Commonwealth Micropub

Really tasty selection of bar bites and bigger bites. Had the burger. Perfectly cooked. Fun concept. Some of the beers are expensive but so what. They bring a great selection to the area and have cheaper options as well. Love their fixed price options.

..this place started out nice, then went kinda blasé, overnight. And honestly, the sparse menu ain’t all that to crow about.
Over priced food.
Over priced beer.
Comfortable spot, though.
I do appreciate the no tipping policy.
Kind staff.
But, yet another hipster wannabe hangout for those with newly minted Emeryville incomes.
Y’all enjoy.
Me, I’m done.

Tiny place, but oh-​so-​well-​decorated. Gave the brisket sandwich a shot — slightly dry yet overall good flavor, paired with the pickled veggies made it twice as nice and lighter tasting than expected.
Beer selection was decent, although no Belgians in sight for those non-​IPA lovers.
Prices are high until you realize a sizable tip has already been included. A nice concept, given the headaches of today’s typical end of meal ritual with friends.
A great spot to meet up with friends and take a break from life on overdrive.

My partner and I had received a gift certificate to Commonwealth and having a free night last night, we decided to check it out. When we arrived, we realized that we had once gotten a gift certificate to the establishment that occupied the space previously, which was good for a laugh. That place was terrible.
Right away, I noticed that this was going to be different. Let’s start from the top down:
The patio is tidy and well spaced. Probably would have seated ourselves there had it not been almost full. The interior décor is simple and charming with tall pub tables, bench seating along the wall (facing one small TV playing soccer), and a couple smaller tables that felt a little more private behind a server station by the door. That’s a pretty good trick in a small room. There’s a small shelf around the top of the room filled with bric-​à-​brac reminiscent of older traditional pubs. Overall the space was clean and well kept.
Our server brought the menus and I immediately saw two words along the bottom, «Service Included.» It’s also written at the bottom of the beer menu. My God. Does that mean what I think it means? I had to ask our server. «I assume ‘Service Included’ means they pay you a living wage here?» Indeed. I was delighted to hear that Commonwealth is a tipless establishment that has their workers on salary. We had an informative conversation with our server on the topic, how it eliminates complaints about certain shifts being more or less lucrative. It was also plain as day to us that not worrying about tips freed up the staff to give a damn about their jobs, and Ahna (sp?), our excellent server was the standard. She knew everything about everything on the menu and purchases the beer for the rotating menu. We heard her cheerily explaining to other patrons what rarebit and scotch eggs are, giving quick rundowns of ever beer. She’s a gem, sharp, friendly, funny and knowledgeable.
We ordered House Pickles, Scotch Egg, Fish & Chips and the Chicken Pot Pie. Also a couple of fantastic beers. I won’t bother saying much about the beer, as it is highly likely that the tap menu will have changed by the time someone reads this. Suffice it to say, the beers were stellar and pretty fairly priced at maybe a dollar above what you’d pay in a decent bar. With service included, that’s a dollar I would have left as tip anyway. Fair play to Commonwealth.
The pickles were not my favorite. They were a bit sweet and clove-​y for my taste. I’m more of a dill guy. I still ate a bunch of them trying to suss out the spice mix. I would recommend against ordering the House Pickle appetizer if it’s your first time. Every other appetizer and entrée comes with a generous portion of pickles. Not knowing that, we ended up with way too much pickle on the table. The Scotch Egg was perfection. My only complaint is that it is indeed a single Scotch Egg cut in four. Two would have been better for the price ($ 8), but the flavor was on point. Delicious, but a bit dear for the serving size. Having that gift card made us not really care, honestly, but we recognized that the price is part of how they can afford to pay a decent wage to their staff, which again… Fair play to them.
The entrees were outstanding. The fish was fried to perfection, a deep golden brown, crispy batter that clung to the meat accompanied by some of the best fries I’ve ever had. Perfect crunchy outside, hot fluffy potato inside, and a little cup of nice, lightly sweet coleslaw. The Chicken Pot Pie is impressively presented with a drumstick jutting from the crust like the broken mast of a ship. Inside, large chunks of chicken breast meat, and all the veg one expects in a pot pie, with no oddities or surprises. The filling was lightly sweet also, which I am not super into. I blame the peas and carrots. Overall it was very good, and I did like it, but would have liked it more less the sweet aftertaste. I’m sure other people love it. I’m just not into sweet and meat together. Does that mean I didn’t take the remainder home to eat later in my pajamas? No. No it does not.
If we could give half stars, I would give Commonwealth 4.5÷5 overall. 5 stars really, but half a star reduction for things being unexpectedly sweet which is not my personal preference. I’m certain others enjoy it, as I’m usually the only person at any given table at all inconvenienced with unwanted sweetness.
Again, the prices are slightly more than one might normally pay, but considering that a standard tip on our bill would have been $ 15, I didn’t mind the extra dollar or two here and there on the menu. The bill still wasn’t outlandish for 2 entrees, 2 apps and several beers, and the service was outstanding.
My dream is that Commonwealth might use their TV to show Big Fat Quiz of the Year on Boxing Day, but even if it’s not Boxing Day don’t hesitate to check out Commonwealth Micropub to make any day a little special. Shout out again to Ahna for the terrific service and well chosen brews!

