Commonwealth Cafe

This place is amazing. The food was fantastic and full of flavor. The coffee is strong. They were so so friendly to my kids. They have plenty of seating and I love that you pay and then are seated. The vibe is good too. It's pretty upscale but still diverse. I love all the windows and plants, too.

Hands down the best breakfast/brunch spot in Birmingham. The coffee is 11/10 and the food matches up. There is always a line, but it moves relatively quickly with how the restaurant is set up, during the summer the outdoor patio is open but closes for winter. Highlights were the turkey sandwich on marble rye and the blueberry pancakes with lemon curd delicious!!

My husband and I discovered this gem a couple years ago and have visited at least a dozen times. I can honestly say we have not once been disappointed. A good vegan brunch is tough to come by in the metro-Detroit area and we are grateful for their commitment to continue to offer delicious vegan options.

This a perfect lunch spot, I had the GRILLED CHEESE + TOMATO SOUP which is a great portion. The grilled cheese is made on a thick ciabatta bread and the cheese mixture is perfect. There is normally a line but it goes faster than you expect. I’ve never had an issue getting a table after ordering, the staff quickly cleans tables.

Glad to see Commonwealth after all these years still proving to be the best brunch restaurant in metro Detroit. We stopped in on a Sunday morning and there was a very long line to order your food. Wait ended up not being too bad and the food came out very quickly and everything was fantastic 🤌🏻

I would give them a 4.5 if I had the option. Food was fantastic and the service smooth and pleasant. I had an omelet, my wife had a standard breakfast, and we shared the seasonal dulce de leche pancakes. The atmosphere wasn't bad, but their decor follows the trend of making everything hard and therefore it's pretty loud, especially when a toddler is testing her lung capacity every few moments. Some noise dampening elements would make the dining experience as good as the food!

What a lovely place to get breakfast on a weekend morning! Service was nice and friendly! Around 10:30 am there was no line , so we ordered an omelette and a sandwich 🥪 with two lattes and a slice of a carrot cake 🍰. 15% tips are already included if you’re taking it “for here”. Food was brought quickly to the table and everything was delicious 😋 It got crowded quickly, so we were happy to get there early. Tends to be a bit louder on the inside, but outdoors was absolutely amazing. Will be coming back to try avocado toast and the breakfast bowl

currently trying to choke down this $25 omelette. i would describe it as a dry egg log with undercooked, poorly seasoned Brussel sprouts on top for some reason. they also added cold chunks of cheese. i also got a side of sausage that is somehow making things even worse. very poorly executed meal. 0/10.

We come here a lot since my fiancé works down the street and one thing never changes, just how good this place is! They have service and ordering down to a T. They are fast and friendly, the food is just amazing and the C-latte is to die for! Don't be fooled by a small on the outside looking cafe, this place gets packed! During the summer they open the windows and patio is in full service. I highly recommend coming here with friends for brunch!

Birmingham and so many cute little restaurants and Commonwealth Cafe is no excepton. I've eaten brunch here twice during my last few visits and, based on the line, it seems to be a pretty popular spot. My brother was the lucky one to wait in line this last time while we took his little ones to play outside...there were a bunch of other little ones outside for them to play with as their family members waited in line. I enjoyed an iced latte (a must!) and some sort of veggie omelette. It was super fresh and tasty. I would definitely be a regular if I lived in the area. Instead I'll continue to be a regular when I visit my brother and friends who live in the area!

The food was very fresh and delicious, and the flavors were so bright and vibrant! I got the Waygu Carne Asada bowl, chai latte, and the banana bread that I had them grill. Everything was absolutely amazing. That was the best banana bread I've ever had. It had chocolate chips in it, and I normally wouldn't go for that, but when I say it was phenomenal, IT WAS!! The service was great, and the ambience was very relaxing. The Waygu Carne Asada bowl was a tad on the pricier side, at $32, but I would definitely get it again. It was everything was looking for. The steak was very tender, and grilled to perfection. Can't wait to return.

This a perfect lunch spot, I had the GRILLED CHEESE + TOMATO SOUP which is a great portion. The grilled cheese is made on a thick ciabatta bread and the cheese mixture is perfect. There is normally a line but it goes faster than you expect. I've never had an issue getting a table after ordering, the staff quickly cleans tables.

