At Metro Grill, it’s not just the mixed drinks that stir things up over the weekend. The music mixes also seem to have a magical effect on the crowd. Or maybe it’s the combination of a Long Island Iced Tea with “You Shook Me All Night Long” streaming over the speakers that is so magical. Whatever it is, Friday and Saturday night partiers have the darndest time staying off the tables at Metro.
Keeping customer feedback in mind, the staff at Metro keep two house iPods up-to-date with classics and new releases alike. Just one of the restaurant’s iPods holds 5,492 songs and dozens of well-thought-out mixes.

There’s a dedicated mix just for brunch, which Metro started serving in March. There’s another for closing and countless others for various times throughout the day. Staying open seven nights a week means keeping the speakers pumping with new, classic and popular music is almost a full-time job of its own.
Job well done, apparently. Because when the newest jam or crowd-pleasing classic hits the speakers around 12:30 a.m. on any given Friday or Saturday, customers simply have to dance. And dancing on the floor just won’t do.

With what seems like little or no control over the situation, people start rising onto the booth seats one by one. And close to the end of the night, it’s not unheard of for complete strangers to link arms and join voices in a rousing chorus of “Sweet Caroline.” So good. So good. So good.

There’s a reason people will stand in line outside of the Robinson Street restaurant even on a cold, rainy night. Metro is a good time. Good music, good company, good time. But for any restaurant worth its weight, inspiring customers to dance on tables is secondary to inspiring customers with the food on their tables. Once again, Metro doesn’t disappoint.

The restaurant, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2007, boasts fresh ingredients, large portions, fair prices and homemade meals.

Head Chef Sean Murphy and his staff don’t skimp on any of the details. All of the sauces, for example, are made from scratch. Murphy even makes his own demi-glace, which can take two full days of preparation. To produce the rich, savory, dark-colored sauce used in a variety of dishes, he reduces five gallons or so of delicious ingredients into just a couple of cups — which will last only a few days.

Murphy works his magic in an open kitchen, which he personally helped renovate last year. Lately, there has been a bit more action than usual in the kitchen, as the staff prepared to release a new menu this week.

The revised menu continues to offer the old favorites, some updated dishes and a few brand new items. Try the Shrimp ‘n Grits Randolph, shrimp sautéed with smoked bacon, tomatoes and basil in a sherry cream sauce. Another popular dish is Murphy’s Meatloaf — slow-cooked ground beef, pork and veal seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, wrapped in bacon and glazed with a tangy tomato sauce.

Metro offers various specials throughout the week as well, including a wine dinner on Sunday nights, Monday night pasta dinner and Tuesday date night. And on holidays, like Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, the restaurant celebrates with top-quality, gourmet specials offered at reasonable prices.

The newest addition to Metro’s list of features is Sunday brunch. For anywhere between $5.95 and $12.95, hungry customers can feast on pancakes, French toast, Cajun scramble, Irish scramble, eggs Chesapeake and other delicious options, all made with the same attention to detail as everything on the lunch and dinner menu.

With all that Metro has to offer, those weekend dancers should consider climbing down once in a while for a taste of what is served on the tables. But if they do, they may find it difficult, once again, to stay seated. 

METRO GRILL | 301 N Robinson St.  Richmond, Va.  804.353.4453

Brunch Mix
Now playing from
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
on Sundays
New York
by Cat Power
You’ve Really
Got a Hold On Me
by The Zombies
Young Folks
by Peter Bjorn & John
Promises Promises
by Naked Eyes
Such Great Heights
by The Postal Service

The food is good...but on weekends the music is always the same 2 CDs put on repeat, and blasted at a level where you have to cup your hand around your friend’s ear in order to talk....you’ll also wait 10 minutes or more to get a beer.

their food is great - and the playlists are always fun

i always get the veggie lasagna. yum.
i’ve never seen people dancing in their booths, though, maybe i need to stay later.

MURPHY ROCKS!!!!  His flavour combinations are unreal.  Can’t think of a better place to dine!