For more than four decades, Metropolitan Grill has been part of Seattle’s downtown dining scene, building its reputation around prime steaks, polished service, and the traditions of a classic American steakhouse. Known simply as “The Met,” the restaurant pairs its extensive steak program with one of the most acclaimed wine programs in the country, all within a historic setting on Second Avenue. Its longtime “The Best Steak in Town” tagline has some history behind it, too: Metropolitan Grill has collected numerous steakhouse honors over the years, including multiple Seattle Magazine Readers’ Choice awards for Best Steak and Best Steakhouse.
More Than 40 Years in Downtown Seattle
Metropolitan Grill opened in December 1983 and is housed in the historic Marion Building, which dates to 1903. Over the decades, The Met has become a Seattle institution, serving generations of diners and welcoming its share of notable guests, many of whom are represented in the framed photographs displayed throughout the restaurant. Its longevity is matched by a long list of accolades: Seattle Magazine readers selected it as Best Steakhouse from 2010 through 2014 and Best Steak multiple times later in the decade, while national recognition has included OpenTable’s 100 Best Steakhouses in America and USA Today 10Best honors.
While much of the restaurant’s identity is rooted in tradition, its steak program extends well beyond the familiar American steakhouse lineup. The Met describes itself as the only steakhouse in Seattle with a global steak program that brings together USDA Prime beef from Double R Ranch, American Wagyu from Snake River Farms, and Japanese A5 Wagyu. The restaurant custom-dry-ages its steaks, seasons them with a proprietary blend, and cooks them over a live mesquite fire.
Classic Steakhouse Ambiance
The dining room looks every bit the part of a restaurant that has been serving Seattle since the early 1980s. Dark wood, brass accents, deep tufted booths, tall drapery, and historic architectural details give the space an old-school steakhouse character, while overhead skylights add another dimension to the otherwise intimate setting. Framed photographs documenting some of the famous faces who have dined at The Met line portions of the walls, adding to the restaurant’s sense of history.
The centerpiece of the bar is a 60-ft. black marble bar that has developed an identity of its own as a downtown gathering place. The overall atmosphere is refined without feeling overly formal, making The Met equally appropriate for a business dinner, date night, or milestone celebration. It is the type of dining room where classic tableside service still feels right at home, an approach carried through both the dinner and dessert menus.
Steaks, Tableside Classics, and an Award-Winning Wine Program
Steak is unquestionably the main event. Metropolitan Grill’s Prime Double R Ranch lineup includes cuts such as filet mignon, New York striploin, Delmonico, porterhouse, top sirloin, and boneless ribeye, while Snake River Farms American Wagyu further expands the choices. The Japanese A5 selection ventures into especially distinctive territory with snow beef from Hokkaido, Ohmi beef, and olive beef from Kagawa Prefecture. For a traditional steakhouse experience for two, the menu also offers Chateaubriand carved tableside…