Common Ground

We ate here on ¹⁄₂₁ and weren’t that impressed with the food at all. Everything else about the place is really good. Actually, the best part about our visit was our server (Angela). She was really nice and attentive to our needs… and funny to boot! We ordered cubans, an irish reuben, and a caesar salad and all around thumbs down on the food experience. The best part of the meal was by far the disco fries and the tater tots, which were awesome!!. They have a good beer and wine selection so I’ll probably give them another shot. Hopefully we get the same server because she was awesome! Thanks Angela!

Awful food, bad service. My burger was completely burned, as was the onion chutney. How does a cook burn onions and then put them in chutney? Or not notice the burger is completely black? Worst hamburger of my life, and I’m not young. Only one person at our large table liked their food. The service was so bad I didn’t want to complain about the burger, I just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I know people like this as a bar, but just watch out for the food. Don’t go there to eat!

We’ve given this place multiple attempts to impress us, or at least satisfy us, and yet each time they manage to really miss the mark.
Take out oops include: take out experience #1 neglecting to include (but definitely charging) steak tips on the steak salad, take out experience #2 burgers so rare they were cold and inedible, and #3 failing to include salad dressing with salads. Each time, I placed a call to the restaurant and each time was met with an unapologetic, lackluster manager that only offered for me to drive back to get what I had already paid for. That felt like really lousy customer service and missed opportunities to try to win back a customer. Lesson learned. Find a new take out place.
We’ve eaten here a bunch of times and love the truffle fries, appreciate that they have an interesting beer selection and the fact they have outdoor seating in summer, but that’s not enough to keep us coming back. The entrees are usually underwhelming in taste and the lousy customer service from the manager and an odd attitude from the bartender makes it a lose/​lose for us.
I will say that the waitstaff were always lovely and pleasant.

I came here for Paint Nite (super-​fun!), and decided to try some of their food and drink.
I got the mac n cheese with buffalo chicken, which was very hearty. It included peas and ham with the buffalo chicken and there was a lot of food to be had. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of it all that great. The chicken was laid on top of the dish instead of being mixed in and the ham and peas had poor textures. Perhaps it was partly my fault to ask for a meal with too much going on in it, but none of the flavors really came together the way I expected them to.
The beer was a slight bit flat, but not enough to bother service for another one.
The service was great. Tre, I think his name is, was good-​humored and quick to refill my water. Gotta stay hydrated when you’re painting a masterpiece!

This gastropub nearly makes it but falls just short of what you should expect. Let me say this right up front, the service was outstanding last night. Our waiter was pleasant, knew the menu and made us feel right at home. We started with an eggplant dip that was only ok, the presentation on this dip was just bad, laying a semi viscous dip on a large leaf of romaine makes it difficult to eat and just did not look appetizing. The dip had good flavor but was a bit too thin. The tossed salad for me and Caesar for my wife were fine, but a bit of attention might have kept the kitchen from using brown lettuce on mine. My wife had the appetizer portion Mac N Cheese, it was a much larger portion than she expected and it tasted great! The issue here is that to be a great dish Mac N Cheese should be creamy, a bechamel would have made this a fantastic dish. As served it was dry and a bit oily. I had the vegetable risotto and again, great overall flavor with a boat load of fresh vegetables. Here again, the texture was not what a risotto should be. This was more or less a sticky rice, it needed more time in the pan and more stock added to get a classic risotto feel. Prices were reasonable, the wine was great and like I said the service was great!

Nice looking place with clueless host, Ty. I asked for a booth, as 4 out of the 8 were available, and was told they were expecting bigger parties. Our party of 2 was stuffed at a cramped table near the restrooms. No one else came, though two more booths emptied. As we were paying the check, Ty sat a couple at two separate booths. Food was pretty good and waitress was lovely. Ty, if you’re reading this, just give us the booth next time.

