Cafe on the Common — Restaurant in Barre

My boyfriend and I were excited to try Café on the Common, but the experience was frustrating from start to finish.

The restaurant is very small and loud, with music blasting inside. The only seating option was outside unless we wanted to sit at the bar. After about five minutes, our waitress came to take our drink orders. I asked for a coffee with cream and sugar and a juice, and my boyfriend ordered the same. Strangely, after writing everything down, she asked me again what my drink order was. A little odd, but I brushed it off.

About 10 minutes later, our drinks arrived—but my coffee came in a French press with no mug. I couldn’t drink it until 20 minutes later, when the waitress finally noticed and brought the mug over, saying “Oops, I forgot.” I tried to stay patient, assuming she was just busy.

We each ordered our own waffle—mine with whipped cream only, his with berries and whipped cream—and we shared a side of bacon, which only came with two slices. The waffles were clearly frozen and reheated, definitely not fresh or worth what they charge.

When we asked about maple syrup, the waitress said it would be $1 each. That already felt steep for such a small portion, but we agreed. However, when we got the bill, we were charged $1.50 each—without any explanation or warning. We were quoted one price and charged another, which feels dishonest.

After we finished eating, we asked for the bill, and after a long wait, the waitress finally brought it. I handed her my card—and then she took it with her and didn’t come back for quite a while. We were left just sitting there waiting, unable to leave because she still had my card. When she did return, she told us she was sorry again as the machine “busy” and “she forgot,” which only made things worse. There were only two people working—her and one person outside—so everything felt slow, chaotic, and poorly managed.

Between the long waits, forgotten items, misleading pricing, and underwhelming reheated food, this was one of the most disorganized dining experiences I’ve had. We won’t be returning—and I wouldn’t recommend Café on the...

To be fair, we have only tried Pie Town once. I first called awhile ago, after noticing the new restaurant while passing through Barre (located where Picasso's restaurant once was). We thought we'd give it a try. I was disappointed when the woman who answered my call told me that they don't take "call ahead orders". This was very unusual I thought, especially for a fairly new business & during the pandemic, when most are trying to avoid much contact. We were at the playground with my young daughters & had hoped to place an order that we could pick up on our ride home. After learning that this wasn't an option, we decided to order in person, but were disappointed...as this was certainly more time consuming & little ones aren't the most patient, having to wait in the car. Luckily, it didn't take too long. The food was decent, but I thought the prices were a tad high for a small town eatery. We tried the Mac & Cheese Pie & Chicken Pot Pie. Portions are decent, but I still think the prices are a little steep for what you're ordering. Just sharing my opinion. The salad dressing (a vinaigrette style) that came with the salads was not the best, and a bit much according to my fiance (I didn't try it). Good luck, Pie Town! I also feel that the menu was a bit limited, though in fairness, this was when they had recently opened, so perhaps they've since expanded it? I did notice a Brisket Pie on the menu, that sounded appetizing. Would possibly try again. Fiance did add that service was friendly when...

There was a torrential downpour the Saturday I visited, but it seemed like every table was seated. People were cheerful and talking and laughing and enjoying their food. I started with a cocktail that was made with Satan’s Brew (from Deep Roots Distillery), sweet and dry vermouth, homemade cherry simple syrup and garnished with a slice of blood orange and a stemmed cherry. Delectable! I ordered a cup of cream of asparagus soup and it was beautiful too. It was garnished with three asparagus tips that had a little char on them. Just perfect. For my entree I ordered one of several specials: rabbit, wild rice and roasted beets. Amazing. Then I finished with a huge slice of warm homemade cherry pie topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Everything was just perfect,—including the atmosphere and service. I was delighted to get to meet Jada and Dewy. I only wish I lived closer because I would be there ALL THE TIME! Highly...