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Union Square Bank Vault Bar Reopens With Velveeta Cheesesteaks & Large Format Cocktails
By
Nell Casey
Published Sep 12, 2016
Modified Sep 12, 2016
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Liz Clayman
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By
Nell Casey
Published Sep 12, 2016
Modified Sep 12, 2016
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Stately Union Square stalwart Blue Water Grill reopens tomorrow following a million dollar renovation to the restaurant housed inside the former Bank of Metropolis building at 16th Street. With the renovation comes a rebranding of the restaurant's downstairs bar, which is reborn as Metropolis, with a playful menu of seafood-heavy dishes and an array of east and west coast oysters, both on the half shell and adorned in a variety of flavors.
While the upstairs restaurant continues its tradition of approachable seafood dishes—it's a wonderful spot for out-of-town guests—with a new chef, Chris Meenan from Vaucluse, downstairs they're having a bit more fun. The "Surf & Turf" ($28) here is made with steak tartare and lobster salad and served with Melba toast fashioned out of croissants. The Metropolis Cheesesteak ($28) employs a high-low approach of prime, dry-aged New York strip steak shellacked with Velveeta cheeze and onion rings.
There'll be live music five nights a week after the bank vault-turned-bar opens on Wednesday evening, usually in the jazz or soul family. Cocktails hover in the $16-$19 range until you get into the Large Format section, with offerings for two people or a group of six to eight. The Seawater Martini ($35) is garnished with vegetables pickled in seawater and the Fruit Smash ($110), meant for a group, employs berries and fresh basil to accompany blanco tequila.
31 Union Square West (Metropolis is located underneath Blue Water Grill). Metropolis: 212-533-2500; metropolisnewyork.com. Blue Water Grill: 212-675-9500; bluewatergrillnyc.com
Metropolis Dinner Menu by Nell Casey on Scribd
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