Our visit to Common Ground was meh, nothing too extraordinary.
It was a lovely, warm fall day so we sat outside in the front patio area. Our waitress had only three tables, and was barely attentive to us. She also had an «I hate my job» ambiance about her, and wasn’t too friendly.
The beer selection is notable; however, a bit pricey for downtown Arlington. We had the BLT and Veggie Burger which were both pretty yummy. The veggie burger (if you’re trying to be healthy) comes on a big, greasy brioche bun which wasn’t the best. I have two words for you all: TATER TOTS! They are perfectly crispy and they give you tons on your plate.
We’ll give Common Ground another try in the future, hopefully with a bit of a better experience. It’s worth a shot per the other reviews.

Nice atmosphere, and good menu (the bread basket with maple butter was super yummy!) There are lots of beer on tap, too, with a bar for about 15 people.
Child friendly with a kid menu, too.
Glad this is in Arlington!

Common Ground was the second bar/​restaurant of its kind to open its doors in Arlington. They offer a full bar open until midnight with a menu consisting of traditional pub food items. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
My visit to Common Ground yesterday was not my first. I have been a few times and on most occasions have sat at the bar for a drink with friends. I find my experiences here to be just okay. It’s a convenient place to meet local friends for a casual night out, but if it was not so close to home I probably would not consider it as an option. The atmosphere is somewhat trendy with a long bar stretching the room’s length and some pub tables are nearby. A divider offers a bit more privacy for diners wishing to sit some distance from the bar with a selection of booths or tables on that side of the restaurant.
The service at Common Ground yesterday was very disappointing. I met a prior co-​worker for lunch to chat and catch up. It was a beautiful summer day so we decided to take advantage of the outdoor seating. We were acknowledged by a waitress who told us she would «be right with us.» We waited… and the waitress continued to go about her business serving tables as we stood there. We thought she had gone to find help for us. More waiting … and finally we had to remind the waitress we were there. She acted as if she had completely forgotten about us and went to find someone to help us. A man finally came over with menus, but he seemed stressed and was not very welcoming. We received no apologies for our wait. My friend was worried about sitting at a table with direct sun so she asked the guy for a table with an umbrella. Only problem is the last remaining umbrella table belonged to the restaurant next door. They are separated by a chain, but she did not see it. The guy seating us proceeded to pick up the menus he was placing on the table and said «That’s the restaurant next door so you will need to go over there.» We quickly stopped him and said no this is fine and he placed the menus back down. I thought this was such rude and condescending behavior. All he needed to say was «Im sorry. That is not our table.» I could not even understand why he would attempt to send us away to another restaurant. We had just waited very patiently for a seat too without making a single complaint. Once we were seated, water was delivered to our table from 3 different servers. We had to laugh at this point and noted how we went from no service to a little too much. I am not sure they have worked out a smooth flow for the outdoor seating service or maybe it was just an off day. These tables have been on the sidewalk all summer, however, so they really should have it figured out by now.
My prior experiences here were okay and they do have a great beer list. The lunch menu is a bit limited, but I chose a burger yesterday which was good. The tater tots on the side were outstanding. Despite my disappointing visit, the tater tots and drink menu may be enough to bring me back here again.

The food sucks big time! First time here they served meat when specifically mentioned «NO MEAT» and second time the food was under cooked. Not acceptable by any standards. Get your act together guys! I would not mind going for drinks, but never ordering food ever again. I would have given one star but let’s be fair –3 stars for food. Food here SUCKS

Why on earth Kyle the bartender (visited Saturday afternoon ⁸⁄₂₁) thought it was okay to describe a beer as tasting like «fresh piss» is beyond me. He knows what «fresh piss» tastes like? I mean really, I had a mouthful of beer when he said this. Sure, he was talking to the guy next to me, but everyone at the bar heard it. I’m beyond disgusted. There are much better places to go in the area. «Piss»? Really? Never. Again.

