We had high hopes for this place after reading all the 5-star reviews here, and while it was a decent meal and we had a fun night out, I don't think it's worth such superlatives. I really wish Yelp allowed for half-stars, because I'd really put this as 2.5. Two stars is two low (but the description of "Meh, I've had better." is pretty accurate, and the "A-OK" of three stars is a bit too positive. I'd label it as "Just OK." I liked the casual vibe, as it fits with being at the beach, but at times it was a bit too casual. e.g. I liked that the executive chef came over and introduced himself and confidently and casually said that "you're in the right place; my food rocks," but the fact that when he set our drinks down and flung a wet straw at me accidentally, he didn't apologize but just sort of commented on the fact that he just flung a straw at me. And if you say at the outset "my food rocks" you better back it up beyond a shadow of a doubt... The food choices are great, and cover a wide variety of tastes. Can't fault them on the menu. Our party of four all commented when trying to choose that pretty much all of the "heavy tapas" choices sounded good to us. The specials were aplenty and seemed interesting as well. That said, when it's tapas you expect each dish to be a little gem of perfection, and with the exception of one or two (we sampled 8 or so dishes), they all had some minor or major flaw. The beef was overcooked, the green beans were over-sauced, the calamari in the Captain's Platter seemed like it was pulled from the freezer, etc. The best were the raw dishes we ordered, so take that as a recommendation. The wine list - both by the glass and by the bottle - was limited and not too interesting. The beer list - both on tap and bottles - was the opposite. If you're looking for decent food and a casual atmosphere this is definitely better than anything you'll find in Corolla. If you're looking for truly superlative food, go to Blue Point or Ocean Blvd a bit further south. Metropolis gets extra points for being in Corolla, since that's where we were staying this year. Another restaurant of it's quality to give it some competition and maybe force it to up the ante on the details would be good for it and the area, if the area could support it. read more

Fantastic restaurant! Great service, great food. We make it a point to stop at Metropolis every year when we visit the outer banks. It's hard to believe that such a nice restaurant is right there in the middle of all of the cheap beach food, but there it is- a perfect end to a day in the sun. My favorite dishes were the pork pot stickers and the shrimp risotto. Amazing! read more

My wife and I checked out this place last night for a late dinner. A 50ish minute drive from Kitty Hawk while following a Tourist... yes We are tourists as well but we do our best not to fit the stereotype. This joint is located in What I would call a strip mall. Was not busy at all and the large fella that greeted us was very friendly and welcoming. I would say there was about 6 patrons in the place... counting us...when we arrived....and we were told to " help ourselves" to a seat...ok There are a few things I look for in service... one is my server/host/waiter etc dressing the part? ... wearing flip flops is not what I would consider dressing the part. Also...if you are greeting clients... tuck in your shirt... you are at work... not a big deal to most.. but it also projects a more professional appearance. The place was VERY dimly lit and I found it hard to read the menu. my wife and I ordered the Moscow Mule for a drink. we have had the same drink other places and this one stands out... GREATLY... though we both love them and the ginger flavor... these were borderline too much... and tasted very different. Mine was a bit less ginger-y as compared to the wife... hers the ginger kicked you in the mouth with a fireball and continued to offer a bit of a burn the entire way down and offered the sensation for a minute or two after. one thing that I noticed while waiting for our first plate was the server/bartender/host/waiter... took a drink order for the table next to us..The male party asked for " The Felix" ... while pouring the drink together this guy sniffed each ingredient.. i am not talking just a quick sniff from a little distance.... he put the customers glass to his face... to the point his facial hair TOUCHED the glass.. nose in the glass.. and inhaled.... found it a bit odd... and a bit gross...... also a plate was broken on the floor behind us...AFTER our meal... he picked up the broken pieces ... threw them away... and picked up a completed order and served it.. with out washing his hands. My first "Tapas" was the special... Tenderloin tips and shrimp on a skewer....lots of flavor in the tips the shrimp took on the flavor of both the tips and the seasoning which was good.... tips were very tender. down side....3 small tips and 2 shrimp.... 2 skewers...the rice pilaf was tasty not sure exactly what all was in it but it was tasty.... my wife had for her first tapas...the Shrimp salad with Artichoke, feta , cherry tomatoes and capers in a lemon vinaigrette sauce. she says it was yummy and i had a taste and it was.. you could taste all the aspects of the "dish" with a finish of the hint of lemon. my second "dish" was the Wild Bore with Fingerling potatoes and cherry tomatoes..... The wild bore was seasoned well with a nice flavor... a bit more on the tough side then i prefer but it was a nice flavor and i didn't mind chewing it a little extra. ... some fingerling potatoes that the server said was cooked briefly in bacon grease which left a hint of pleasant bacon-y goodness with them. cherry tomatoes... well.. they were cut in half and a hit of salt... not much to say about them. My wife had the Sauteed Calamari with Coconut Milk, Yellow Curry, Cilantro & Lime...we never had it this way before and was very surprised with this dish....the squid was not as chewy as you would think .. it reminded us of a thicker noodle like that in a chicken noodle soup, very flavorful and a nice pleasant after taste.... there was much more sauce then needed and we would have probably enjoyed taking a nice bread to soak up some of the left over sauce. the server never did ask how things were.. but rather just passed by a few times... the bill was $70.... a bit steep for the experience and the quantity of each plate. 2 drinks and 4 "plates" of what amounts to 3 or 4 bites each....no thanks....not mad or anything.... it is really... Meh, we have experienced better....for less.... If yelp would allow it.. I would do 1 1/2 stars...because of the sniffing and hand washing incident I witnessed. read more

