Metro Café

Metro Café
311 Divisadero St. (in the Metro Hotel at Page St), 415-552-0903
Open 7 days for dinner, Mon–Thurs 5:30–10pm, Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm, Sun 5–10pm. Brunch Sat–Sun 9am–2:30pm.

Le Metro is a bistro extraordinaire, and is worth a full review of its own. The Early Dinners $12.50 and $15.00 are unbeatable in price and quality, and they get the same attention as the higher-priced a la carte dishes. The a la carte menu of appetizers and main dishes are also a great value. Most dishes are $3-4 cheaper than in comparable French restaurants.

Le Metro is not in the best area for an upscale restaurant, but its clientele is growing as the word gets around. The decor is strictly French-bistro style. Cloth tablecloths with glass top and cloth napkins, of course. And, in French tradition, baguette slices and butter always there. Service is extremely attentive. There are around 50 seats — a little crowded, French bistro-style — and in summer weather, there is garden seating for additional 50 seats.

Early Dinner. $12.50 5:30–6:30pm every day, and all-day Sunday. for a three-course menu that includes soup or house salad, entree, and dessert. (After 5:30pm $15). Note: the main course is determined by the chef at about 4pm each day, so, if you’re curious, call after 4pm. Some main course dishes have included duck leg confit in an orange sauce, whitefish poached in cream and white-wine sauce, pork chop in a white-wine and mustard-cream sauce, grilled salmon in a dill-butter sauce.

A la Carte Menu

Appetizers and Salads include French onion soup $5.50, soup of day $4.25, dinner salad $3.75, sautéed snails in puff pastry with house garlic sauce $6.50, mussels steamed in white wine, shallots, garlic, fresh thyme. & parsley $7.50, warm goat cheese and caramelized apples on a bed of mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette $6.50, blue cheese and endive salad with poached pear and candied walnuts (blue cheese on toast) $7.50.

Main courses include slow-cooked Muscovy duck leg on a bed of white beans, with sausage, carrots, onion, and thyme $13.50, beef stew marinated in red wine with carrots, mushrooms, & thyme $12.50, roasted salmon filet and crispy potato shell on a bed of leeks, Chardonnay sauce and garnishes $13.50, Sonoma rabbit braised in apple brandy with mashed potatoes. caramelized apples, & seasonal vegetables $13.95, grilled 8-oz N.Y. steak topped with maitre‘d butter, with French fries $15.50.

Also, pasta du jour, fresh fish of day, and a number of daily specials, at corresponding prices.

Desserts include creme brulee, tarte tatin, chocolate cherry walnut cake, kiwi flan. All are scrumptious, if expensive at $6.00.

Wine and beer include white and red by the glass $4.50–$6.00, bottles from $16 to $28, dessert wines $4.50–$5.00 glass. Champagne coup $5, beer $3.50 bottle.

Weekend Brunch, Sat-Sun, 9am-2:30pm. All egg platters served with spring-mix salad and pommes Dauphine. Two eggs any style $4.95, Country omelette with ham, mushrooms, Swiss cheese $6.50, Spanish omelette with bell pepper, onions, chicken-apple sausage $6.95, Vegetarian omelette $7.25, eggs benedictine $7.50, smoked salmon benedictine (2 poached eggs with spinach and lobster sauce) $8.35, fruit & yoghourt $5.50, French toast (with caramelized humus, berries & maple syrup $6.50, Croque Monsieur $6.50, goat salad on bed of mixed greens $6.50, moules frites with French fries $7.50, N.Y. steak with French fries & vegetables $13.50, fresh fruit $3.00, coffee or tea $1.50.

Comment: In my opinion, the Early Dinner at Le Metro is the best French deal in town, in terms of quality and price. Warning! Eating at Le Metro can become habit-forming!

Xmas, New Years. Le Metro is an ideal restaurant for a holiday meal. Phone them for their special menu items.

Metro reviewed 12/15/03 by Louis Madison

(the following is Lou's original review from 9/15/02)

This small (45 seats) attractive French bistro-type café, with its open kitchen, has been getting considerable attention recently, especially since 9/11 has made the public more conscious of restaurant prices. Despite its out-of-the-way location on upper Divisadero, diners have been making trek to it. This is due to the high quality of the food and the low prices.

Metro Café owes its existence to the Baker St. Bistro which started serving good French food at very affordable prices some years ago. Now, Jacques Manuera, owner of Baker St. Bistro, has partnered with Patricia Combrisson to do the same for Metro Café. They’ve even moved it up a few notches. The menu now includes dinners-on-order for special occasions, upscaled 3-course dinners at $25 & $30, and a 4-course gourmet dinner at $40. Also, special menus at holidays (Xmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day).

The food at Metro Café can be characterized as French home cooking, the kind one finds in hundreds of small cafes, bistros, & brasseries all over France. The menu has grown apace over the past year or so, and has improved in scope and quality. Still, prices have remained low.

An added perk is the open patio, where 50 diners can be accommodated, weather permitting.

Early Bird prix fixe $12.50, if taken before 6:30pm, or all night on Sundays (otherwise, $15). It consists of mixed green salad or soup du jour, a main course, and dessert. The main course varies daily but can be duck-leg confit in orange sauce, shepherd-pie French-style, pork chop with sauce moutarde, or grilled salmon. The chef determines the main course at about 4pm each day. If curious, Inquire.

A la carte appetizers. include dinner salad $3.75, French onion soup $4.25, goat cheese gateau $5.95, moules mariniere with white wine & garlic $6.50. Special appetizers appear daily, e.g., tartar de ahi tuna, mousseline of scallops, endive salad with candied walnuts and blue cheese.

Dinner main courses include beef bourguignon in red wine, with carrots & mushrooms, served with pasta $10.95, filet of salmon with creamed leeks, with tomato provencal $12.95, veal stew with white wine & mushrooms, served with rice & green beans $12.50, rabbit Normandie, with caramelized onions, served with potatoes & fresh vegetables $12.95, steak frites with maitreD butter & seasonal vegetables $13.50.

Desserts — made on premises, $4.50 – include crème brulee, tarte tatin, chocolate mousse.

Beverages. Wine is fairly high, beginning with corkage at $15. But there are single glasses at $4.50 & $5.with bottles beginning at $18. Beer is $3.50. Dessert wine $4.50 & $5.

Brunch menu (Sat & Sun), includes egg platters served with spring mix and pommes dauphines -- 2 eggs any style $3.95, country omelette with mushrooms & Swiss cheese $6.50, Spanish omelette with bell pepper, onions, & chicken-apple sausage $6.95, vegetarian omelette $7.25, French toast with berries & maple syrup $6.50, moules frites in white wine $7.25, goat cheese gateau with mixed greens $5.95, fresh fruit & yoghourt $5.50.

Note: Some readers may want to visit Metro Cafe’s website – www.metrocafesf.net. It is the most interesting website of a restaurant that I’ve yet seen.

click images to enlarge

Metro Cafe on Divisadero St.

Interior seating at Metro

View to front, Metro Café