Metro: The Next Generation Diner

By Broadside Managing Editor Sherell Williams

Returning students familiar with Ike’s Restaurant in President’s Park and incoming students alike now have another late night option available in the area.

The new quick service restaurant, called Metro, is being advertised as the “new, fast, casual, and trendy... diner for the next generation.” To celebrate its opening, Metro will be giving out 4,000 shake coupons to George Mason University students and staff during Welcome Week that can be redeemed anytime after the diner opens its doors to the public, which was yesterday, August 26.

Students in search of delicious, affordable meals and free Wi-Fi will enjoy the relaxed climate that Metro offers. The diner boasts a diversified menu under the backdrop of 50s style décor similar to that of its parent umbrella company, Silver Diner, and campus favorite Ike’s, but with a modern spin.

“We wanted to recreate that old-fashioned feel and present a wide range of food in a clean and contemporary fashion,” said co-founder Ype von Hengst of the overall atmosphere.

He, along with his business partner, started Silver Diner over 20 years.

Metro is comprised of booths, chairs, and tables in a three-color scheme of dark blue, beige, and deep red while the walls are a mix of both old and new decorations.

In between the easy-to-read oversized electronic menus that showcase the diner’s full menu of appetizers, lunch and dinner entrees, beverages, and desserts, familiar diner staples such as large signs advertising shakes and other cold beverages also help recreate the themed environment.

In addition to serving breakfast all-day, Metro offers customers a wide selection of sandwiches, salads, and classic dishes such as sliders as well as desserts like home-baked cupcakes. There’s also a self-order kiosk that will allow customers to place orders for food using a touch-screen that will include pictures of the items available from the menu.

One unique feature to the diner is their order key. After placing an order, customers will receive a slim, black key-shaped card called an order key that must be inserted at the patrons table of choice in a silver machine similar to the coin machines found jukeboxes. The key tells the serving staff (or “Ambassadors” as they are called in the diner), where to bring the orders.

Metro is one of many businesses capitalizing on the trend of fast, casual restaurants adapting to the fast food mentality of customers.

“Time is a precious resource for everyone,” said Claudia Dwyer-Lynch, the Marketing Manager for Metro, Silver Diner, when explaining Metro’s philosophy of providing restaurant quality food to customers with a quick turnaround.

Von Hengst believes much of its success within the community will be due to the diner’s “great atmosphere, lighting and decorating, and contemporary feel of the building.”

“[Metro] is the complete package,” said von Hengst. “Come on out, cause we’re open for you!”

Metro is open daily at 7 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. on Sunday-Wednesday. They close at 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.