The Mac and Cheese was really good. Service was awesome and I like the tipless thing. I don’t drink beer, so can’t say anything about that. I would eat here again.

Wasn’t sure what to expect from this place.
Where to start. First off, rarebit is what peaked my interest in this place (Had to youtube to find out what this was).
It’s a tiny little pub in Emeryville, kind of in an area with nothing else going on. We lucked out, wasn’t too busy so we sat outside. Inside was nice, small, and can see why a lot of people say there’s always a wait on Friday and Saturday nights.
Food was good. Friend ordered the Scottish Egg. First time trying it. Hard-​boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in bread crumbs and baked… up to this point, I thought the craziest thing i’ve tried was a deep-​fried twix bar. Jesus, just thinking of that egg right now makes me want to go back, who knew one could be excited to have a hard boiled egg.
Braised brisket w/​baguette was good, nice flavor, had a little tanginess to it, served with chips and a side of rarebit.
Still a little confused on what rarebit actually is, I get the jist of what goes into it, but the consistency and taste just throw me off… in a good way, cause I liked it and I don’t know why.
Beer is good, a little pricey, but then again, they rotate their beers and they’re locally source microbrews so it makes sense, but $ 8 for a 16oz beer isn’t that bad.
The vibe in this place is just awesome — I think the best part of the night was the birthday party going on in the house next door that literally played 10 different versions of happy birthday (totally unrelated, but had to share, cause no one else cared). Definitely come check out this place before heading to Bay Street for your movie, won’t be disappointed

Great food and atmosphere in an area devoid of anything like it. They have a nice outdoor area that is sunny for most of the day and a very friendly staff. The food is a healthy Californian take on traditional English pub food. The beer selection is always diverse and high quality. The service is fast and friendly.
The prices seem high at first glance, but that is because it is a tipless restaurant — which is a great idea and better for the workers. This is also a great pub to catch soccer or As games as they will have one or the other on.

Went there last night with three friends. When we arrived we saw there was no where for a group of 4 to sit. The waitress insisted we wait, and she asked two people sitting at a little table with enough stools for us to move to another table. I get the place is small, but if I would have been that person, I would have been extremely irritated after just getting there to be asked to move. To me that is extremely rude. The beer selection is decent, but the prices are really steep. We ordered the 2 sets of sausage rolls, 1 order of fries, and 3 beers. It was over fifty dollars. My friend waited almost 10 minutes for water which was pretty ridiculous being that there’s like 12 tables or so in the whole building. The food was okay, but some fries were cooked in the same oil as the fish, which pretty much destroyed it for me. 2 Sausage rolls per order made me think SAUSAGE ROLL not sausage roll. For the price I was expecting a lot more.
My gripe about the tip included in the price is this: Yeah it’s all great and wonderful to pay people well, but the service was not on point. This is a service/​hospitality business, and not being able to award it and to get anything besides stellar service is extremely disappointing. It was a very bleh this is new East Bay restaurant experience. Seeming pretty typical of places popping up in the area, which is sad.
Finally what is the deal with the artichoke wallpaper that is upside down? It doesn’t look like Hops, it looks like upside down artichokes. Why isn’t there just hops wallpaper on the walls?
It was very bleh, and I don’t think I’ll be going back.

