The Common

We would definitely return!!! After what the people and restaurant went through the past few months, what they accomplished tonight (the first day opening) was incredible! The food was delicious and the staff were on point! The chef even came out to talk to us like a regular (our first time there…) We had the dumplings, pea toast, Khao, lobster risotto and chocolate cake. NOTHING disappointed! So happy we could be there and “celebrate “ the grand reopening! Thank you all so much for a memorable experience, you all were awesome! And Chef…kudos!!! (Please note, we had 4 cocktails , a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a dessert, so it wasn’t inexpensive, but well worth the $$$$, and the price includes tip , we also made reservations).

Wonderful restaurant. Tim Otsuki will take good care of you. A group of 14 met for a College reunion, and there was lots of space to accommodate our group. My wife raved about the Dates & Manchego Appetizer - (Prosciutto wrapped medjool dates, stuffed with Manchego, slivered walnuts, drizzle of honey port red wine sauce). She also loved her Mushroom Chap Chae (Sweet potato noodles, shiitake, cremini and button mushrooms, tofu, julienned vegetables, sesame seeds), and had enough to take home to enjoy the next day. I had the soup de jour and Common Style Beef Bourguignon (Burgundy braised brisket, local organic root vegetables, mushrooms & onions, colcannon and Yorkshire pudding) It was too enjoyable to leave for a second day. Would recommend this restaurant for an excellent meal.

Eclectic restaurant with lobster pasta, tofu and Japanese veggies, and short ribs. The food is not what you would expect, but is very good. The bbq ribs are very subtle allowing the meat flavor to shine, rather than the sauce. Excellent service.

Loved our Dinner at the Common! Food was delicious and the menu creative. Very good gluten free options. Staff really cared about the restaurant as well. Definitely will return when in Stratford again, especially because we’re told the menu is ever changing. Thanks!

I had an amazing experience enjoying an anniversary dinner at The Common in Stratford, Ontario. From the moment we stepped inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere set the perfect tone for the evening. The menu, which features an exquisite Asian fusion selection, was absolutely delightful. Each dish was a harmonious blend of unique flavors, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. You could truly appreciate the chefs' creativity and meticulous attention to detail in every plate. The ambiance was cozy yet sophisticated, with tasteful decor that added to the overall charm. The staff were attentive and personable, ensuring every guest felt welcome and well taken care of. Overall, our experience at The Common was exceptional, and I highly recommend it for a special occasion or just a lovely evening out.

Came here for the first time and was bowled with the quality. Their drinks are a particular highlight, offering unique combinations that recreate old favorites with new flavors. Their menu is varried and hearty. And although everything that passed my mouth was delicious, nothing compares to the streak frites and filet. When I took a bite of that dish, which thankfully I had ordered, as opposed to one of my dining companions, I thought I died and gone to heaven. It's that good. I hope The Common keeps this up and is around for years and years to come.

We recently had our wedding reception at The Common and couldn’t have asked for a better day. Our guests raved about the food. The staff were incredibly friendly and organized. I would highly recommend having your next event at The Common. Cassandra and Chef Tim are amazing!

I can say for certain that this was one of our best dining experiences in Stratford . From the decor and ambiance to the food and drinks it was exceptional. And to top it off the service was wonderful. The staff was knowledgeable made great recommendations for cocktails and food pairings. You can tell the staff is highly invested in all regards. We will definitely coming back to The Common and have recommended it to friends.

So good. The cocktails are fabulous. The bread service and salad and larb were terrific starters. The Morrocan stew and Thai green chili curry were delicious. The stand out was the steak fries. Steak was perfectly done The fries are some of the best fries in the universe. We willl be back.

We visited The Common on a Saturday night before a show and without a reservation. There seemed to be ample seating. We chose to sit inside, but there was outside seating as well. The dining room was very cozy. There was table and booth seating. It took a few minutes for a server to come to the table and then our server changed mid service. Our second server was attentive and knowledgeable. I ordered the basil sour and it was a good cocktail. The vegetable tagine was very good and the only vegan option on the menu. Dessert was the highlight. The poached pear was delicious and I was told I ordered the last one. My partner enjoyed the chocolate cake as well. Our service went very fast. It ended up leaving us time to stroll around downtown.

Lovely small restaurant. Very pleasant servers. Odd small menu. My wife had perch, which was very good. Onion tart appetizer was delicious. I had mussels - good but liquid needed more flavor (salt? Wine?) Desserts excellent. Would return.

This small restaurant was recommended to us as it had a secluded patio at the back. We were meeting friends there after a play and were looking forward to catching up during a good meal. There was a nice selection of craft beers and interesting cocktails and the wait staff were friendly and attentive. I ordered the salmon cake which was fine but a little overcooked. My main course - the tagine - was a big disappointment. No Moroccan spices were used, as far as I could tell. It was bland. My friends had no complaints about the seafood. Would go back for a drink, but not to eat.

A favourite in Stratford that I look forward to every summer. My friend and I shared sprng rolls with a wonderfull peanut sauce that we all but licked from the bowl, and a ratatouille (sp?) which I normally think of it as a more autumn comfort food, but as an appetizer in the puff pastry, it was absolutely divine! I was driving and appreciated the large selection of non-alchohol spirits and cocktails. My Cool as a Cucumber looked and tasted just as fancy as my friend's Pimm's Cup (we didn't have salad so we thought we'd get some veggies in our drinks). After apps we went straight to dessert and orderd all three: the pavlova melted in our mouths with the wonderful fruit sauce, the creme brulee was apparently very good. I let my friend eat it as I'm not generally a fan of the dish other than being able to be the one to first smash the sugar: I always like that part. The sugar on top of this one cracked very satisfyingly with my spoon. The third dessert was a chocolate cake that my friend said was exactly what she thought of when she thought of chocolate. All the desserts had wonderful berries. The staff are friendly and fun, but not invasive. Best of all, the back patio has great atmosphere where I always feel I'm at some secret European spot that only the town's regulars would know about!