Cafe Metro Closing

I've never eaten at metro or uptown, but I have walked by thousands of times (literally). My memories of metro will be half of the "storefront" being a kitchen with sink and boxes piled up with a partially blackened window. Outside,typically one to three kitchen workers standing around smoking cigs, looking surly. This is literally fifteen feet from the front door entrance and all right on Bardstown Rd for all to see. Unsavory would be the word I'd best describe it as. For a dive (like 360), I can understand it, but not for anything upscale in the least. How could the owner not have noticed?

Don't know if that made a difference, but it couldn't have helped.

Just my observations....

I could go so many places with this. However, I will just say, I think that was really unnecessary. First and foremost, the place has been a Louisville institution for longer than some people on this board have been alive. Describing it as unsavory simply because there are kitchen employees smoking outside the kitchen door is very harsh, in my opinion. I think Nancy and the Cafe Metro staff deserve more respect than that.

Louisville is losing a much loved institution. There is no need for speculation on the part of someone who has never even dined there. I could go on a whole lot more, but I will leave it at that.

I'm not sure how one's sidewalk observations are speculation. Seems like Nimbus is merely stating why he never dined there - reasons that illustrate his opinion as a potential customer. It doesn't really matter that he has not dined there as he is commenting on what he sees from the outside of the building. It would be another thing all together if he was commenting on the cleanliness of the bathroom or the quality of the dinner special based on his sidewalk observations.

I've never eaten at metro or uptown, but I have walked by thousands of times (literally). My memories of metro will be half of the "storefront" being a kitchen with sink and boxes piled up with a partially blackened window. Outside,typically one to three kitchen workers standing around smoking cigs, looking surly. This is literally fifteen feet from the front door entrance and all right on Bardstown Rd for all to see. Unsavory would be the word I'd best describe it as. For a dive (like 360), I can understand it, but not for anything upscale in the least. How could the owner not have noticed?

Don't know if that made a difference, but it couldn't have helped.

Just my observations....

I could go so many places with this. However, I will just say, I think that was really unnecessary. First and foremost, the place has been a Louisville institution for longer than some people on this board have been alive. Describing it as unsavory simply because there are kitchen employees smoking outside the kitchen door is very harsh, in my opinion. I think Nancy and the Cafe Metro staff deserve more respect than that.

Louisville is losing a much loved institution. There is no need for speculation on the part of someone who has never even dined there. I could go on a whole lot more, but I will leave it at that.

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuse me....

I was just giving my observations based on being someone who has lived within a block of the restaurant for the past few years. I was - quite frankly - shocked that they would put that view of their kitchen area right on the front window facing Bardstown Rd. Quite literally a few feet from the piano area separated by a wall of course.

I'm not happy to see the place go either. But couldn't the cooks and servers do their smoking out back at least? I'm not a smoker. I'm raising two kids who also won't be smokers. Sorry, I think it is highly unsavory. I'm a guy who cleans up other peoples' cigarette butts on a daily basis, so maybe I'm biased.

Respect has nothing to do with my comments. My comments were those of a guy (me) who walks by daily and sees what he sees.

And your "speculation" comment leaves me scratching my head. Two eyes making observations. I made no speculations.

Edit: thanks Matthew. Just read your reply. Agreed. Again, I'm always sad to see a business close. Especially, in my neighborhood. Hopefully, something wonderful will rise up in its place.

Edit 2: If their was a misunderstanding of my first post, the "unsavory" comment was regarding what I observed, not an overall description of the establishment. I made it clear that I haven't eaten there. Sorry if you interpreted my words to be an indictment of the whole place. It was merely my exterior observations, as Matthew correctly picked up on. (darn English language can be so tricky sometimes)

I've never eaten at metro or uptown, but I have walked by thousands of times (literally). My memories of metro will be half of the "storefront" being a kitchen with sink and boxes piled up with a partially blackened window. Outside,typically one to three kitchen workers standing around smoking cigs, looking surly. This is literally fifteen feet from the front door entrance and all right on Bardstown Rd for all to see. Unsavory would be the word I'd best describe it as. For a dive (like 360), I can understand it, but not for anything upscale in the least. How could the owner not have noticed?

Don't know if that made a difference, but it couldn't have helped.

Just my observations....

I could go so many places with this. However, I will just say, I think that was really unnecessary. First and foremost, the place has been a Louisville institution for longer than some people on this board have been alive. Describing it as unsavory simply because there are kitchen employees smoking outside the kitchen door is very harsh, in my opinion. I think Nancy and the Cafe Metro staff deserve more respect than that.

Louisville is losing a much loved institution. There is no need for speculation on the part of someone who has never even dined there. I could go on a whole lot more, but I will leave it at that.

Just adding to what others have said about your comments. In order for a restaurant (or any other business) to be successful they need to give customers in the door. If there are things about the restaurant that discourage potential customers from entering the establishment that is a major problem! Since his comments pointed out why he had never tried the restaurant they were very appropriate. He didn't say I heard...... or I think...... but just stated facts based on his observations.

As one of the former chef's of this establishment it makes me sad to see it's demise.