This place was really hit or miss food wise. I was here with two friends primarily to taste the beer, and they did have a nice craft beer list with several beers rated over 90 by beer advocate. But I’m not really a beer lover so I’ll leave ratings about the beer up to someone else. We ordered and shared several dishes and 1 was GREAT, while others were ho-​hum.
The BBQ Brisket on cornbread was TO DIE FOR! Listed as an app – get two for your main course. Worth coming back for. The cornbread was also good on its own.
Short rib with mashed sweet potato and brussels sprouts. Was ho-​hum to me while 1 of the three of thought it was «really good». The mashed sweet potato was insipid, seemed over whipped and bland. Brussels sprouts way under cooked – brussels sprouts should NOT be served barely cooked like broccoli. To me this is a crime on par with serving an undercooked potato.
Duck salad was ho hum for me, but others in my party really liked it. Was just bland to me. The duck on top was crispy which added nice texture, but didn’t taste like much.
Coleslaw came with something, it was described by one of our party as «okay» so I didn’t even bother tasting it.
So, for food I would give this 2 stars, except for that amazing brisket. We all wanted to lick the plate!

Back again with renewed hope.
Still right on: bar staff!
Still confusingly awful: food
Tonight’s report = disappointing cheese tray + tater tots served with fudge sauce (!!)

Medicocre. I got grilled chicken that was so salty it was nearly unedible. Also, beers were fairly flat.
Lastly, service is awful! I asked about a certain beer (what it was) and our server said «I have no idea». Really? Find out!

Arlington, ever since it was known as Menotomy, has needed a place like Common Ground. Now Common Ground itself has landed. What could be better? Eh… maybe a name that hasn’t already been chosen by unknown hundreds of coffee shops throughout the land. But I quibble.
It remains to be seen whether CG can maintain its awesome diversity of clientele. One night you could be perched at the bar next to well-​heeled play-​goers from the Heights. The next, your neighbors could be a townie bro and/​or chick. Similarly — your bartender could be a hipster with the tats and face fuzz to match, OR he could easily be your preferred grandpa, OR it could be a she. What’s consistent is the laid-​back and friendly vibe readily detected between acquaintances and strangers alike, on their side of the bar, and the easy give-​and-​take between servers and guests.
Bar food may be bar food, but CG kicks it up a notch. You’ve never guiltily savored Tater Tots quite like they’re rendered there, trust me. PILED in a basket, served piping hot, nary a drop of grease, salted perfectly enough that it’s as though somebody was counting the grains. mmm MMM! Place an order for only one basket at your own risk, if you’re with a group, because EVERYBODY is gonna grab at those bad boys. Along the same lines, run-​of-​the-​mill menu items you can get just about anywhere are well-​made in serviceable portions — across the board. The only time CG has fallen short thus far has been with a trout dish which was a daily special (not a regular selection) anyhow.
Another drawback is that it can get exceedingly noisy (complete with screaming mic feedback) on Tuesday — trivia — nights. But «Think Tank» is un-​explainably yet definitively better than the «Stump» game found in just about every other bar across Somerville and Cambridge. Take ear plugs and enjoy the brain strain.
It takes a lot to budge a Cantabrigian from his home «republic,» but CG has succeeded big time.

This place is so frustrating. Arlington seriously lacks good restaurant options, especially in the weekday-​date-​night gastropub range (Highland Kitchen, Kirkland Tap & Trotter, etc.). Common Ground is trying really hard to hit the mark, but it just doesn’t get there in the most aggravating way.
PROS: The ambiance is good for a quiet dinner for a small group — casual, intimate but not too quiet. The beer list is appropriate for this tier of restaurant.
MIXED: The service is improving, but they’re still working out some of the new restaurant kinks. Staff is friendly and helpful, but they’re still building familiarity with the menu, and items get lost every now and then. I have hope that this will get better, and they have improved noticeably since openning.
CONS: The terrible, terrible food. It just doesn’t work on any level, and even worse it fails both on ambition and execution. What they have is basically Applebees level food in terms of what they’re trying to do, and they can’t even get that on the plate well — the «pork belly» on the devlied eggs is just a half inch of fat with no meat (and they’re underspiced), the hummus lacks flavor, the duck salad isn’t drained and has –way– too much meat, so it’s just swimming in loose duck fat, the burgers are under-​spiced and aren’t rested, and on and on and on.
I want so bad for this place to work. But it just doesn’t.

