By Gus Saltonstall
Change has come to the popular Metro Diner on the Upper West Side.
The neighborhood institution has served customers at 2641 Broadway, on the corner of West 100th Street, for nearly four decades.
The diner recently undertook a major renovation of the space, according to owner Frank Tsimtsouris.
“We did a total renovation job, it’s an investment in the neighborhood for the future,” he told West Side Rag. “We want to thank our loyal customers and our neighbors for supporting us all these years.”
Metro Diner also recently unveiled a new menu and, starting later this month, the restaurant will extend its hours to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m, instead of the 9 p.m. closing time that it has had since the pandemic.
Tsimtsouris is a major force on the Upper West Side diner scene. Along with Metro Diner, he also owns City Diner at 2441 Broadway, and Manhattan Diner at 2532 Broadway. He started out as a counterman at Argo Restaurant, which went on to become City Diner.
Here are more photos of the newly redone Metro Diner.
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Most efficient restaurant I’ve ever seen. No place can get you in, serve you and give you the check and get you out the door faster and feeling better about it than Metro Diner.
Now all we need is for someone else to take ownership of the abandoned Broadway Diner that closed down on 101 or wherever. New York needs more of the old school diners and we need the old ones to Stay.
I just had a Greek omelette at Manhattan Diner, was a 10
Glad it will be opened later, though 11pm is still far short of 24-hour. This neighborhood seems to shut down so early since the pandemic. It’s sad to see my local go-to place, French Roast closed down at 10pm.
The City That Never Sleeps has too many diners closing at 10PM.
Sadly, there are not enough customers these days for most restaurants to stay open past 9. NYC, at least the UWS, is no longer the city that never sleeps. Just the tourists in midtown and the kids downtown.
I do miss the authentic Greek diners of my youth (and wonderful restaurants like the Cherry on Columbus!) and applaud Mr. Tsimtsouris for continuing this welcome tradition.
Congratulations to Frank T. for his remodeling of one of his diners on the UWS. I wonder if he has plans for his other diners to make them even more attractive to his loyal customers.
The re-design looks terrific, Mr Tsimtsouris! I’m glad you resisted the urge to make the place look like a hip minimalist cafe. It’s what a classic diner should look like: a little bit fancy, a little bit over-the-top and very welcoming. (Love the Sputnik chandelier.) My idea of a perfect UWS afternoon is getting my hair cut at the lovely salon upstairs, followed by a grilled cheese and a milkshake downstairs at the Metro.
Great comment. Enjoy life.
:heart:
Thank you, Frank, for the renovation!It looks great! we’ll be in to see you in person this week. Wishing this brings you good luck and good business!
Never understood how an overpriced and mediocre diner like Metro survived all these years.
I don’t think it’s particularly overpriced. And the food is, as they say, fresh and delicious.
The quality of Metro Diner is not mediocre, and inflation dictates the cost of eating out in most cases. I don’t like it any more than you, but I accept the economy in which we live.
It’s a neighborhood gem! Though I fear that a $19 tuna melt is pushing it . . .
Looks great. Now we just need the theater to open.
The new design continues the existing g equally horrific design. Those poor people working there having to deal with the awful tile and garish color combinations.
And is no one going to talk about how bad the quality of service is? Especially for the super high prices. After one too many unpleasant service experiences, I will NEVER go back to Metro. It’s just not worth it.
Instead of a redesign, be more pleasant and treat customers better. It’s not that hard.
I’ve never been treated badly at Metro. Perhaps it may be a question of servers responding to an undercurrent of entitlement from diners? People ought to practice mutual respect in all settings.
As for the design, kitsch can enliven the experience of eating out. Not to mention that a busy tile pattern hides dirt better.
Average food & above average prices!! Year after year, there is nothing special to see or eat.
I have found that the quality, or deliciousness. of the food can vary depending on the item but I still have things there that I love. Wish they would bring back the Club sandwiches.
A diner without club sandwiches is a sin!
Ate hear a couple of years ago and unfortunately had the most miserable food I’ve ever eaten. Viand is the only diner I trust on the UWS.
I’m not picking on Metro—had many a fine diner meal there in the past—but the cost of average entrees and drinks for a family of 3 or 4 plus maybe a beer or 2 and leaving a good tip—the cost is totally out of control—a regular old pub Upper East side a few weeks ago $180!
Love it. I’d love it more if they were open around the clock, but this neighborhood can’t support it without the movie theater being open.
He told me that they tried staging open until 11 PM at City Diner,bit there weren’t enough customers, so they went back to closing at 9. I miss when all these diners were 24/7 pre pandemic. Still. I hope there is the customer base to stay open til 11
The one I know is at 95th and Broadway, and they do a terrific job there.
They are too expensive for the neighborhood in my opinion
I refuse to pay $ 14 .00 for a cheeseburger that does not even come with fries, cole slaw, and pickles like in the old days.
As a retiree, it is frustrating that I cant afford to eat in any diner anymore.
The restaurant is beautiful.
Great job Frank.
Whether you order a burger or a fish dinner , the food is always delicious.
Love it!
Amazing! Love this spot, and often find myself wishing it was open past 9pm. Wooo!
Glad to see him investing. I’m very fond of the Metro. Yes, diners aren’t as cheap as they used to be. What is???