The Metropolitan

Once again I find myself dining at the met which I always enjoy.
On this occasion I was with my mum and aunt having a catch up. They both opted for the cheese pie which looked and more importantly tasted epic. It wasn’t an over facing size, it was just a nice sized pie. Accompanied with a salad and sweet potato fries.
I opted for the classic met burger, you just cannot go wrong with it. It is served on a lovely brioche bun, so tasty. The burger itself is a decent size, defo not small. You get the option of Stilton or cheddar cheese, I chose cheddar. I got sweet potato fries instead of normal fries. I’m a firm believer everyone needs to try a met burger.
I have also had the bangers and mash here. Now this was gorgeous, my mum has since had it and feels the same. Creamy mash, 3 sausages, gravy and a pea and bacon creamy thing. This is also one to try as it the fish pie.
Thoroughly recommend the metropolitan for food.

Seeing as I used to live in West Didsbury years ago, I’m no newbie to ‘The Met’, as locals like to call it. However, I haven’t visited this place for years, and was looking forward to going on a Saturday for a mates birthdays.
There were 16 of us on a Saturday afternoon, starting here for food and drink before heading to a few other places in Didsbury. It’s actually a really nice place — the interior is lovely and location spot on. It often gets scrutinised for being a bit pretentious with the crowd it attracts, but I have to say I prefer the crowd of didsbury locals — this place is always filled with a nice crowd and attracts no trouble.
You can sit outside under the heated area, inside at the main bar, or in the restaurant/​dining bit. Each area is always busy, with a bustling atmosphere and traditional décor.
I ordered the Butternut Squash Risotto for my dinner which was the wrong choice — I should have gone for the burgers which a lot of my friends went for, and they looked amazing. The burgers came with a nice looking ciabatta bun, and were fully stacked with meat, salad and cheese. My risotto was very standard., The butternut squash was a little bit hard, and I didn’t really feel full or satisfied after it. At least I had buckets of sweet potato fries to pick at from everyone elses order afterwards, which were home cooked and delicious!
Quite a pricey place to come for lunch and a drink if you expect it to be a typical ‘pub/​bar’ type place. But it is west didsbury after all.
I’ll be back to give the menu a second chance with a competely different order!

Buena atención. Buena comida. Precios algo altos pero el ambiente es genial. Es acogedor. Cerca del metro y otros bares que cierran más tarde. Siempre encuentras taxis al salir. No puedo decir más, solo dar cinco estrellas por que en realidad me encanta.

As one of my locals, the Met is a winner all round. The food here is good (especially the pizzas which are cooked in front of you in a proper pizza oven), and the sit down restaurant is always busy but I’ve not actually eaten there so can’t comment.
The place is always chockablocked, but the staff are always friendly and efficient. Because of how busy it is, it can often be difficult to get seats, so if you’re planning on visiting the Met, get there a it earlier than planned.
It is especially gorgeous at Christmas as the real wood burning fires are lit, the Christmas trees are decorated beautifully and the mulled wine is AMAZING (if not quite pricey at around £5 a glass).

The Metropolitan seems really nice to me. It’s such a beautiful building and the interior is very nicely done, with some extremely comfortable sofas. The outside beer garden must be one of the largest and most pleasant in Manchester and they were showing Wimbledon on the big screen which was cool.
There’s table service which is also very nice and it was pretty efficient considering it was a sunny Friday night. We all got pizza (they have gluten free) which I think everyone enjoyed. My spicy beef was fine but my friend’s four cheese was really good and I would get that again.
Wine was good value, I think £16.50 for Chilean Sauvingnon Blanc. Slightly sour on first taste but mellowed and was very drinkable.
On site parking as well, it’s a winner!

