The Common Review
The Common is far from that! The Commons aim is to create an environment where guests can really connect and share dialogue through delicious food and drink. I say mission accomplished.
The restaurant itself has been open since June 2016 and based in Willesden Junction, has been deliberately modest in its publicity. 30 minutes from Central London, the restaurants layout promotes sociability with the revelation of a bar on entry surrounded by two seater sofas and love chairs.
On arrival I was warmly welcomed by Food Director Ian Ballantyne, a personable man with an exceptional energy and contagious love of all things culinary. He quickly but attentively took me through the history of the restaurants site and thecollective that the restaurant was now part of. I couldn’t help but be distracted by the warmth and aromas drifting from the open kitchen to my right where Chef Andre Miguel, the pride of The Common, was concocting all manner of delectable delights.
The Common is rustic in its décor – soft lighting, booths, comfy chairs and candles on every table supporting the it desire to create sharing ambiance. We were directed to an area at the very back of the restaurant reserved for the new sharing concept The Common is about to launch.
The idea is that groups or even individuals pay a fee to experience a plethora of dishes. The food is brought to the table and you quite simply share. The food, a fusion of international influences was delightful. To start we were introduced to The Common Tortilla chips – giant tortilla with lashings of house seasonings and three generous servings of dips – relish, tzatziki and guacamole. This was quickly followed by Ceviche, raw sea bream marinated in lime juice and topped with coriander, pomegranate and a drizzle of honey – a dish I have never experienced and left me hoping for more. Then came our seafood stew served with flatbreads to help mop up those lovely juices. As if that were not enough we were tantalised with two additional meat dishes – Chicken wings with a ‘common’ twist and T-Bone steak marinated in chimichurri.
The food was outstanding but more than that I was amazed at the foods ability to bring a table of majority strangers together – unified in our sharing of a new experience. We laughed until we cried and shared intimate details of our lives with one another – the conversations were – easy.
This was possibly the best dining experience I have ever had – top quality food and a team that truly cares – so much so they have signed up to yumpingo.com a real time app where diners are encouraged to share thoughts and see dishes that other people love. As a result they are constantly developing the menu on the basis of what they are being told.
I would urge you all to experience ‘The Common’ for yourself.
The Common, Old Oak Lane, Willesden Junction, NW10 6EJ
020 3845 6423
Twitter: @TheCommon_oo | Facebook: thecommonoo | Instagram: @thecommon_oo
Reviewed by Monica Imbert | The Baking BodyBuilder | Facebook: The Baking BodyBuilder | Instagram: The Baking BodyBuilder | Twitter: @BakingBodyBuild