Kind of underwhelmed. First, on our way up from Duck, we called about getting a table for 2 and they told us no, but there were seats at the bar. Got there around 6:15pm or so and there were many open tables, but also many seats at the very nice, large bar so we were okay. But those tables were still open when we left at 7:15pm. I guess I don't understand. The cocktail list is pretty interesting. My husband got one of the specials, a peach martini ($13.50) and I got the special dry sparkling rose ($14). We shared the arugula salad, very nice, and the charcuterie, very disappointing. The cheeses were just cheddar and brie. Not very inventive. The meat was only 2 kinds of salami. Included strawberries, apples and pistachios. Then he had the scallops and I had the oyster mushrooms. Both were just okay. Total bill was $86 before tip - not sure it was worth it. We were glad we tried it - once. Probably wouldn't go out of our way to do it again. read more

Our food was great aside from the steak & shrimp being medium rare, which I can't fault them for being that we didn't specify the doneness. The asparagus cream soup and the house crab cakes were the highlights along with the strawberry (in season, fresh purée) martini. Having never been to the Outer Banks my girlfriend (who has been here many years for vacation) suggested we go here. She said it had great food, good atmosphere but wasn't so fancy you had to dress up. Overall I really enjoyed it and would come again! Also enjoyed the Highland IPA being in not from the area. I'll be back! read more

Fun place for drinks and tapas. The beer menu is excellent. They have an excellent martini and cocktail menu as well. I had a perfect manhattan. Made with rye whiskey it was pretty darn near perfect! Wife had a passion fruit martini and enjoyed it. They had a belgian beer on tap that I really wanted to try! The specials were explained very well by one of the Chefs. The asparagus soup with lump crab was amazing. The artichoke salad (no lettuce) was to die for. Artichoke with goat cheese, grape tomatoes and onion was perfect. Shrimp and chorizo was good but not great. I would go back! read more

Great food and drinks. The tapas and drinks are creative and taste good, too. The menu is extensive. The wait staff is very friendly. It's a good excuse to leave the kids behind (unless they're foodies). Everything was well prepared, although I liked some things better than others. A full meal requires 3-4 tapas and results in a rather pricey meal. During the off-season, it was clear that the waiters, food servers, and bartender were really challenged by the dinner rush. We had problems getting a second round of tapas and drinks. We went to the bar to get the drinks. Getting the bill was also a long, difficult process. Bottom line: good food and drinks, pricey, bad service when busy. read more

Don't go to this restaurant if your hungry. Me and a friend went to the restaurant for dinner and, after paying $14 dollars for two bites of tuna and $15 dollars for three scallops and a single split cashew, we decided to pay for our overpriced appetizers and left for another restaurant that would serve us a full plate of food. The food tasted good and was picture worthy; however, I'd rather not pay to be a starving artist. read more

Food is very good. Creative dishes. Chef is very knowledgeable and talented but a bit arrogant. Not an inexpensive place. You will enjoy the food and the drinks. read more

