With our jam-packed schedules, planning a meal out with friends can be a daunting task. Gone are the days of locking in a date with a simple phone call. However, once you’ve managed to secure a precious time window that suits everyone, the most difficult part is over, right? Wrong. These days, the most significant obstacle is picking a location that caters to everyone. From favoured cuisines to dietary requirements, each person may have a different (albeit strong) opinion, leading to a tense group chat and plans that never materialise. This, along with the rare possibility of finding a table without a month’s notice, makes what should be a casual catch-up, notoriously difficult to manage. That is why here at YCB, we’re taking our plans straight out of the group chat and into Metropolis, a brand new food hall providing culinary excellence in the heart of Vauxhall.
Nestled under Vauxhall’s arches is Metropolis London, a lively street venue that showcases the very best of London’s food, drink and entertainment scene. A group of diverse Londoners, united by their passion for food and fun, envisioned a venue where trendy chefs infuse traditional recipes with modern twists. As it opened its doors in May, Metropolis London soon achieved exactly that- a dynamic space featuring eleven vendors as well as a massive bar offering a variety of beverages to complement the diverse culinary spaces.
All that remains is deciding what to eat. To start, we opted for Sukushi, a Pan-Asian sushi restaurant and devoured the poké bowl, a medley of fresh salmon, perfectly ripe avocado and sticky rice.
Next up, we headed to the Sexy Buns stall- our mouth’s watering at the thought of freshly prepared meals made with 100% organic buns crafted by a local bakery. We ordered a slow-cooked beef bun with honey chilli sweet potatoes. The tender beef was held together in a golden bun with toppings of ginger, lemongrass, lightly pickled cucumbers and crispy onions.
Other options available include Mexican tacos, Indian curries, Soul food with a Filipino twist, Asian Uzbec, BBQ smokehouse and of course, some fresh gelato to finish. As you can imagine, the decision won’t be an easy one to make, however, with the variety of cuisines and dishes up for offer, you can rest assured knowing that there is a meal for everyone to enjoy.
Once your meal is finished, there’s certainly no rush to leave. Here you’ll find no tight, 90-minute time-slots to usher you out as your bill is being paid. In fact, why not enjoy an Aperol on the sun-trapped terrace or head next door to watch the Euros playing on the flat-screen televisions?
What’s more, doubling as an entertainment hub, Metropolis showcases up-and-coming talents, transforming each visit from a typical meal out into a celebration of creativity. With pool tables, a photo booth, and new offers and events running regularly, this really is a space that truly caters to every preference, plan, and personality.
The Metropolis London’s mission is to be taste explorers, crafting culinary stories resonating through London’s streets. After our afternoon visit on a sunny Saturday, we can certainly confirm this dynamic hotspot has achieved exactly that. Share meals, stories, and a vibrant dining experience all under the same roof- taking catch-ups with friends to new, elevated levels.
