Contemporary mainstay offers Asian-inspired fare, cocktails & patio seating in fashionable environs.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 8 E Main St, Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 627-2495
Website: https://www.metrocafenj.com/
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
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Reviews
The bread alone was a standout—warm, tasty, and paired with a flavorful butter that we couldn’t get enough of. For dessert, we shared the eggnog espresso crème brûlée, which was very tasty. The biscotti on the side added the perfect Christmas vibe.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated for the holidays, making it such a festive and cozy spot to enjoy a night out with family. Wonderful food, warm atmosphere, and an all-around great time. Highly recommend!
My partner and I recently attended a close friend’s birthday celebration at Metropolitan Cafe, and from a Critic’s perspective, the venue is a masterclass in atmosphere.
The Ambiance:
The vibe here is top-notch, elegant, sophisticated, and perfectly suited for a high-end night out or an intimate, cozy date night. I especially loved the upstairs seating; it feels very exclusive and refined, like I’m in France. If you are looking for a place that feels like a “Parisian escape” in the heart of the city, the decorations and lighting here deliver exactly that.
The Appetizers (The Highlight):
The starter course was a triumph. We sampled a variety of dishes:
Sweet & Spicy Calamari & Shrimp Sesame: Perfectly balanced and fresh.
Filet Mignon Spring Rolls: My partner absolutely loved these.
Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade: As someone who doesn’t eat beef, these were my personal favorite—crisp, flavorful, and beautifully prepared.
Charcuterie & Sushi: The variety was impressive and presented with great care.
The Entrees (A Professional Critique):
This is where our experience hit a bit of a snag. We were both very excited for our mains—the Asian Steamed Atlantic Cod and the Honey-Ginger Glazed Faroe Island Salmon.
Presentation: 10/10. The plating was absolutely beautiful and looked like a work of art.
Flavor Profile: Unfortunately, both dishes were surprisingly bland. Despite the promising names, there was a noticeable lack of seasoning. My partner had to rely on salt and pepper to finish his dish, and I ultimately chose to return mine.
A Note to the Kitchen: I have chefs in my family (including my partner), so I have the utmost respect for the hard work that goes into every plate. I sincerely apologize for returning the dish, but as a critic, I must be honest about the flavor execution.
The Service:
The staff at Metropolitan Cafe are true professionals. They are friendly, kind, and handled our party with grace. Even when addressing the issue with the entree, they remained gracious and accommodating.
Final Verdict:
I am keeping an open mind about a return visit to try a different entree because the appetizers and service were so high-quality. I still highly recommend this restaurant for the atmosphere, the starters and drinks, it is a beautiful spot for any special occasion!
Sushi arrived first, setting the tone for a fantastic meal. Then our entrees, I chose the incredible beet salad with goat cheese. The sliders were impressive. Steak tacos were a revelation. For dessert, it was the sublime eggnog espresso brûlée, which we all shared, savoring every bite. Sweet and utterly delightful!
We really wanted to like this place! Looking at the website and the menu, and the price point and description of dishes offered, I got the impression of a more upscale and refined dining opportunity. I am definitely not a food-snob and was not expecting haute-cuisine.
Now, any one of the following issues (except one), could have been forgiven in isolation, but cumulatively, they stacked up to result in overall disappointment.
It started with the seating. It was cold. Temperature control was a problem here. When the heat came on, it almost got too warm, and when it went off, there was a cold draft that dropped from the ceiling vents.
Next, was my drink. I asked for a tonic on ice and got club soda. No big deal – she switched it.
The main issue was with the entrees. I ordered the Filet Mignon Medallions (with a cognac and mustard sauce), medium rare, with a house side salad.
My brother-in-law ordered the Braised Short Ribs.
When the orders came out, my brother-in-law got the wrong entree. They re-made it, but he had to sit while the rest of us ate. (We did get comped a dessert for the error). My medallions were medium to medium well. Nowhere near medium rare. I stayed silent, not wanting to further disrupt the flow of things. Further disappointing, was that the sauce, although tasty, contained neither a hint of cognac nor mustard. Plus, my salad came out about five minutes after the entree – I thought they had forgotten it.
Maybe we were just unlucky, maybe the staff was burned out after the heavy Valentine’s Day rush the day before, I don’t know. Overall, the food was OK, and our server – despite the errors – was very sweet and apologetic.
However, given the disparity between expectations and actual delivery, I don’t see myself going back.
I recently celebrated my birthday at Metropolitan Café in Freehold, and it was truly perfect from start to finish. The atmosphere was vibrant yet cozy, and the service was absolutely top-notch — friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome.
Now for the food — everything we ordered was amazing. The sea bass was beautifully cooked and flavorful, the grilled chicken was juicy and well-seasoned, and the sliders were a fun, satisfying bite. The shrimp tacos had the perfect balance of spice and freshness, and the short rib lollipop was fall-off-the-bone tender and rich. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor.
To top it all off, the martini I had was fabulous — well-balanced and just what I needed to toast the occasion.
Metropolitan Café delivered not just a meal but a memorable experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday dinner and can’t wait to return.