Raise a glass! Ocean Zen, Metropolitan Grill earn awards from Wine Spectator magazine
Two Springfield restaurants were among those recognized by the magazine Wine Spectator in their 2023 restaurant awards.
Ocean Zen, 4117 S. National Ave., and Metropolitan Grill, 2931 E. Battlefield Road, were among 3,505 locations in 70 countries in the awards program.
Launched in 1981, the Wine Spectator's restaurant awards are "the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service," according to a release from the magazine. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award.
Metropolitan Grill's website describes the restaurant as a "Modern American restaurant & bar with a buzzy, urban vibe slinging inventive cocktails, pasta & steaks."
Ocean Zen "combines Pacific Island foods, Euro-Asian cooking techniques with California freshness, and a host of other cultural and culinary influences," according to its website.
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According to Justin Tan, Ocean Zen's general manager, the restaurant's approach to wine is to offer diners something they can't find anywhere else.
"Our wine program, we try to make it where we showcase small-batch wineries. We want to make sure that you're getting wine selections you just can't get from your local grocery stores around town," Tan said. "Make it special — if someone is going to come out and experience one of our bottles, we want to make it worth it."
Both Metropolitan Grill and Ocean Zen have been on the Award of Excellence level since 2019. Tan hopes that the award helps elevate the area's reputation as a place to visit.
"We've been working on our wine list and we want to give Springfield the recognition it needs," Tan said, explaining that the accolade makes Ocean Zen "a best-in-the-nation spot you want to check out if you're from out of town or even in town."
Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 2 Springfield restaurants recognized for wine service "excellence"