I am absolutely obsessed with this place, the food and beer lists are amazing! The service is great. And honestly the shortbread cookies, with the Cambridge Burnt Crème, are out of this world… orgasmic! I’ve gone in solo almost every time and have come out with new friends. Last time I went in I chatted with some people and we ended up ordering ever dish off the menu and sharing it. Ok best fish and chips around! And the chicken pot pie is totally cray! This spot is highly recommended to the foodie who loves good brew and atmosphere!

A tiny, decent pub with steep beer prices. My wife and I stopped by for a beer and a snack while wandering around the neighborhood.
The place is indeed tiny, a couple of tables and chairs on a patio outside and a little dining are inside.
Service was friendly, as was the vibe.
The beer prices were steep. Usually I’ll pay between six and seven dollars for a nice draft beer post taxes and tip in the East Bay. Prices were eight here.
They also do the service-​included approach to pricing, which I don’t mind, but I was still out about a dollar. Oh well.
Food prices were more reasonable, and my wife and I enjoyed our gravy and fries.
Still, though, I wouldn’t go out of my way to go back here.

Their beer and cider selection is okay and their menu respectable, but their prices are a bit ridiculous. Who’d have thought that when importing an English pub experience they’d also import London prices? Well this isn’t London. It’s not even San Francisco. It’s Emeryville/​Oakland. I live 4 blocks away and was excited by the idea of a close English style pub in the neighborhood. Also, if you’re going to do a proper English pub, replace those tiny beer and cider glasses you have with Imperial Pint glasses. A pint in the UK is 20% larger than a pint in the U.S.
If I’m going to pay $ 8 for a beer, give me a proper portion. Also, what is an English style pub without English beer? A poor imitation. At least the other Commonwealth location has Fuller’s. Get some London Pride on CASK (not a force carbonated keg) and give me 20 imperial ounces of it. Also, $ 18 for a measly portion of Fish n Chips? Hurry up an go out of business.

Very tasty with lots of vegan options, good atmosphere for sitting back and enjoying a beer, and… did I mention the beer?
Only downside is it’s a little pricey, but tip is included in the bill and the service was great. I plan on going back and bringing friends.

This place opened up right next to where I live, so thought to try this place out. This is micropub that serves British food, which I’m not entirely familiar with. Therefore, I won’t try to compare it to the other food that I’ve had since I don’t think I ever had «real» British food. The sausage rolls, mini yorkshire puddings, and chicken pot pie are must-​haves. The pastry on these dishes are amazing. My boyfriend also got the cauliflower stew and loved it. They have a pretty good beer selection too (but don’t want to speak to it as I didn’t drink that day, but boyfriend noted that it was good). The only thing is the dishes are a bit pricey for the amount you get. However, apparently tips are included in the price, so no hassle trying to figure out how much to tip at the end of the meal! Overall, love the place, would definitely come back, especially since it’s so close!

Love it, especially since it’s in my neighborhood!
Awesome rotating beer selection with breweries like HenHouse, Moonlight, Altamont, and Faction. Also a couple ciders and Periscope Cellars wine.
Food is great, British and Indian-​inflected pub fare, e.g., samosas! There are multiple vegetarian/​vegan options, which I appreciate, including the vegan sausage roll, which seems to be a Field Roast faux sausage wrapped in puff pastry. Delicious.
They’ve started doing brunch too, which we enjoyed this weekend. Brioche bread pudding was excellent. Husband had the veggie scramble — eggs, peas, mushrooms, paneer, with a hash brown patty and side salad. Coffee was really good. Husband had a beer Bloody Mary, which was quite tasty. They also do regular Bloodys and beermosas.
Patio seating is dog-​friendly and there’s plentiful bike parking. We haven’t even sat inside yet because it’s so pleasant to sit outside, but there is a TV indoors if you want to watch a sporting match or something. (We will be there to drink so much beer if you guys start showing Formula 1, btw!)
Service is super friendly and prompt.
This joint is one of those new-​fangled no-​tipping places, so prices might seem a little steep, but less so if you account for the built-​in gratuity.