Yeh it’s alright, waitress thought my mate was my missus fella tho, missus asked for butter and got a spoon as well

I like the Met — it’s got plenty of seating, is good for big and small groups, the pizza’s are amazing and they have some decent gins behind the bar.
Downside is that you’re paying a little more than the norm for your drinks (Didsbury prices), but the atmosphere is great as are the staff. I find the restaurant food can be disappointing at times, and although I can get a pizza, olives and antipasti served to my table in the bar area I can’t get a bowl of chips. I mustn’t be quite Didsbury enough.
The big leather sofas by the fire are great in the winter, and there are plenty of big tables if you’re in a larger group too. There’s also a massive outside area and a big open kitchen making the pizza’s and BBQ items, so looking forward to the summer.
I’ve also found that this is a great place to take my Mum for an afternoon cup of coffee and slice of cake. Also very happy that the Met serves Brew Tea and has a nice selection displayed by the cake stands.

The Met is the first pub I ever went to in Didsbury — not just West Didsbury, but in the whole of Didsbury — so it has a certain comfort and sentimental value. Now, if venturing out of town, this is my first choice, and when out in Didsbury I often suggest this as the meeting point.
It is easy to get to from town. You can get the 111 bus from Piccadilly bus station and it stops right outside. Since the tram arrived a couple of years ago (is it that long?!) I usually get the tram because it is quicker than the bus. You get off at Burton Road and it is literally about 2 minutes walk over the road. Although if like me you daydream on the tram and sometimes miss your stop, then the West Didsbury stop is only a 5 minute walk away.
The pub itself is big and plenty of seats, although on Saturdays it is still difficult to get a seat. In the winter, one of the rooms in the front has a fire which is really cosy. They also have a TV which I’ve only ever seen showing news but imagine it must show sport sometimes.
Usually I go for drinks and the prices are town prices, so a little higher than I usually expect out of town. They have an offer on Fridays on champagne which is handy to know. I often go for the house red which is £5 for a small glass.
I had a Sunday roast here today for the first time in about a year and I had forgotten how nice it is. I had the beef, which was £16, and my friend had chicken. We had a nice variety of vegetables — red cabbage, sweet potato, carrots, beans, broccolli. The beef was pink and was melt in the mouth. The potatoes were gorgeous too. The portion size is generous, a little much for little old me but for ideal for bigger appetites.
After letting the main get down we went for dessert. I had cheesecake which came with mixed berries and a nice berry sauce. It looked very pretty — I should have got a picture but I forgot because it looked so nice so just tucked right in. My friend had the apple crumble which was a good size.
The reason I’ve not gone for 5* is just the cost, because I think it is quite expensive for Didsbury. The Sunday lunch cost £25 for the main, dessert and one glass of wine and I’ve had cheaper in town. The food was very tasty and worth it, but not a place to go when on a budget.

I have a real fondness for The Met. It’s a great place for a quiet drink in the afternoon, brilliant beer garden for sunny days and the food is superb. I think the pizza’s are a little pricey but they taste delicious! I’ve never had a bad meal and the staff are always friendly.

A great retro pub which has obviously been here for years, but the whole place is stunning, with all its original features with its beautiful high ceilings and fireplaces, this place is huge with a massive outdoor area, though this place gets real busy whens its a sunny day so get here early if you want to sit outside, all the staff are down to earth and I’ve heard the meals in here are pretty good too!

Having lived in West Didsbury for getting on for 8 years I recently realised I hadn’t tried the burger from The Met, self titled as the famous Met burger — it’s been on the menu there for a decade (well before burgers became in vogue).
The famous Metropolitan burger — 8oz prime 28 day aged chargrilled beef with bacon, Cheddar, homemade burger sauce in a caramelised onion focaccia with triple cooked chips — I now wish I’d tried it before as it was excellent with the beef being the star (so often not the case with burgers these days where toppings rule). The focaccia also made a nice change from a brioche bun. Yes, it’s just a «standard» burger as opposed to those served at SoLita and Almost Famous but it’s just as good. ⁹⁄₁₀

The Metropolitan is the perfect place to spend a Summer’s evening. The beer garden is very pleasant and has its own bar. It gets incredibly busy but is big enough to accommodate large groups. I also like the way they have a roof over part of the garden. Inside the pub is very traditional with sofas and large wooden tables. I love the fire in the Winter. My only complaint is the price of the drinks. A bottle of cider cost me £5. The Met is definitely worth a visit for one or two drinks but you will need to bring a large wallet if you plan to stay there all evening.