Pretty much tried everything on the tapas menu...nothing disappointed! an annual visit every May in the OBX! read more

Metropolis - Quail - Tapas Bars Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

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I called around the Outer banks hoping to find a good place with a vegan menu for my girlfriend. Lone behold I found this great Tapas bar with a wonderful menu for vegan and non-vegan's! The service was excellent and the Tapas were different than any other menu I've seen down here. The Quail and Tuna were excellent, while the salad had a great tasting dressing. Would recommend coming here for a good drink and great food. read more

I'm confused about all of the positive reviews. We went to Metropolis for a wedding tasting to select a caterer. We were told to "just come for dinner" and weren't afforded the attention or decent food selection to make Metropolis our choice. We were greeted by the server/host/bartender/busboy who delivered overpriced tasteless peach bellinis. Supposedly, the fresh peach purée was saved from the prior season specifically for this drink this week. Not even the essence of peach could be detected. We were seated next to the kitchen with full view of Chef Mark who we saw rinsing precooked pasta with the hot water sprayer from the dishwasher. The first course he chose for us was a charcuterie tray with sliced meats and cheeses. No skill there. Next was the salt and pepper crab balls that were void of lump crabmeat and were mushy inside ($3 a piece). Next course was duck confit croquettes which were served barely warm and drizzled with an ice cold truffle sauce. These too were void of seasoning and hardly worth $7 a piece for a 2" patty. At that point we had enough but he insisted on bringing out the "best meatballs" in a spicy sauce. Again, poorly seasoned, not spicy, and only one of the 5 of us finished the meatball or the duck confit. Our party consisted of people all from the DC metro area and frequent tapas restaurants regularly. This tasting selection and the extremely dark atmosphere (possible attempt to hide food and dirty glasses) did not come close to our lowest expectations! read more

Cannot go wrong. I believe we ordered everything on the menu AND the special board, some things twice. The martinis were awesome! Order the Corolla Sunset - not a martini but equally delicious. read more

Finally caught this place open. I'll start off with the good: their soups are outstanding. They were even my favorite in the local chowderfest before actually eating there. Unfortunately, the soup I ordered, as good as it was, had a fairly large piece of plastic in it. The piece was easily big enough to cause some major problems if I didn't pick it out of my mouth. It was still great soup. Someone in the table next to me also sent back one of their martinis. Not sure why, but I guess I wasn't the only one sending things back. I "finished" with the shrimp and grits. All in all it was a pretty average dish. Considering the price and the minuscule portion, it wasn't worth going out for. I left still a little hungry even after having some oysters before getting there. The service was okay. It wasn't very busy when we got there so we got everything in a timely manner. The beer selection was passable for the restaurant style. A few good beers on tap with a nice bunch of standard bottles. Oh, and their ceiling fans are cool. Visit this place once for an expensive lunch if you really want good soup. Just don't expect to leave with a full stomach or wallet. read more

Been going here for years. Tonight was not the best. Tapas is great for sharing but the "heavy tapas" was not up to par. Had the "wreck of Corolla ". Ingredients were good but very small portion even for tapas. Coming back to OBX in August. will skip Metropolis next time and probably give it a shot again in '22 when staffing is better. read more

A little to foo-foo for me. But our group liked the place. It's definitely got charm, but an eclectic menu. It's tappas, so expect a hefty bill and smaller portions. And since they cook to order, plan on a longer dining experience. Overall, a solid restaurant if this is up your alley. read more

From Charleston and this place exceeded my expectations! Food and cocktails are amazing. Definitely a must if you're in obx!!

Great place to eat off the strip. Inside is nice and clean, server was very nice and tentative. Great food on menu with specials to choose from. read more

What a quaint place. Loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. The food was very good too. Tapas style. I had the asparagus soup which was very good and topped with crab meat and garlic bread crumbs. I also had the mushroom risotto which was nice and creamy, although could have used a pinch of salt more for my tastes. Two at my table had escargo which they said was incredible and prepared in a nice coconut milk. They also offered another full menu for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten free. I highly recommend. read more