Food was amazing, was able to satisfy all our food needs. Was in town visiting girlfriends and was a great place to catch up and enjoy truly delicious food!

Cute brunch spot with plenty of seating. We went early and there was no wait. Noticed after we left, the line gets longer as it gets later. They had a lot of selection between food/coffee/tea/desserts. We ordered the common breakfast, chorizo hash, carrot cake, and a couple coffees. The food came out pretty quickly and everything was fresh/hot. The gingerbread latte wasn't a strong flavor but it was still good. The chorizo hash had a lot of flavor and was super good. The commons breakfast was a big portion, ended up taking some to go. The carrot cake was the best thing I had there.

Commonwealth Cafe is a cute, convenient spot with pretty good breakfast/lunch food. The service is minimal since you order at the front and they really only come by to bring you your food, but regardless, everyone there has always been extremely friendly and helpful when navigating the menu. However, it is pricey even for Birmingham. There is a 20% gratuity included in every check even with little to no service. Still great for breakfast if you're in the area!

Staff is very professional and food is always served. Aesthetically pleasing restaurant is always clean as well as the tables and floors. I can just all around fun and welcoming atmosphere. The food is always well prepared with grape flavor.

This place was packed! And was a great atmosphere! Very Lively! Very clean, modern and great to be in an open layout high ceiling market like environment during the winters! With the way they work, we went in and had a 30 mins wait in line to order food. Then we waited 10 more mins to get a table. So we were standing for all of those 40 mins. My wife got the turmeric ginger tea & I got cup of the Tanzania black coffee. (Turmeric Ginger tea was a tea bag, and the Tanzania was alright ) We were three of us and ordered Avocado Ginger Toast, Mediterranean Quiche, French Toast with Berries. The preparation and the presentation of the food was good but there is quite a bit of opportunity to improve their taste. Food was somewhat bland. They added a 15% gratuity to the check when we ordered; which was before we got the table and after we had waited in line for 30 mins. I might give it a try again if I see less of a crowd from the outside, and try some different dishes on the Menu like the Tandoori Chicken salad or Wrap and the bacon fried rice.

Delicious!!! Everything was fresh and yummy!! The service is also great. Their French toast- amazing! Their coffee is top quality. The only thing to note- you have to wait in line to order before getting seated and this place gets packed, so it'd probably be better to go on a weekday when possible.

We have been to this restaurant many times & it's great overall. I would not say the food is very child oriented though. Last time I had the quiche. It was still cold inside even after a long wait. Also far too cheesy and not enough veggies or eggs. IMO

Phenomenal I was looking for a new cafe to get some work done and grab a nice lunch, commonwealth did not disappoint. I went on a particularly busy Monday and had to wait a little while for an open table. The staff was constantly moving and gave me prompt updates on seating. Very friendly staff The food was sensational, never did I think I'd be losing my mind over a salad haha the layout and decor of the space was relaxing and clean!

Food was good! Buttttttt.... We paid $76.00; parfait ($10) (+3 for blueberries), bacon fried rice ($20), a burrito ($20) (+4 for avocado), cinnamon roll ($5 i think), iced chai tea latte ($5.50), + 15% auto gratuity. It would have been $7 for a side of fruit for the parfait (which came with plain greek yogurt, honey, and granola). I decided to pay the extra $3 for only blueberries because a parfait without any fruit is sacrilege, but could not justify $7. We also got a large cinnamon roll which was amazing and if I am remembering correctly was only like $5 ???? If I do return, it will be simply for one of the pastries. The iced chai tea latte was *almost* reasonably priced at $5.50. The staff was good and they move as swiftly as they can in such a hectic atmosphere. The open layout is nice, but a bit intimidating and seems to be consistently packed with people. I know this is in Birmingham and the prices aren't particularly generous there, so I knew it would be pricey; but, after all of the rave from fellow young adults, I was expecting "pricey" to be closer to $50 for what we got.

