The Metropolitan on Main, the new restaurant located in Downtown Dallas in the previous The Metropolitan Cafe space, is now open to the public for breakfast, lunch, and happy hour with dinner service in the coming weeks. Owner Noemi Chiriac has revamped the space to create a modern restaurant while still paying homage to the previous café in its historical home at 2032 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201.
Chiriac was first introduced to The Metropolitan Café in the summer of 2021 while working as an engineer at Raytheon. She fell in love with the café’s pictures, artifacts, and overall ambience. On a lunch break to have her favorite sandwich in November 2021, she brought her mother along. After eating, she asked the owner if her mother could help cook at the café as her mom is retired, likes to keep busy, and loves to cook large amounts of delicious food. That’s when Noemi learned it was the café’s final day and, in a spur of the moment, asked if he would sell the business to her. Buying The Metropolitan Café gave her mother an opportunity to share some of her one-of-a-kind Romanian dishes in the heart of Dallas.
“The team and I are ready to greet Dallasites with a smile as they start their day, take a lunch break or unwind after a long day with happy hour! We hope The Metropolitan on Main will become a staple again for downtown residents and commuters, as well as a new staple for others in their daily routine,” says Chiriac in a statement.
For morning coffee lovers, Chiriac purchased what is commonly referred to as the “Ferrari” of the espresso machines, a Faema espresso coffee maker. She offers a barista-manned coffee bar during breakfast and lunch hours. The breakfast menu offers light bites, plates and sides such as assorted breakfast pastries, breakfast tacos, The Meeker Special (a The Metropolitan Café original) – croissant, soft scramble, ham, cheese, tomato, cucumber and scallion; Blackberry Lemon Mascarpone French Toast – thick brioche soaked in custard, stuffed with lemon mascarpone, topped with macerated blackberries, and dusted with powdered sugar; the Breakfast “Power Bowl” with two eggs, breakfast potatoes, sauteed spinach, red bell peppers, onion, roasted cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta and avocado with the option to add a protein; Steak and Eggs; and Quiche Florentine and Lorraine served with a side salad.
Lunch items include light salads, paninis, salads, handhelds and hearty plates. Guests can start with an Artisanal Charcuterie Board including a selection of European cheese and cured meats served with fig jam and rustic bread. Lunch entrees offered include items such as the Turkey Poblano Panini – turkey, spinach, roasted poblano peppers, roasted poblano aioli, and provolone cheese on sourdough; Spicy Italian Panini – cured meats, arugula, sun dried tomatoes, brie, cherry peppers, house vinaigrette on sourdough; Modern Gyro Wrap – grilled spiced chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, shaved red onions, and tzatziki sauce in a soft pita; Beet Salad – arugula, roasted beets, fried brie, candied walnuts, and a raspberry rosé black pepper vinaigrette dressing; The Sami – panko breaded crispy chicken breast with rosé vinaigrette slaw, pickled red onion, seasoned tomato, served on a brioche bun; Herb Crusted Salmon with dill cream sauce, creamy polenta and crispy brussels sprouts; Glazed Pork Chop – balsamic brown sugar glaze, served with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes; and the Limited Special Plate.
Happy Hour takes place from 4 pm – 7 pm Monday through Friday and features $7 house martinis, $5 wells, $4 domestic beer, $13 signature cocktails, and $10 spritzers.
Cocktails include Lady in the Blue Dress – Drumshanbo gin, bergamot, crème de violet, lemon, rose; A Rose for Jack – Jack Daniels, Liber grenadine, lemon, rosemary; Man on the Moon – raspberry, hazelnut, creme de cacao, cream; and The Window Seat – reposado tequila, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, lemon. Several low ABV/mocktails are available as well such as The Arboretum Spritz – creme de violette, elderflower, prosecco, soda; A Voice in the Choir – butterfly peaflower, mint, lemon; and the 325 – pineapple, orange, coconut cream.
The 2,056 square foot space has been revamped with an art deco design playing homage to the time when it was built, in 1913. The building was originally known as the Masonic Blue Lodge Temple until 1919 where it’s primarily remembered as The Western Union Telegraph Company building. This historic location is where both Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby received telegrams. Ruby paid a visit to the Western Union just minutes before shooting Oswald behind the building outside the Dallas courthouse.
The Metropolitan on Main is located at 2032 Main Street, Dallas, Texas 75201.
Hours of Operation are Monday – Thursday – 8 am – 9 pm, Friday – 8 am – 11 pm, Saturday – 11 am – 11 pm and closed on Sunday.