Unfortunately the high hopes I had for this place fell far short. Went to meet a few friends who are within walking distance of CG. We have all been to the CG in Cambridge and love it so it was a no brainer. Bartender was super nice and helped me choose a beer. I ordered two apps. Truffle fries and deviled eggs with house made bacon. The bacon on the eggs was hard rocks but I was so hungry I crunched away at them while my friends laughed at me. The Truffle fries were inedible. They had a funny smell and a taste that was unpalatable to me. The same bartender (older guy with glasses) was gracious enough to let me know they have had some complaints about the same thing regarding the fries. He also took it off the bill and spoke with the chef. Thanks Buddy! Anyway I know they are working out the bugs since they have not been open long but you have to have good food in order to survive. But on a good note there is a great place to hang out and drink in Arlington Center!

Having been here 3 times since the opening a few months ago, I am ready to give my impression of Common Ground.
The Good: The vibe! It’s a pretty chill place to be, there seems to be lots of people there (even on a Tuesday night) and has a good atmosphere. The husband is impressed by their beer selection, and I’m really looking forward the summers when they move out to the patio. (Well really, I’m really looking forward to the summer because it’ll STOP SNOWING, but that’s a rant for another time and place.) Also, the giant plate of fries with cheese and gravy delivers on its promise of fatty goodness every single time.
The Bad: Most of the food isn’t great. The salads and entrees are overpriced and not that great. Stick to the fatty bar food appetizers and beers.
The Ugly: DON’T GET THE HUMMUS. It’s gross. Like worse than the cheapest grocery store hummus gross. The store hummus at trader joes is way better than this. I am actually offended by how bad the hummus was. Ugh.
tl;dr: come here for appetizers (minus hummus), beer selection, and happening atmosphere, but get dinner elsewhere.

We are Highland Kitchen regulars but live in Arlington, so we’ve been wanting to try Common Ground. My fiancé and the boys loved the beer selection and I had a good glass of Pinot Noir for a fair price. We ordered the wings and hummus plate as an appetizer, which was entered «incorrectly» by our very pleasant trainee server (her trainer told us this) so they took much too long to arrive. The guys said the wings were fantastic (I’m vegan so didn’t taste them) but the hummus was gluey and bland, with the texture of mashed potatoes, though it came with nice fresh, warm pita bread.
My fiancé ordered one of the fish specials which he said was dry, but the guys enjoyed their burger and cubano. My $ 10 bean burger seemed deep fried, which made it incredibly greasy. Who deep fries a veggie burger? I should’ve asked how it was prepared beforehand but never thought it’d be deep fried. It came with tasty fries but a side salad substitution would’ve been an extra $ 1.50, which I think is nuts. At Highland Kitchen I get an outstanding veggie burger, with a ½ side of salad and a ½ side of fries — for $ 8.95!
Our trainee server was attentive and checked in on us several times to see if we needed more drinks but I had to ask for my water to be filled. I wish I had said that I was disappointed by the burger’s preparation but we said everything was «fine.» We spent $ 100 on dinner for 4, each with ONE drink and no dessert, so I don’t think we’ll be back for the food. I might try a salad next time, if there is a next time. Could be a nice place to grab a glass of wine and bar snacks, if they had better bar snacks.

Drove around Arlington on Christmas night looking for grub, almost all the Asian places were closed (it was 8:30). Found this place in the center and they were open! Our waitress was pleasant and helpful, and patient with all of our questions. My mom had drink Q’s and she had the bartender come to our table. He explained some options, and even talked my mom into trying something a little new. Again, very pleasant guy, seemed more than happy to help. We had some type of ricotta fritters, burgers, and disco fries. The disco fries had cheese, scallions, and gravy — delicious! I had a draft IPA that was yummy, there were lots of draft and bottle choices, as well as a nice drink menu. Only wish I didn’t live 1000 miles away!