Brigitte T.
Google
We recently visited The Commoner for brunch. The atmosphere was lovely and welcoming, and the service staff was fantastic - attentive, friendly, and accommodating throughout our visit.
Coffee was excellent as was the OJ. Unfortunately, the food itself was a mixed experience. One of my friends and I ordered the avocado toast. When the plates arrived, we were surprised to see that most of the dish consisted of home fries which felt more like filler than part of the main offering. My friend found the potatoes quite overcooked and I would have to agree.
The dish was advertised as avocado toast, but the bread underneath the avocado didn’t appear to be toasted at all; there were no browned edges or marks to suggest it had been in a toaster or on a grill. It also looked like a standard pre-sliced sourdough sandwich loaf you might buy off the shelf at a grocery store. For a brunch, I would have expected a thicker, hand-sliced piece of quality sourdough. Ideally, the dish would include two pieces of toast, or even a single thicker slice cut into two portions.
In addition, the toast didn’t appear to be buttered which would have helped elevate the flavour. The feta cheese on the avocado as listed on the menu was present only sparsely and the cherry tomatoes were simply raw halves scattered on top. The dish had the potential to be much more interesting
and satisfying. For example, roasted cherry tomatoes with a jammy texture would have added depth and sweetness, especially paired with a properly toasted sourdough, a more generous amount of feta, and perhaps a finishing sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Overall, the dish left us feeling that we hadn’t quite received good value for the price.
Other items at the table were more successful. My friend’s Cobb salad looked good, and she enjoyed it. The kitchen was also happy to accommodate her request for an extra egg which we appreciated.
My husband ordered the huevos rancheros and said it was good, though not the best version he’s had.
If we were to return, we would likely stick to the simpler breakfast staples such as bacon, eggs, and toast. The more specialty brunch dishes may need some refinement.
The Commoner certainly has a pleasant atmosphere and wonderful staff but in our case, the food didn’t quite live up to the setting. As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression and while we enjoyed parts of our visit, we’ll probably continue exploring other brunch spots in the area.
