Breaking: Metro lunch to return in January

Pat Duran, owner/chef at Metropolitan Grill, has some big news, and he's sharing it with us first! Now we're sharing with you.

First of all, the big news: Metropolitan Grill will resume serving lunch on January 11, 2010. This is HUGE. The restaurant shut down its popular lunch service earlier this year, citing, among other factors, Duran's desire to spend more time with his young family. A stomach-rumbling firestorm followed. Never let it be said that Duran doesn't listen to his customers. We can taste the mid-day flash-fried spinach already.

On a slightly less momentous note (but still really cool), Metro rolls out its new winter menu this week (probably Thursday or Friday) and it features some new items. Many of the dishes at Metro are named for regular customers and local celebs. Two new salad-menu items of note:

• The Jalili: Named for local chef Mike Jalili of Flame and Touch (which, we might add, are direct competitors with Metro). This is a pulled Cornish game hen with baby spinach, warm bacon-and-date vinaigrette, Feta cheese, carmelized cucumbers and onions. The hen, dates and Mediterranean flair all seem to be nods to Jalili. Classy move by Pat.

• The Whitaker: More aptly named for 417 Magazine owners Gary and Joan Whitaker—our publishers—than the company outright (otherwise it would likely be called the 417), we're still happy to accept the honor on their behalf. This is a roasted tomato and garlic-cream soup, served with a caprese bruschetta. Pretty cool, huh?

Congratulations, thanks and applause for Pat and the Metropolitan Grill staff.

Matt Lemmon, web editor

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