I also have a little insight to the "Smoking Area"
The kitchen at Cafe Metro is the smallest I've ever had the privledge to work in. The line is literally about 10' long by 3' wide where it is not physical for more than two or three people at the max to fit and work in. Directly on the other side of this is the dish station where the poor dishwasher has the same 10' length but about a foot and a half of space to move around in. The pantry station is a little better. It is on the far side of the galley and whomever is working there actually has about 8 square feet. The little closet area directly behind the back door is the "defacto" storage area/chef's office/locker room. the kitchen was remodeled shortly before I took the reigns in the late 90's and I understand it was even worse before that. Maybe Clay can elaborate. However unsightly it may be, there is literally no other place for employees to take a break except the little alcove there facing Bardstown Rd.

Terrible to hear this. I haven't been in a year or two, to be honest, but the 4-5 meals I've had there over the years were always good.

I truly hope Uptown stays open - it's a short walk for us, and our go-to for week-night "Where do we eat?" moments. It's also my go to for the biggest darn martinis in town (and well made to boot).

I know Uptown has recently been going in the other direction but I really hope they incorporate some of Metro's dishes into their menu.... maybe if just for specials.

I'm not saying this maliciously or to preach, and I'm not going to do the research, but I can't remember the last time Cafe Metro was mentioned on LHB - good, bad or indifferent. (I'm sure someone will correct me.) We always seem to post our sorrowful comments about the demise of establishments that we don't support before they go under. I don't have any problem with supporters of an establishment expressing sadness over a closing, but I think those of us who didn't support a place have no right to be sad when it's gone. Maybe it's closing entirely because of our failure to support it.

Otherwise, we're like the guy who killed his parents and then asked the court for mercy because he was an orphan.

(Sorry, I guess that was a little preachy after all. End of sermon. Your regularly scheduled programming will now resume.)

I'm not saying this maliciously or to preach, and I'm not going to do the research, but I can't remember the last time Cafe Metro was mentioned on LHB - good, bad or indifferent. (I'm sure someone will correct me.) We always seem to post our sorrowful comments about the demise of establishments that we don't support before they go under. I don't have any problem with supporters of an establishment expressing sadness over a closing, but I think those of us who didn't support a place have no right to be sad when it's gone. Maybe it's closing entirely because of our failure to support it.

Otherwise, we're like the guy who killed his parents and then asked the court for mercy because he was an orphan.

(Sorry, I guess that was a little preachy after all. End of sermon. Your regularly scheduled programming will now resume.)

Your post makes me think of how many factors shape the success of a restaurant: financial backing, innovativeness, location, marketability, ability to change with the times, ability to change with the times w/o losing core supporters, ability to draw in new customers, ability to make these new customers regular customers, ability to compete in a competitive marketplace, ability to handle staff turnover, etc. etc. etc.

Your point about "Cafe Metro" never being mentioned on LHB probably speaks to a number of the factors listed above. For all the "location" it had going for it, it doesn't seem like it was able to draw in a new crowd. I'm speaking here both generally and personally. Last week I was researching where to use a $50 Louisville Originals card - and was not limiting my options to places where the card would cover the entire bill. The finalists were North End, Lilly's, Baxter Station, and Viejo (ended up going there). Metro was never in the running. Don't have an answer to why it wasn't, but, if I'm representative in any way, there's something telling in that non-inclusion.

While Louisvillians really support the local independents, such support is not always enough to counteract tough economic times and ever-changing market contexts. Toss in the vast competition in this city for independent dining dollars, and, at least for me, it's easy to see how tough it can be to cut it. And, in the same vein, it gives me new respect for those places that do stay viable for many, many years.

I think most restaurants have a very limited life span and Cafe Metro was around a good 25 years or so? That's a stunning success by most standards. But all good things have a life cycle, Cafe Metro really wasn't able to keep up with the competition. While it's sad I don't feel any personal remorse, times change new places open as the old ones become memories. That's the natural progression for that type of establishment.

[Robin Garr]

I'm not saying this maliciously or to preach, and I'm not going to do the research, but I can't remember the last time Cafe Metro was mentioned on LHB - good, bad or indifferent.

As others have said, and trying hard not to speak ill of the dearly departed, I simply didn't feel that Metro had lived up to its high price point for a long time. I didn't go there often, didn't talk about it much, and couldn't really recommend it for the price. (And I was amazed to see the CJ give it a glowing review quite recently, a review that I felt based more on sentimentality than rigor.)

On the other hand, I still like Uptown very much, and have no problems recommending it at its price point.

Never ate there mostly because I heard the musicians played for tips. Let 'em close, I'll go to Jack Fry's.

Let 'em close, I'll go to Jack Fry's.

Seems a little harsh to me. This is someone's livelihood and business we're talking about here, not to mention the numerous servers, bartenders, and kitchen folks that are now unemployed.

I was refering to MY livelyhood and business. Do you think the guy that cleans the bathroom there worked for tips?
I'm sorry people lost their jobs but hopefully they have been looking for other employment since they more than likely knew the place where they worked was tanking.

Never ate there mostly because I heard the musicians played for tips. Let 'em close, I'll go to Jack Fry's.

Seems you should be mad at the musicians for playing for tips and not the restaurant. No one put a gun to their head. Plus you said you "heard" Are you sure?

I've played for tips, I've played for the door, I've paid for the union scale, and I've played for free - none of them are enough to earn a living on ... unfortunately. Sorry - didn't mean to take the thread into a new direction.