We ordered the classic French toast with the common breakfast. The layout was spacious and airy, and the best part was that there was a lot of seating available indoor & outdoor. The food is a bit on the pricier side, comparable to New York pricing while quality was ordinary to the typical breakfast dining. The service fell short of expectations as we needed to approach the cashier for extra condiments & our waiter/waitress did not attend to basic needs such as refilling water or checking on our satisfaction with the meal. Overall, we had a standard experience with room for improvement in service attentiveness.

Really wish I liked this place. Food is super fresh, but soooo bland. I got the Tandoori chicken wrap which was really underwhelming . There was barely any tandoori flavor and the cilantro hummus was liquid-y. Staff are nice and ambience is too but man if you're coming down to Birmingham to eat, there's better options. Also why is there not tomato on the wrap? Whatever.

Friend had heard good things about this brunch spot so when I was in town we stopped in. We went on a Sunday, you guessed it, at brunch time! This is important to note, for specifically for busy times. There are two lines when you walk in: Take-Away to the left and Dine-In to the right. There is no waitlist, you'll stand in line and wait to reach the counter to order your food before being seated. Once ordered you'll receive a number then depending on your party size, we just had two, you'll be seated. This is where wait times could increase if you happen to have a group. We bad a party of 2, therefor we were seated rather quickly! I did notice it took a bit longer for the families to be seated after ordering. So there are 2 waiting periods before being seated. We waited about 20 minutes altogether which I believed to be rather quick for Sunday brunch times! Once seated our food and drinks came out about 10-15 minutes later. I ordered a hot chocolate which was beautiful and rich in chocolate flavor. For my entree I got the French toast with the Espresso Crème Anglaise and Vanilla Marscapone. I've had my fair share of French Toast, but this has to be in my top 5! The subtle sweetness and balance of the Vanilla marscapone complimented the Espresso Crème Anglaise so perfectly. It was such a delightful bite into the soft pieces of bread each time. My friend had a stomach ache the night before so opted for the classic buttermilk pancakes with the honey butter. I tried a bite they were perfectly cooked. The fluffy bite everyone looks for in a pancake. The whipped honey butter was such a nice touch! It added a sweet yet light note to each bite. It's a lovely and clean restaurant, and you can't help be look at the beautiful plates of food as they come out to their tables. Would definitely recommend if you're in the greater Detroit area for a great brunch!

Used to be my favorite brunch spot. Not anymore. Must be under new ownership or something. The food went downhill. I don't even have words for how terrible the food and the service is. Hostess forgot half our order. Salad was a bunch of bagged mixed greens with hardly any toppings or dressing. The cups for water are so filthy. They don't even have air conditioning! I'm upset. I used to come here so much but after today I prob won't ever come again.

Food is okay, wish the menu had more options & that they didn't incorporate goat cheese into so many of their dishes. This review is specific to the customer service and logistical aspects of the restaurant. I really think they need to figure out a more practical way to traffic people waiting in line, especially in the winter time. There is no space inside for people to wait and place an order, and that's their requirement to do so prior to sitting down; note they will yell at you if you do and claim that this process has been successful for years, but seriously, has it been? I feel for those who have an issue standing for long periods. Dozens of times myself or friends of mine have left out of frustration. The other day, a friend of mine who had a baby in a stroller, was criticized for blocking the "path" mind you with the stroller, for serving staff to get to the other side. There was literally no where for her to stand, other than have her baby freeze outside, I mean like WTF? If you're up for an anxiety filled experience with ill-mannered employees and a mediocre meal, this is your place. Alternatively, there are a ton of other places to try across the way, much better for all the reasons described above.

This spot is my go to lunch place in Birmingham! The food is always incredible and it has just the best vibes for hanging out in My favorite dishes are definitely the fried egg sandwich and any of their salads!

Really tasty cafe in Birmingham - everything I ate was fresh and delicious. The chicken salad is an amazing light choice for lunch, I loved the vanilla latte too - can really taste the great quality espresso they use. Grilled cheese is unique - it's made with halloumi cheese - really enjoyed it!

Is my to go place when is about great food. Friendly staff. The food is made with good quality, fresh ingredients. My favorite dish is the Mediterranean salad.

