This year, I maximized celebrating my birthday by taking advantage of the entire month. With the expenses of a sick pup and then a new pup the last several months, we hadn’t gone out for a fancy meal in awhile. Using my birthday month as an excuse, we went to not just one, but two, in the week following my birthday. The sister, her boyfriend, and our cousin joined us at Commonwealth in The Mission. A friend had started her externship there after finishing cooking school, so I wanted to show support and swing by.
Since we opted out of the tasting menu, it was recommended that each person select three dishes each. There were five of us and 11 dishes on the regular menu, so we basically went with one of each and doubled up on a few of the smaller items.
Housemade pear and star anise soda and amuse bouches
Commonwealth - Cold Plates
The menu is segmented into three sections. The first section features the cold dishes. Here is where we ordered everything and then doubled up on the scallop crudo and clams.
(L): asian pear, sunflower seed granola, fermented apple, fromage blanc, kohlrabi, honey
(R): clams, shelling beans, shaved turnip, meyer lemon kosho, eucalyptus and hop broth
(L): scallop crudo, cauliflower pudding, popcorn powder, kale juice, fennel, prickly ash leaf
(R): allium panna cotta, smoked mushrooms, pickled scallions, mizuna, lovage, pine oil
While I had thought my favorite would have been the scallop because I LOVE SCALLOP CRUDO, it was unfortunately covered in one of my least desired flavors - wasabi/horseradish. I scanned the menu again to check the components of the dish, but it seems even though I had watched out for it, this one managed to slip by. Fortunately, it was the only dish that elicited such a response from me. My favorite of the four ended up being the smoked mushrooms.
Commonwealth - Hot Plates
The second section of the menu features warm dishes. Each dish really stood out on its own, and to pick a favorite would be like asking a mother to choose a favorite child.
(L): chanterelle mushrooms, tapioca pudding, gem lettuce, ginger, sorrel, cured egg yolk
(R): charred cabbage, trout roe, sprouting broccoli, whipped tofu, sea beans, oyster plant
(L): jerusalem artichoke, potato, nettles, charred and pickled onions, black truffle froth
(R): squid and pork belly, soft cooked egg, hay smoked potato, fine herbs, yuzu aioli
Commonwealth - Hearty Plates
The third and final section of the menu features heartier warm dishes. Unlike the first two types of dishes, we were able to get in a few more bites of each plate. Or perhaps we were filling up, so it seemed like there was more to consume? Who knows?
(L): hake, shishito peppers, seaweed brioche, cucumber, tomato broth, elderflower vinegar
(M): hen, roasted fig, farro verde, anchovy, bacon cracker, liver mousse, fermented beet
(R): grilled pork, rutabagas cooked in beeswax, chicories, persimmons leather, maple syrup
Commonwealth - Desserts
After a celery sorbet palate cleanser, we were ready to tackle dessert. Again, one of each! I didn’t grab a menu, so I don’t have their names to document - OOPS. They were all delicious, and I’m glad I was able to share the entire experience with family and friends.
Our reservations were at 5:30, and we were out of there with enough time to catch the end of the Giants/Royals game. Parking is available in their small lot for $5 (added to your bill), and thankfully they let us park there when we wandered out after dinner looking for a bar with the game on.
The cherry on top of it all - we won that night!
