Commons 1882

We love it here! If you want to eat at a local restaurant in downtown Billings, go to Commons. The food is always good, the drinks are always creative, the staff is always nice. The only low mark I can give is if you are going for lunch, don’t go if you only have an hour, as it is not a quick kitchen. But you don’t excellent food from a quick kitchen. People rave about The Rex, Jakes, and The Ten… nope, Commons 1882 is where we suggest people go for a lovely meal in downtown Billings. Those others can’t hold a candle to this place.

Will not return or refer to friends. Food was ok (not amazing) for the money, but menu had a bottle of wine priced for regular service, and owner charged us what his «New Year’s Eve» price was. As an aside, the servers did an excellent job.
Owner did come back and credit us the difference. Changing my rating to a 3.

I was expecting more. I had heard great reviews, but had the worst experience. Bad Martini, less than average dinner. Highly salted, and a bit greasy.

I had high hopes for this restaurant-​bar after reading the reviews. Checking out the extensive menu. I was even more enthused. I love Korean food, so jumped at the Korean tacos, and ordered a Martini to accompany. Experience in points West have taught me to specify the recipe when ordering a «dry» Martini, so I tell them to skip the Vermouth and just shake some vodka with ice and add an olive. That usually skips surprises. Well, my soup came first, an onion and beef broth combo that was very tasty but chock full o’ salt. Maybe the saltiest soup I’ve ever tried. Then came the Martini, served in the most unusual-​shaped Martini glass I’ve ever seen, with a lip that actually curves back on itself, thus containing the precious contents. Oh well, it was a good Martini, concocted as ordered. Yum. Then came the Korean taco, with «Bulgogi Marinated Beef, Korean Style Slaw, House Made Sriracha Soy Lime Dressing, Corn Tortillas.» So here goes… The beef was not bulgogi. Bulgogi is thinly sliced, marinated beef that is then swiftly charred. It’s tender, slightly smoky and delicious. Korean-​style slaw could be referencing kimchi, the Korean national food that, as slaw, would be spicy and garlicky. This version had no connection with its name. The bulgogi was thickly sliced beef slathered with sticky-​sweet teriyaki and cooked to tough beyond imagining. The slaw was, well, slaw. And added to that were some French-​fried potatoes (or perhaps yams) that were then rolled in sugar and cinnamon. No idea what that was all about, but it could make for an interesting dessert, maybe, but added nothing the already too-​sweet beef dish. I was pretty disappointed. I imagine there must be some dishes served here that are pretty good, because gauging by the conversation at the table next to mine, there are some sophisticated diners there, but it’s unlikely I’ll have occasion to taste more of their dishes.

This place is the best. It’s a gem in the downtown. You won’t find sliders like this anywhere else. Or a cucumber vodka infusion.

Best and juiciest burger I’ve ever had! The sweet potato jojos were amazing. I really liked the interior– the old photos were a great touch.

Pretty good. The drink menu looks fantastic, too bad I had to drive.
We started with the mushrooms and chorizo, served with bread. Definitely a hearty appetizer. My SO wants me to make this at home.
We shared a Korean taco, it was okay, seemed a bit salty and one dimensional.
The iced tea was fresh, but no Splenda, only pink stuff.
Dessert looked awesome, too bad we were full.
Service, top notch. Best wait staff I have seen in Montana.
One star off for the signs for the bathrooms are at waist level rather than eye level. And in flowery cursive. Please just an easier sign to see!
A very nice place, the parking lot is a bit tight, it was a challenge to get out.
Definitely worth a visit. The portions are large, we split an appetizer and entrée and left stuffed!

We very much enjoyed the atmosphere at the Commons. We had a rocky start the waiter forgot about us but it was quickly remedied. The food and presentation was well done. We would have liked a sauce for our steak. The owner came around and we had a pleasant conversation. Look forward to returning and exploring other dishes.

It would appear that Commons 1882 takes their food and beverages very serious. I have not yet indulged in a cocktail but the drink menu looks refreshing.
I’ve had several lunchtime business meetings in the lounge and the same bearded gentleman has been our waiter.
Both times I ordered the special and the daily soup. Today I ordered the fried oyster sandwich with a lime and siracha slaw. The soup was a velvety carrot and cauliflower. Both, like before, were delicious.
The server is very skilled in being extremely attentive without any unnecessary interruptions which is great during a «lunch meeting.»
Overall, I recommend this place and will continue to be a customer. The food and service are excellent. It’s a rustic/​elegant atmosphere and has a great intimate patio.

This is a classic example of over thinking food. They just try to add to many things to one burger and it becomes a jumbled mess. I appreciate the attempt to create bold flavors but they missed the mark. Also their drink prices are sky high.

We go out weekly for date night and decided to try Commons 1882 today.
Service: We were warmly greeted and seated immediatly. Our drinks, appetizer, & starters were served promptly. Entrees lagged a tish but not enough to warrant concern. And dessert was swift. Substitution on one entrée was granted without question. All entrees were prepared exactly as ordered.
Food: Very good! We had the special appetizer, pepper jack cheese curds with Sriracha dipping sauce — spicy but not over the top; just different enough to be special. I had the surf and turf dinner special. My scallops were not at all chewy — prepared expertly. My filet was scrumptious, perfect execution of medium. Also enjoyed the crispy artichoke hearts and veggie side. My starter salad was a healthy portion. My husband had the Caprese BLT and enjoyed the different spin on an old favorite sandwich.
Prices: Appetizer, drinks, sandwich, dessert were all priced about average but my surf and turf special was about $ 10 more than I expected — it was excellent though. Overall, I felt the pricing was reasonable for the quantity and quality of food.
Overall: I was pleased with the service and food! We’ll be back, especially for a special occasion or celebration!