I have been wanting to try Commonwealth for some time now and so happy I finally got the chance for a nice brunch after church. This place is definitely popular so expect a wait, especially on a Sunday. The wait wasn't too bad and the restaurant had a nice sunny and airy feel with lots of windows and plants letting all the beautiful sunshine in. There is outside seating as well. Inside has a cafe vibe, where you place your order, take your number and grab a table to wait for them to bring out your food. I got an Ethiopian blend coffee with a house made simple syrup. The coffee was robust and oh so good, just how I like it and I got a good amount of coffee. I ordered the brussel sprout omelet with balasamic glaze and romano cheese, and arugla on the side for a peppery kick. I was worried the brussels would overpower everything since they have a very distinct taste but they blended so well with all the ingredients of the omelet. Omelet was rolled French style and it was cooked perfectly light and fluffy. My friend got the yaro bowl and the portions were huge! It looked healthily delicious and I'd definitely order it next time. There were many things on the menu that I'd love to come back and try especially the sweet offerings like the pancakes! They have rotating specials, so the menu looks like it stays interesting with lots of options. I'll be back!

First time in Michigan, and once we heard about this place we had it three times on this trip. It's expensive, but it's great food and coffee. The staff are super nice and helpful, and it was a great place to hang for a while and work from.

Commonwealth is one of my all time favorite cafes in Michigan. I've visited here countless times and they have something for every mood on the menu, with everything being amazing. The C latte is so good! My favorite on the menu is their grilled cheese and tomato soup! The only con is the long weekend waits, but the lines usually move pretty quickly.

When we arrived there was a line outside. It went down very fast. There were printed menus for my wife and I to order from. We ordered at a counter. The service we received was excellent. We like the attention to detail as to the quality of the food and its presentation. We like that they use local companies to order their food. Once we ordered we were taken to our table outside. They are many tables inside with nice plants all over. We enjoyed our brunch and we will return and highly recommend it.

What a lovely place to get breakfast on a weekend morning! Service was nice and friendly! Around 10:30 am there was no line , so we ordered an omelette and a sandwich with two lattes and a slice of a carrot cake . 15% tips are already included if you're taking it "for here". Food was brought quickly to the table and everything was delicious It got crowded quickly, so we were happy to get there early. Tends to be a bit louder on the inside, but outdoors was absolutely amazing. Will be coming back to try avocado toast and the breakfast bowl

Compulsory 15% gratuity on to go orders. I guess $6.50 isn't enough for a maple latte.

Fantastic food! High quality ingredients, fresh and full of flavor. Vegetarian and vegan options too. I came here at 9am this morning (Sunday), and found easy and free metered parking right outside the restaurant. Plenty of available indoor and outdoor seating, and no line. By 11am, this place had a line out of the door and down the block. It's very popular and I can see why. My advice is to come early on the weekends. Meters and parking garages are free on Sundays. You'll order at the counter and your food will be brought to your table. Very attentive and friendly service. I really enjoyed the crispy bacon fried rice with poached eggs on top. The fresh avocado was a nice touch and the eggs were cooked perfectly. I also had the chia seed pudding, topped with fresh fruit (blueberries are my favorite) and coconut shavings. Very refreshing and I enjoyed the texture. I had the C latte to drink and it was delicious. My friend really enjoyed her vegan banana pancakes topped with homemade vegan Nutella. The menu is really vast and diverse, and there is something for everyone. Very spacious inside and lots of seating. Nice outdoor patio with umbrellas too. Cute neighborhood with lots of shops. This place has a really fun vibe, upbeat employees, and delicious food and beverages. What more could you want?! I highly recommend.

Great food! Was really hungry and came in at a late lunch time. This place was quite popular but we were still able to find a place to sit for 5 people. There were lots of vegetarian options and the coffee was great too. The staff were efficient and I truly have no complaints. Better than fast casual and so many plants it made you feel like you were in a garden.

Atmosphere, food everything was great. Felt like I was in California. Everybody looked like they came right after their yoga classes. Anyway, the line was long, maybe there were five before me but it moved fairly quick. I got Chorizo Hash. $15. They use those iPads for transactions and be aware the price showing includes tip amount of 22%. It showed as $19.36 after tax and the tip. Then after, it asks if I would want to tip 10%, 15% or 20%. If you are not paying attention, you would be tipping from 32% to 42%. Considering this is like a food court at a mall, I am not sure about the mandatory 22% tip amount and then asking for more. I feel like not many people are aware that the screen shows total price with 22% tip included and they add 15% tip on top of it. But, the food was amazing. I wanted something with eggs and meat, chose Chorizo Hash. The sauce, I do not know what it is, was really yummy and did go well with all the ingredients. Lots of vegan and gluten free options. Two thumbs up! Four stars because of the tipping system.