A wonderful surprise: fresh tapas, original cocktails, and probably the best wine list in the OBX. What was an Opentable gamble turned out to be a delightful dining experience. The blue crab pasta was simple and perfect, the house made bread with honey truffle butter was perfection. Also, they were very accommodating to our picky kids, churning out off-menu pasta and quesadilla to keep the children happy. I can't wait to come back here next time we return to the OBX. Highly recommend! read more

I was very excited to try Metropolis since my husband and I are really into tapas. We dropped in at around 6:45 and were the first guests of the evening. We decided to sit at the bar. I just say that the service, while efficient, was not at all friendly, which was disappointing. We ordered two small plates and two large plates. They were good but not great. The arugula salad was tasty; my husband liked the dirty rice with shrimp. I got the sesame crusted ahi which was tough although the wasabi-flavored slaw was delicious. I was really eager to leave since I found the atmosphere unfriendly. read more

We have been going to the OBX for years, but it has been a while since we'd been back. We were thrilled Metropolis was still there, and open (it is not quite 'on' season yet). If this place could get better, I don't know how. The server/owner was helpful and kind about the dishes, offering suggestions, etc. From the Asparagus Soup with crab, to the Ramps special, through a vanilla desert that was so good my wife finished it instead of the chocolate, this place is perfect for a romantic date night and a special treat on our last night out. Highly recommended. read more

I'd say this restaurant is a 3 1/2 stars. It's very cozy and well decorated. The service was excellent and their drinks are great. (And I don't typically drink) I've eaten at a lot of tasty tapas restaurants both in the U.S. and Spain. Unfortunately, I think this meal missed the mark. The fried calamari was dry, mushrooms with goat cheese was quite plain and needs more flavor, and the shrimp stew (a special) was too spicy with some starch that had no flavor at all. I can't even recall the 4th dish which says something about it. 3 dishes used the same tomato / chili sauce which was quite boring and unoriginal. Tapas should be fun and each dish have its unique flavor. My favorite by far was the ground lamb. It was flavorful and juicy. If they could focus on perfecting each dish like the lamb it would have been a much better experience. Even with these comments I would definitely recommend the restaurant especially if you like great martinis. read more

I'm downgrading this place to a 4. While I still think the majority of the food is great (the tarragon lobster roll aside - bleck), service is really pretty poor, at times. I've been here 3 times since my 5 star review in 2010 and if you get the one owner you're in for a less-than-fun time. He's curt, aloof, and seems like he doesn't want to be there. Fly-by service doesn't even accurately describe his service and we've gotten him as our server most of the time. The wine and beer list could be improved greatly, too. Cocktails are fine (although ice in the martini is not my thing and martinis should always be stirred in my mind). read more

This meal here was probably the highlight of my Outer Banks dining experience. The place appears to be run by a team of brothers: one running front of house and the other running the kitchen. The place is small, but seemingly typically crowded. The wife and I ended up sitting at the bar to enjoy our meal, but I had no problem with this as it did not detract from the experience. I liked that the chef himself came out to explain the specials for the evening. We ordered a bottle of wine and began selecting tapas dishes to try. The mussels dish was good. The mussels had good flavor but the sauce didn't exactly blend with them. The sauce was very well made though. The calamari was excellent with a light funnel cake like batter. Tastiness. We got the veal marsala and the veal was cooked excellently. One of the highlight dishes was the waffle fried quail... absolutely amazing, and the apple bacon slaw that came with it was equally good. There was a Papardel with a veal bolognese that got my stamp of approval. Seeing homemade pasta was also a nice treat. We got the duck with had a salsa and cornmeal which although good, took far too long to come out. I think they may had forgotten we ordered this originally. Finally for desert we ordered the foie gras on bread pudding. It was really very tasty. There was fried peach with it that really complimented the dish well. Overall, the meal was excellent. The prices are a bit on the high side, and the service was chaotic. They attributed this to being short staffed that night because someone called in. Despite that, though, this is definitely a place I would highly recommend coming to in the Outer Banks. The menu changes seasonally, and he seems to always add a list of different specials more often than that. It's possible the dishes I described above won't be on the menu when you arrive there yourself. Make the drive up to Corolla and try this place out. It's worth the drive and the experience. read more