Exquisite locally sourced food that changes seasonally. The only bar in Billings to have infused vodka: strawberry basil, honeydew jalapeño, cucumber and blood orange. The infused vodka is reasonably priced $ 6/​drink. Also, the bartenders can make flaming drinks-​very entertaining!

We went early for dinner. Not only did we enjoy our entrees, but their soup d’jour was equally delicious. The appetizer we had was not bad but for what we got, was overpriced.
Our server was great. She was attentive and her menu recommendations were spot on.
We will definitely dine there again, sans the appetizer.

Amazed and amazing
I am amazed by some of the reviews denigrating this place. Wine that is supposedly corked (you cannot cork a wine with a plastic cork). Who are these people? Did you have to pay for the wine you refused? I will bet
You did not. Having experienced the West Coast or New
York does not qualify you as a restaurant critic.
I have been writing reviews for over 40 years. I have written these in 43 countries. I wrote a wine guide when I was 25. I am an amateur compared to somebody like Jason Corebridge but I am telling you this is already an excellent place to eat and everybody is still on a pretty steep learning curve. It is going to keep getting better.
For all of you pseudo-​experts rattling on about «slimy prime rib, here is my better take. Simple dishes like prime rib get a sophisticated cooking treatment that seals in and gives you an outstanding taste. The lamb burger rivals the flavor of tagine I have eaten repeatedly in Morocco. Ditto for the lamb terrine. The chef balances the gaminess of lamb with a sophisticated infusion of sweetness. Desserts are fascinating, never boring, and give you a great finish to a fine meal. Oh, I should not forget the outstanding bar too.
Yes they have improvements to make. Some of the servers need more training. A few dishes fail to impress but, in the main, it is the special food, the imaginative dishes that sparkle and make it all an experience to treasure and a place to cultivate. My advice: keep coming. Make this a community project. At the end of the day, the places worth the effort in Billings are Commons, Lilac and Harper and Madison. Some of the others are ok, but these places rise above. One day, they will all be punching it out with the big boys.

The atmosphere was… Ok. Had to sit upstairs and lacked any type of abidance. The server was, I think new. She had little knowledge of the menu, and could not offer a solid suggestion. As for the menu, I will say, that the tomato and bean Brochette was the best thing, I have had in a long time at a restaurant! The main course that I had. Round of prime rib was, well slimy. The flAvors were great, but the combination of all soft foods stacked in a bowel left nothing but a slimy mess I could not eat.
Will I be back? Maybe only for the Brochette… Another issue I had was the price! For three it was $ 150.00 and only two drinks and an ice tea, left me feeling… Disappointed.

I like what this place is attempting to do, as well as their tap list. For that, I’ll give them 4 stars. We talked to a gentleman who I think was an owner. He mentioned wishing he could drop the place in to the Pearl in Portland. As I work in the Pearl, I can understand what he’s going for. That said… I have suggestions.
Prices: Oddly enough, I felt the food was crazy high, but the drinks were low. There’s got to be something in the $ 12 – 5 range for people to eat for dinner. The apps were good, but overpriced and tiny. We ordered 3 and left starving (to go someplace else for dinner, btw). As for beer, you could go as high as $ ⁵⁄₆ for a pint when you’re offering such great options. Also, $ 7 pints of high gravity beer are silly. Opt for 10oz pours for your pint price. (more on glassware below)
Beer: GREAT selection. I’ll be back when I’m in town for this reason alone. Best I’ve ever seen in Billings. That said, if you’re gonna rock such a great beer menu, up your glassware game. Shaker pints aren’t beer snob glassware. You also shouldn’t be serving your premium pours and high gravity beers in full size pours. Snifter/​Tulip glasses are basically expected for those beers, and you wouldn’t have to charge so much more for them. Or do, they’re premium, but people give people the chance to have more than one beer with a smaller pour.
Food: The quality of the apps were great, but the portions were super tiny. We really wanted drinks and snacks, but ended up hungry. We’d already spent so much on apps that we didn’t want to drop $ 28 a plate each for dinner. Add some medium price point options, at least in the bar side.
Service: Bartender is awesome. Super nice guy. My parents think he’s great, and were glad to see he was working when they took me there.
Overall, dig what this place is setting up to do, but don’t think they’re there yet. You’ve got a prime shot at being the first legit gastropub in Billings, make it happen!

Food and service were sub par for the price. The menu is confusing and the staff seemed unprepared.
The stewed tomato and steak soup was missing something fundamental, salt and flavor. And is the «eye o rib» entrée a traditional ribeye or prime rib? Take your guess (I guessed wrong).
Maybe with time the service will get better and the menu improve. But this is not a strong start.

No bad, but disappointed. Expected great and received middle of the road. The house salad is just greens tossed with way too much vinegar, my husband couldn’t even finish his salad. Got the Lamb terrine app and just okay, the sweet potatoes were under cooked. Entrees were the best part. Mushroom pasta, a revamped version of the old Café DeCamp was yummy. My husbands streak was also well cooked.
Again, not bad but disappointing. Hope they work out the kinks! I will try again later.

The BEST Billings had to offer! Incredibly talented and friendly bartenders and amazing food! Not to mention the unique environment!

NOM! Went in for lunch, I had the chicken dip sandwich, it was delicious. The potatoes had a very interesting sauce on them that were super yummy as well.
I sat at the bar and Tim was super nice, and gave me samples of drinks and the soup, needless to say it was a pleasant experience.
Order a cocktail, they use all fresh squeezed juices.
Will definitely be back for dinner.