As a patron since only 2009, i would like to add that this is a very enterprising pub. Very current n trendy. Nice out back open kitchen for bbq n with my visit today ive learnt The Met has a pizza pit making pizza to order. Just love the enthusiasm, the essence of promoting food, i mean while u drink. Most pubs are only too happy to sell booze only.

The service is always fantastic here. The menu, especially on a Sunday afternoon, is excellent and full of classic favourites.
It is the hub for West Didsbury social life and I often start the night here intending for a short stay but end up staying until closing time. It is a great day spot (especially during the summer) with plenty of outdoor seating but is also great for sitting indoors with a mix of small and large spaces catering for parties of all sizes.
The building is old-​fashioned but in a way that seems to suit the weekend crowd with it’s distinct and spacious surroundings and comfortable seating. An old-​fashioned setting with a modern crowd, suitable for all occasions.

We’ve had lunch at the Met on a Sunday twice recently and the service has been great both times. They have an excellent Sunday roast menu but also some great classics. I had the shepherds pie this time and it was almost as good as my Mums! I’d recommend booking as it was really busy but this just made for a great atmosphere.
Try to save room for dessert, their chocolate brownies are to die for.

This place has become my local even though I live 2 miles away. Great place to start your weekend drinks or head to when hunting for a decent beer garden with a decent vibe!

Gently hugging the corner of Burton Road and Lapwing Lane is the Met, a day relaxi-​spot and bustling nighttime haunt of Didsbury’s residents — but such is its reputation that I’ve known folks to travel from Chorlton and even the city centre to enjoy its atmosphere. At weekends it’s a place people gravitate towards for Sunday lunch and it has all avenues covered re: being an all-​season venue, but gosh the popularity has spread!
I was lucky enough to snag seats here when I came with my friend. Seats snagged, yes, but getting to the bar was a whole ‘nother story. Good job we opted for whole bottles of wine that’d last us a few drinks each! I loved the atmosphere though, it had a great friendly vibe and the clientele seemed mature, rather than kids with too much money out on the razz. Everybody had homes to get to, jobs to be presentable at and kids waking them up in the morning, so there wasn’t any silliness. And the big ol’ tables are quite a sight, they really add to the rustic feel.
I’ve not yet tried the food but I hear it’s good… I also hear it can be a little slow so come when you’ve time on your hands. It’s a versatile venue that completely changes its feel between day and night, and I for one shall be going back to test it at different times.

YES. ANOTHER FOUR STARS. I am getting a bit predictable aren’t I?
On the advice of a housemate, she took me and another housemate here for sunday lunch on the promise it would make me stop yearning/​complaining about the fact I hadn’t had a sunday lunch in a while.
At first, I wasn’t too impressed with the exterior — it felt a touch faux-​tudor and mass produced. However, once I got inside this feeling instantly dissapeared and I fell in love. Though our welcome was, at first, a tad frosty (namely, the head waitress kept her back to us for a good few minutes and drinks felt like they took a while to come) we landed a super friendly waitress who reminded me somewhat of someone you would befriend on holiday or down your local. To start I had broccolli soup and then belly pork for main. And I was just blown away. And not just because the yorkshire pudding was the size of my face.
The pork was melt in your mouth, the vegetables were cooked well and not soggy, the yorkshire pudding well (and home) made, and the gravy plentiful — one for the northerners! The soup was just the right consistency, though a touch too big of a serving when considering the size of the main, but that might just be me. Definitley the sort of thing to write home about. And cheap — my starter/​main/​one drink set me back £19.80, which is worth it considering the quality and atmosphere.
One thing I would note is that is was extremely busy. We were there on a sunday, which is obviously prime time for people to go out and eat, and were lucky to get a table for the three of us. I am not 100% on whether they do reservations but, if they do, I would recommend it if you are set on going. Worth going even if you live in the city centre. West Didsbury is a nice place to explore, or just sit and watch the world go by once you realise your jeans feel much tighter than they did before you ate.