My friends lives in the apartment complex across from CM, so I’m pretty much in Emmeryville at least once a week. So when Commonwealth Micropub opened up, we had to come to there opening.
This is one of if not the most self-​explaining concept for a joint ever. It’s a pub and it’s small. It serves beer and food.
Nothing more and nothing less. Their beer selection is on the small side but top notch, serving a lot of local breweries. The place is really small. I’m talking about the size of a $ 1,000 bed room in the city. But there are quite a bit of outdoor seating and with the lack or rain and summer that we are having in California. It will be utilized almost year round.
The food wasn’t anything to be impressed by, but this is a pub, not a restaurant that serves alcohol. So in that regard, I can care less.
The selling point for CM is that it’s a local hangout spot that you can just come and grab a beer. No flashing lights, no trickery, no peacocking, just a pub. And sometimes, that’s just what a lot of people want.

Commonwealth Micropub has literally gone to the dogs. whilst inside i heard Unilocaling, whining, barking, ad. from outside commonwealth.(saw 3 dogs under the tables when i was leaving.)
Commonweatlth serves brit food & locally sourced bay area microbrews (10 choices at any time), $ ⁸⁄₁₆ oz. gratuity included in the price, food and brew.
brew: faction chocolate milk stout (5.8%) 8
–smooth, fab stout
–all microbrews save one low alc %.
eats: mixed house pickles (6)
–bowlful of sourness, delish! 8 ounces?
on draught:
–micropub so small there’s no bar here, just 20 seats around 5ish tables.
–flatscreen showing James Bond, so appropriate, classy place.
–not a traditional pub, just a dining room that serves microbrews.
–short on time, otherwise, scotch eggs or even fish & chips (not on menu, overheard
offering), bangers, yorkshire pudding, etc a possibility.
–should be 5 stars, aware this micropub is not everyone’s cup of tea. 4.5 stars
–opens @4 every day.
–fab, smiling service
–self sitting, posted sign.

Very good UK style pub style menu in Oakland with vegetarian/​vegan options.
Vegan Bangers and Mash were really good. Loved the house pickles. Great service.

So glad this place came to the neighborhood! I had been to the one on telegraph years ago.
I feel like I’m back in London, but more vegetarian/​vegan options! Curried ketchup, samosas, vegan bangers and mash, and fries with onion gravy! Gratuity included! Just wish the place was bigger, as I know once people find this place it is going to be packed.
Bicycle parking and great outdoor area too.

I was a huge fan of the one in Oakland and am very excited that I have one a little bit closer to me. They don’t have a lot of space and they don’t have the biggest beer list but what they have is great. If you want a good beer and a snack this is an amazing spot. Also best wallpaper ever.

Honestly though, it’s more of a 4.5.
I went on day 2 of this adorable Micropub being open. It has a nice small selection of eats and a well rounded selection of brews, a couple of non-​alcoholic bevs, and I think one wine option. As you can see if you check out their site, there are vegan and vegetarian options for food, there’s a selection of small bites and main plates.
I ordered the pickled veggies, pork sausage roll, and washed it down with the Goldenstate Goldridge Cider (recommended by the waitstaff). Total $ 25
Despite the small dent in the bank, overall I left satisfied and will come back with friends in tow.
For those of you that want the nitty gritty…
FOOD + DRANK:
Pickled veggies were a «meh» I LOVE pickled things and the pickling was not strong enough/​spicy/​salted. While I liked the variety in the pickles, I really thought it lacked flavor and punch. Not getting this again. This is why it’s a 4.5, not a 5 star review.
Pork sausage roll — DELICIOUS!!! It’s a more sweet kind of experience with caramelized red onions and the dough is delicious. I wish there was a little more kick in the Picalilli (aka the yellow stuff on the side), but even without that it went really well with the sausage roll. Definitely getting this again.
Cider — Served cold in an appropriate glass and had the not-​sweet crisp-​dryness that the waitress had described. A resounding YES! on this one
$$$$$$$: Okay, this place is definitely a smidgeon on the pricey side, especially the food. On the other hand, tip is already included in the prices.
SERVICE: Pretty good, I came in the late afternoon on a weekday so it hadn’t picked up quite yet, but I got helped very quickly, with plenty of friendliness and smiles.
AMBIANCE: Good! You can bring your kids (they have high chairs) and dogs are allowed in the porch area. I wouldn’t bring too big a group though, it is on the cozy side.
One thing that also bothered me, uncomfortable wood chair — maybe the bar stools are better?

The seating area inside is much smaller than at The Commonwealth in Oakland, thus the Micropub. The kitchen however is much larger. So the menu here includes items like samosas to that you won’t find back Telegraph ave. There’s also at least one larger table outside to enjoy. So that’s nice.