out.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson- Performing Arts Center, 251 Fulton St, New York, NY 10007

I Just Want To Eat!