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Individual bulbs framing a skylight cast a warm glow throughout Hotel Metro’s in-house restaurant, and black and white photographs of old New York nod to the hotel’s Art Deco theme. Guests and nine-to-fivers can watch cooks prepare American comfort food in the open kitchen from their maroon cushioned booths. The autumn salad - served year-round - arrives with raisins, apples, and walnuts over leafy mesclun with sweet raspberry vinaigrette, and is big enough to share. You may need a crab cake appetizer per head, however, as the last bite of the single, fluffy and lightly-fried patty over wasabi mayo tends to get squabbled over. Wild mushroom risotto, however, is too rich and oily towards the bottom. A salty pan roasted bass sprinkled with bacon bits is redeemed by its side dish: a mix of cranberries and sautéed spinach, which has a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors. But it’s the chicken pot pie that may sum up this restaurant best; the flaky crust, tender white meat, and perfectly-cooked carrots and potatoes, make for a very cozy meal. — Randi Eichenbaum

Crab cake, $14; chicken pot pie, $18