Love this place with their consistently delicious food and cocktails (especially the LPR= Liquid Panty Remover Martini). It is urban chic, as advertised, and pretty pricey too ($65 +tax & tip) given that we leave hungry half the time but hey, we keep coming back. FYI- GBC= garlic bread crumbs & ask the price of the soup (5 of us each enjoyed a bowl of mushroom soup and it added $60 to our bill, YIKES!) read more

Excellent Tapas in a fun atmosphere. The food here is delicious, especially the seafood. The beer selection is also outstanding with something for any taste. The restaurant can get loud but it is only because people are having such a good time sharing the delightful dishes. I recommend sticking to the specials board as much as possible. read more

My favorite hidden gem in Corolla. Although - I am happy to see it is getting busier every time I visit. Offering city flavors in a small beach town- my husband an I are owners and come year round. Everything is delicious. I am amazed at the talent right here in Corolla . read more

Update - my girlfriend and I went back to check out Metropolis again this summer around the 4th of July, and had a much better experience that was more in line with years past than the experience that i wrote about last time. I'd be remiss if i didn't bump them up a few stars for the improvement. Sure, they weren't quite as busy as last time, but were by no means empty - and the service was on point. We sat at the bar and got drinks quickly, had the chef's specials explained to us in detail, and then received our courses in a very timely manner. The food was good - i think we had the daily soup, brioche bread with truffle/honey butter (i've never paid for bread before, but i will say that the butter was delicious - and after eating it, i wasn't upset at the price or anything), lobster roll (good as long as you don't compare it to something you'd get in New England), the boar chop (i liked the chimichurri), and the noodle bowl (probably my favorite item). We gave Metropolis another chance after a poor experience, and they delivered! We look forward to going back next year. read more

This place is great. The prices are very reasonable for such a great menu, great bar and great atmosphere. The staff was attentive and the owner is hands on making sure everyone is taken care of all the time. Try the dumplings for sure. They are fantastic. The duck meatballs were unique and so good. This place has a great bar with lots of specialty drinks that a perfect choices for vacation. The atmosphere is great. It's a little on the small side the way the bar is laid out, so you are close to others, but everything else is great b read more

On our recent trip to the Outer Banks, this was definitely a high point! We went to Metropolis on a Monday night at around 6pm. It was raining and there weren't too many folks there at first. It had a nice, dark, established atmosphere and well stocked bar. There were also some great beers on tap. I had a few "arrogant bastard" ales and one of the darker Belgians. The other folks in our party had some of the special martini's and margaritas. All had plenty of flavor (and alcohol!). The tapas were exceptional, including the seared tuna, potstickers, calamari, steak skewers, and the many others we had that night. Nice job all around and will definitely go back! read more

Love. All the food is delicious. Drink recommendations are on point. Flavors are clear, not muddled by too much salt or seasoning. Great choice for a date. Also they are very consistent. I've eaten here 3 times in 10 years (on a vacation) and every time it's fantastic. read more

Another great season - If you only have the asparagus soup with lump crabmeat here, you will walk away confused by how satisfied this single dish can be. I am pretty sure I licked the bowl clean this time. Some new favorites this year was the Seared Butter Poached Beef with Grits and Gravy and Pan Seared Scallops. As in years past, the chef made cheese quesadillas and pasta for the kids -- who know they are the luckiest kids on the planet to deserve these top notch versions of kids food fare (My husband and I both stole a few bites when they were not looking). Martinis here are plentiful and tasty - whether you go the fun or old fashioned route. Thanks again Metropolis and staff for always a delicious, fun time. read more

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Best place for foodies on the Outer Banks. Creative and delicious small and medium plates to mix and match to make up a delightful meal. Service is top notch and personable. Drinks are as good as the food in variety and creativity. Peach martini is to die for. Don't let the location fool you (small shopping center, no view needed with food this good). Don't miss this! read more

Exceptional food, outstanding service with knowledgeable and friendly staff. This is a place we will be coming back to next visit to OBX!

This is a must go if you are in the outer banks! An extensive drink menu and eclectic choice of tapas, inclusive for vegetarians,vegans and gluten free! Rare to find on the island! Responsible prices for artisan cuisine! read more

For three years now my wife and I have made this our destination spot. Kids at home, we spend a few hours in this culinary heaven. Inventive, and expert this restaurant puts to shame the trite and purile american fare that the rest of the island subjects you to. A wonderful tapas menu awaits with specials that change daily. Try the manhattan it is a beautifully crafted cocktail! read more

Great food and service. Wonderful drink and tapas menu. Truffle butter items are awesome. Drink specials are wonderful.

