Downtown Cincinnati continues to put itself on the dining map as Metropole, a farm-to-table restaurant and rooftop bar, will open in the old Metropole hotel on Walnut Street in late 2012. As part of a larger project, Cincinnati's Metropole will be located inside 21c Museum Hotel's 160-room hotel and contemporary art museum.

21c Museum Hotel's flagship hotel was founded in 2006 in Louisville, Ky. by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors who had a vision for bringing art into people's lives and supporting the revitalization of American cities.

In keeping with the founders' mission, Cincinnati's urban developers 3CDC and 21c Museum Hotel are partnering to revitalize the historical 1912, 10-story Metropole hotel into a unique place to view cutting edge contemporary art.

In its 8,000 square feet of exhibition space, there will be meeting and event area presenting rotating curated exhibits, dynamic public art installations and cultural programs. The exhibition space will be open to the public free of charge.

Along with preserving the city's historic building, the restaurant will emphasize the city's old world roots in its menu. Under Chef Michael Paley's direction, Metropole will focus on dishes with local ingredients cooked in a custom-built hearth. Chef Paley has been the executive chef at Louisville's award-winning Proof on Main since it opened.

“After opening Garage Bar, our wood-fired pizzeria in Louisville last year, I was inspired to create a menu that is cooked almost entirely by wood-fired heat,” Chef Paley says.  “Our menu at Metropole will reflect Cincinnati’s rich, European-based culinary heritage, and I am thrilled to introduce our custom-built hearth as the focal point of the restaurant and the menu.”

Working closely with local farmers and artisanal producers, Chef Paley is developing a menu focusing on string roasted meats, ash-cooked vegetables, house-made charcuterie and more. The beverage menu which can be enjoyed in the restaurant or while overlooking the city on the rooftop bar, which will favor craft beers and bourbon.

Metropole will have a completely different menu from Proof on Main but it will still have the same goal — to focus on and serve fresh and local sustainable food. The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night snacks and drinks.

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The former space in Walnut Hills that once was home to Simone’s and Seny Tapas Bar now has a new tenant.

Alex Chin, who previously was the owner and chef at Pacific Moon Café in Montgomery and Pacific Moon on the Levee in Newport, will open a restaurant at the site in November. The eatery will be called Suzy Wong and feature Chin’s unique spin on classic Asian dishes.

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