There are two real, spitting, open fireplaces in this place. Yes two. That marks the first tug on the heart strings. Then there’s all the real quality sturdy wooden furniture, the high roofed beamed ceilings and the upholstered chairs that could lead me to take up theft (I want one for my house). What’s the final and most interesting comment on the look of the Met, is the bookcase, with the real books on them, not toy ones I can reassure. Well back in the old days pubs were places where you would go to read. Not quite so much any more.
So yes I love, love the cosy, traditional, classy feel to the Metropolitan and all the interesting pieces to make up a great pub. This particular afternoon visit I met a friend for catch ups, tea, beer, wine and gin. With good insight into the alcoholic and hot drinks, the Metropolitan kept us engrossed in conversation. The Metrpolitan is one of those places you could sit in all day without a care in the world about responsibilites. If you find youself still around between 5 – 7, there’s two courses for £8.95 and considering a starter in itself can be £5.95 and a main up to £15, it’s a bargain.
The conservatory for outdoors drinking completes a perfect West Didsbury outing. Day or night, The Metropolitan is brilliant.

The Met is satisfaction personified. It is that comfort zone place where you go knowing full well you will not be disappointed.
Warm fuzzy fire in the winter, beer garden in the summer, it just ticks all the boxes for me. The drinks maybe be pricey but then again this is west didsbury after all.
Another thing to note if you are lucky enough to be a Mancunian like moi: D It seems that no matter where you are in the world when you come back to Manchester and want to go for a pint you end up in the Met knowing full well you will bump into an old friend, and I do everytime!!!
I think if we had a British version of friends The Met would be the equivalent of central perk. So if you are ever in Manchester and want civilized banter in a traditional British pub with a decent crowd, give The Met a try. You will probably find me shotgunned to one of the sofas having a good laugh with some friends, come over and say hi cos you never know it might be my round ;D

On a hungover mission to get a burger, the boyf and I found ourselves wandering out to Didsbury, disappointed again and again by every pub we went past, until I remembered hazily that a friend had recommended the Metropolitan’s burger. We wended our way there and by jings, I’m glad of it!
The Met is a really lovely building; an imposing mock Tudor affair with well-​kept beer garden. Inside is even lovelier, with comfy leather seats and an open fire, and book-​lined walls. It really manages to capture the essence of old-​fashioned, whilst remaining clean and bright and modern. The staff are as well-​presented as the pub itself, and very polite and helpful. They are great with suggestions and advice when it comes to ordering, too.
Now, let’s talk about the burger. At £9.95, it ain’t cheap, but it is gooooooood. A thick meaty patty (cooked the way you like it, a refreshing change!) in a lush floury bun, topped with stilton and bacon and relish, oh my! There’s also a really generous helping of handcut chips on the side, seasoned and cooked to perfection. I would also strongly recommend the marinated olives. Me, I love olives and order them pretty much every time I eat out, but I am fussy. The olives here are really good, good enough that I ordered another portion to take home!
As well as the exciting burger, the Met offers a fantastic a la carte menu laden with such offerings as sea bass, duck breast and a great selection of steak. It’s a great place to go for a posh pub lunch.
In terms of drinks, the Met offers a good beer selection, including Beartown, which is brewed locally in Congleton, and has a healthy wine list ranging from £13 to £40. I would recommend the Gestos Argentinian Malbec, which is under £20 but tastes much pricier!
The Met is a perfect place to relax and take things easy, whilst supping a nice beverage or two and watching the world go by. It’s lovely in the Summer, to sit outside, or to huddle by the fireplace in Winter.