We got a 5-Star+ Brunch spot right here! Came on the most beautiful sunny day, so of course we had to make use of their large patio space. Despite the restaurant being busy, service was very quick. I ordered the chorizo hash, which was the best hash meal I've ever had. I can't handle overwhelming hot food, and this had the perfect amount of spicy bite. My table also got the lox plate, the line caught tuna melt, and the quinoa breakfast bowl. We easily finished all of our meals. The menu had a great variety of options and seasonal specials and drinks. We couldn't get over how incredible the potato hash was, so we ordered two extra side bowls! Coffee was excellent too. Put this at the top of your dining-spots-to-try-out list. Best brunch spot we've found in metro Detroit for sure!

If you don't mind waiting in line to have breakfast or brunch - you must check out this place. It is on a pricier side but way worth it and portions are big enough to split! I love that they bring a bottle of water to the table so you don't need to keep asking for water or refill or, in my case, for "no ice". Everything I've tried here is very good! And they have excellent coffee, and nice presentation for fancier drinks like latte or cappuccino. Keep in mind - they don't do free refills on coffee . Avacado toast is wonderful. I love Commonwealth scramble - definitely share the portion. Ask for a side of jam for the toast - it's amazing! (But will cost extra). Mediterranean quiche honestly best I've had! If you are not hungry yet just take a look at their menu - caution: it might cause profused salivation and uncontrollable urge to run to Commonwealth

Quick recap: - Food: Good - Portion size: Small to average - Service: At the counter - Environment: Big modern fast-casual restaurant - $: Average to high - Perks: Outdoors patio for the summer time Overall? Food is good, but portions are a bit lite for the price. You also have to be ok ordering at a counter. More details: We had the omelette ($16) and the Mediterranean salad ($16). It was tasty but the both of us were left very hungry still. Everything on the menu is around $15-20 ish, but if you need 2 meals (say an omelette and a salad), that is a pretty pricy lunch for a fast casual place... Waiting time was not bad.

Good service. Good food! Good pricing. I shall return! I don't like to say 85 words but yelp is making me before they can publish my recommendation

It's been a while since I been back and the Tandoori chicken salad is still the same as it was back then and it's still delicious! Tried the ice sweet matcha latte and chocolate torte this time and I'll be ordering it again. It's was busy even for week day but the service was fast. Definitely recommend this place.

The goat cheese quiche that I had from here is possibly the best quiche I've ever eaten. The crust was really thin and flakey and the egg was perfectly baked to a nice soft consistency. I didn't enjoy the banana bread quite as much but would 100% go back to try some more quiches!

This place is packed for good reason! The Common burrito is THE BEST burrito I've ever had. Highly recommend.

Amazinggggg fooooddd!!! You need to come here! I would suggest the pancakes! I also love the coffee!

Great experience great food. It was packed but they moved us through quickly. We will definitely come back.

A great little restaurant situated in the heart of Birmingham. Offering Gluten-Free and Vegan options. Commonwealth is a cool space for families and young people alike. There are two lines: one for takeout and the other for dine-in. No matter what time you go, there's usually a line of people. The great thing is the food comes out fast and it tastes even better! I love the fact that they offer Gluten-Free options and the food tastes fresh. The raspberry jam is soooooo delicious. You may need to ask for extra! As a side note, Commonwealth charges an automatic 15% gratuity on every order to offset the costs of bussing and ensuring the restaurant stays clean. Overall, the food is great, atmosphere is minimalistic and straight forward, and the hospitality is professional. I recommend eating here if you're looking for clean, fresh food and a great people watching experience.