This is probably the most exquisite food in Corolla. Thoughtfully prepared menus with the freshest of ingredients. A real treat!

My husband and I ate here last month while on vacation in Corolla. I love small plate dining, so I was eager to try it out! First Impression: We arrived on a Tuesday at 7pm. We were greeted and sat by the friendly and enthusiastic Chef/Owner who we surmised was running the front of the house this night. They were not busy (not unusual for a Tuesday in mid-June). I was struck by the bright decor. I loved the chalkboards over the bar touting all the special craft beers and bottles of wine available. The music was subtle, the space bright and clean. It has an air of fine-dining with paper covered tablecloths, but keeps a relaxed vibe which is perfect for the area. I was impressed to see the chef not only acting as host, but also bartender, and food-runner. He shook cocktails, he brought out more than one of our courses, and even described his inspiration behind a dish that he was clearly excited about. Unlike other reviewers, I did not detect any arrogance....rather, I found him to be passionate about his cuisine and eager to tell its story. I also respect a chef/owner who takes an active role in the front of the house....one who isn't averse to rolling his sleeves up and helping his staff out. This reflects a humble personality. It is a lot of work running both BOH and FOH, and knowing every job in a restaurant. This man is a hard worker. Service: Service was on par with every great dining experience I have had. The server took our orders in a timely manner. We wanted several courses, and she timed them perfectly. She was friendly, attentive with water, offered beverages at appropriate times, checked back with us after each course was devoured. The only (slight) issue I had with service was initially being unsure and confused as to who our actual server was. Since the chef initially sat us and explained the specials, and another server approached us to do the same a few minutes later....it wasn't until we placed our second course that I figured out it was the third server who came to the table. It was not a big issue as service was excellent. I just wasn't sure who I would be tipping. Food: The food was exceptional. Everything was prepared and seasoned perfectly. Food presentation was thoughtful and lovely. Portions were spot on for a "small plate" concept. Reviewers have complained about portion sizes....this is not a "bigger is better" kind of place that will pile your plate high with marginal food. This is a kitchen that puts out delicate, thoughtful plates of locally source and seasonal ingredients. Higher quality ingredients and the labor-time required to prep these complicated dishes will yield one of two things: higher prices, or smaller portions. This Chef keeps the prices low per plate, and the portions small. But this is the main reason why I was so excited about it. I like to try lots of things. I want to shared 6 mini-meals with my husband and really experience the place. I would much rather spend $40 dollars on 3 well-composed dishes than on a single steak or chop (that usually ends up being more than I can eat anyway). Standout dishes were the Etoufee (the best representation of this Creole classic that I have had to date)...the lump crab and goat cheese "empenadas" with chimichurri (which were wrapped in wonton and were like a Brazilian version of the crab rangoon....which the Chef explained reflects the strong Asian influences in Brazilian cuisine as he had observed on a recent vacation)....they were perfectly fried little delights. The tuna tartar was my husband's favorite dish, and it was lovely. Seafood tartar can often be overly seasoned, overwhelming the subtle flavor of raw seafood. This was prepared with restraint, and it was gorgeous. We also thoroughly enjoyed the Summer Braise (pork cheeks braised in white wine....need I say more?) and the butter poached Filet. There were two desserts available....we ordered one of each, and they were a pretty and a perfect cap to the meal. Drinks: An excellent selection of craft beer as well as Belgian imports. This made my husband very happy as he drank a few of his beloved IPAs. The cocktail list is innovative and reflecting modern trends and ingredients in bartending. I enjoyed a Gin cocktail with passionfruit, fresh lime, and soda served in a high-ball glass. With my meal, I switched to a lovely Sauvignon Blanc by the glass, from Marlborough (my favorite varietal and growing region) We were delighted to see a couple of ports on the list, and happily shared one with our desserts. We loved this place. I might say that it is in my top 5 most memorable dining experiences....although time will be the test of that. We come down to OBX every June. After we left, my husband exclaimed "The only thing that sucks about that place, is that we are going to HAVE to come back here every year, even if we stay 50 miles South". 50 miles on Rt. 12? Totally worth it. read more