add to our listingsVenue Review: Common House
The Charlotte Observer
The Food: Comfort is the goal, from fried pickles to reubens to meat loaf with mashed potatoes, and chef Emily Hahn aims to use as much local and all-natural ingredients as she can. Meat loaf is juicy, rich and delectable atop buttery mashed potatoes, with tomato gravy that's the first I've liked in years. Braised pork shank from Grateful Growers was almost as lush, with roasted potatoes and carrots, and made even better by the daily vegetable on the side: escarole with toasted slivered almonds and halved red grapes. Some stalwarts are here, like burgers and wings (well-cooked, with Creole seasoning and sweet barbecue sauce or sweet-sour Tiger). But there are also twists, like the fried-green-tomato BLT, or roasted beet salad. A daily pasta and daily dessert play on what's around: the night we went, it was spaghetti carbonara and sweet potato pound cake.
The Look: Simple and contemporary, this is a long room with hardwood floors, black-and-white photography, sprigs of dried flowers on each table and handsome millwork at the bar.
The Servers: Their Common House T-shirts and jeans keep the casual feel prominent, and they're enthusiastic.
Quirks of Note: Owner-operators Andrew Robinson, Michael Fisher and Ryan Looney have restaurant experience in Charlotte, Charleston and Jacksonville.
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I went once and left without ordering. The menu looked very southern to me. Lots of fried this and that and of course, pimento cheese. Not my bag. But if that's the kind of food you like then it's probably for you. Prices looked very inexpensive and the decor is not bad at all. To me, from what I saw on the menu and peoples plate it looked like a more upscale version of the Penguin restaurant.
Aburnett -- It is on Central Avenue... if you're coming from town it's just before the intersection of Central & Pecan on the left hand side.
The menu is not very extensive and the food is dull. I went once and the experience was ok but I wouldn't rush to go back.
I thought the food was fair! And I definitely think that they are understaffed. I did like the atmosphere though and will surely give them a second try!
Common House does away with the pretense and the upscale prices while offering variety and comfort at a favorable location. (Full review)
First Bite is a look at, not a full review of, a new Charlotte-area restaurant. (Full review)