After careful consideration, I landed on the Chorizo Hash and I was blown away! If you are craving a savory meal with a little kick, I highly recommend it. The ingredients tasted so fresh-especially the 3 potato hash. Also, the freshly squeezed orange juice complimented my food perfectly! I arrived just after 10:00 AM on a Sunday morning with a group of five people and overall I was so impressed. The service was quick and our food was piping hot and across the board, delicious. I couldn't help but notice how friendly every staff member I interacted with was, special shoutout to Rachel and AJ! Can't wait to introduce this place to more people, will be back!!

My bowl was around $14 (plus 15% automatic gratitude charge, so $16ish). Taste was lackluster. Portion was decent, but for $14+ I would've expected more. But we're in Birmingham, the presentation is more important. Came here around 9:30 on a Thursday morning and it was packed! Don't quite understand the hype. I do like that there's a good selection of Vegan and Dairy Free options. Overpriced but I guess this is considered a "fancy breakfast" restaurant. (If you come here often you're waaay overpaying for mediocre breakfast food)

Brunch here was fantastic. There was a bit of a wait, but the line moves pretty fast. This was my first time, so I didn't realize you ordered at the counter before you get seated. It was pretty seamless after ordering, and the food came fairly quickly. It's such a cute place, I'd love to revisit during the warmer months to see how it is with a patio. I'll definitely be back.

Great service with good quality food. The line is usually out door but it moves very quickly. Don't let the line intimidate you.

Cups smell The food is always good though, I've never had a bad experience. The fried egg sandwich is 10/10

This place is great! I met with another mom and our little ones for coffee and breakfast. I ordered a Tanzania pour over and the special -Honey + Pear Goat Cheese Toast. (Toasted Give Thanks levain sourdough, honey goat cheese, house-made strawberry + grape jam, caramelized pears, topped w/ toasted almonds + powdered sugar) and let me tell you what...That toast was fantastic! I mean I know it sounded good but damn did this exceed my expectations. We found a table easily (order first then sit down) the staff quickly brought the food and our coffees. My little one got a little fussy and spilled goldfish everywhere. I tried picking up as many as I could but in classic toddler fashion she stomped on some. I felt bad I couldn't do more, when a man came to clear off our table I apologized and he was so nice to me, said nothing a broom couldn't fix. As a sleep deprived mom just trying to get some social interaction, it was a really nice response. Seems small but was a big gesture to me. Anyways, great staff, great food, great coffee and easy parking out front on weekdays.

Super cute cafe! Have all the fun, new foods like avocado toast, wagyu and eggs, tandoori chicken, a variety of omelets, different bowls and sandwiches. Everything I've had there is delicious. I'm not usually a fan of buying avocado toast but it's totally worth it. The coffee is also really great. There aren't a ton of extra flavors but they do have vegan options and any milk flavor you would need. They try to keep the line moving, especially in the morning or at lunch. They have a separate line for carry out vs order in which makes things move more efficiently. For dining in, they have a decent amount of seating available and you can sit wherever you find a spot. The only downs side is prices are pretty high. My favorite coffee is usually $9-$10. But it is delicious.

Stopped for lunch on a Friday. Long line, but plenty of seating available. Group of 5 $140. I ordered one of the specials - blackened tuna salad and it was beautifully plated and full of flavor (pictured).

Best coffee in downtown Birningham! I love coming here for a cappuccino or latte and appreciate that they have almond milk or oat milk available. The service is friendly, outdoor seating is great on a nice day, and the food is delicious! There is a featured monthly menu that changes and there is always a regular all day menu that stays the same. I highly recommend the Mediterranean salad and I often add salmon to it. The omelets are delicious and usually come with greens as a side but there are is a sweet potato hash available if you prefer. Other menu items I had before they were good were the tomato soup with grilled cheese, a monthly featured quiche, and house made almond butter with honey on GF toast. I recently found out that they serve vegan soft serve ice cream here and can't wait to try it next time. They offer 7 different flavors! Menu prices are a little more pricer than other brunch places but nothing unexpected for the Birmingham area. Also the ingredients are usually fresh and organic so I don't mind paying a little more. What I don't like though is the 15% gratuity you are charged before you are seated and get your food. I prefer to tip after I receive service. Lines are usually long and out the door on weekends so be prepared to stand in line but after you get your number and table the food usually comes out pretty fast.