Commonwealth Cafe — Restaurant in Birmingham

I tend to write my reviews based on the food, so let me start by saying the service and atmosphere were top notch. I only had two things while I was there, which means this is a review of those two things. Let me begin by saying I am not a coffee drinker. I've had little coffee that I would, having spent a penny on for one cup, spend a second penny on for another. That being said, I've had one excellent experience with black coffee at an Ethiopian restaurant in Ann Arbor. It was flowery and fruity and shockingly good. I finished it without a gram of sugar aiding the experience, smiling the whole way. This is why I ordered the Ethiopian coffee as soon as I saw it on the menu. Being a Texas boy, I also tend to order Mexican or Spanish inspired food when I run across it. This is comfort food to me. "One Chorizo hash please." The coffee and food was delivered fast and hot. So far so good. As soon as I tasted their Ethiopian coffee I knew that 1) Ethiopian coffee isn't automatically good and 2) I wasn't going to come close to finishing this cup. It was bitter, burned and extremely unpleasant. I understand the importance of complex and challenging food, but this wasn't complex. It was one note: triple bitter with a bitter finish. My wife ordered a latte which I can normally tolerate, but this had the same overwhelming bitterness, only diluted with milk. If this is a fair sample of the coffee served there, then I'm in no danger of becoming a coffee addict from their products. Fine, I'm a non coffee drinker that thought the coffee was terrible, that hardly warrants a two star rating. Unfortunately the food that followed was nearly as disappointing. My hash was well prepared. The polenta was creamy and seasoned nicely. The potatoes were perfectly cooked. The egg was nice and runny. I enjoyed the spice of the salsa, there was just one problem, I could not find a piece of chorizo in the entire dish. Either it was left out or in such a small amount as to not lend a bit of its flavor to the dish. Breakfast is not difficult to get right, so mistakes made here count as double. Leaving out the key ingredient means I might as well have just had a bowl of grits with. My wife said she wasn't that impressed either. She complained that the potatoes were cooked on a dirty pan or griddle top so that there were burned bits of old grease on them, spoiling the flavor. She also finds it unpleasant when her poached eggs are still sopping with water. Use a towel guys. That's just unnecessary. I'm sure this place does some things right, but none of it was served to my wife or me yesterday morning. I can't say I would recommend this place. I'm not sure if I'd give it another chance. I know there's another brunch place on the other side of the block. Maybe that will be a little better. Not every trendy place deserves its reputation. I appreciate the effort, but the execution needs...

As a longtime local and someone who used to genuinely look forward to brunch at Commonwealth, it’s incredibly disappointing to say this: they’ve completely lost their touch. This used to be the spot for an elevated breakfast in Birmingham—simple, fresh, and consistently good. Sadly, that charm is gone.

The last few visits were nothing short of a letdown. The food has taken a sharp nosedive. What once tasted handcrafted now feels careless—bland eggs, dry bread, and flavorless, overcooked proteins. The attention to detail is simply no longer there. For a place that prides itself on farm-to-table vibes, the execution feels more like cafeteria-to-plate.

And the price? You’re looking at $30+ per person, easy. That might be tolerable if the food still lived up to the hype—but when the dishes are this bad, it just feels like you’re paying for the idea of a good brunch spot, not the reality.

It’s clear the place has gotten too big for its own good. Maybe it’s the volume, maybe it’s management burnout—but what used to be a cozy, quality-driven breakfast café now feels like a cliché. A pretty patio and cool vibe might fool some, but if you care about food, you’re better off elsewhere.

Case in point: I walked over to Café Origins after a terrible breakfast at Commonwealth and was blown away by their ham, egg, and cheese croissant. Perfectly flaky, rich, and satisfying. And guess what? They also have outdoor seating, minus the inflated ego.

Commonwealth had its era, but that time is past. Save your money—and your appetite—and go somewhere that still cares about what they’re putting...

Disappointing Experience at Commonwealth Cafe

I recently visited Commonwealth cafe in Michigan, and I must say, it was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've ever had. Despite my friends' enthusiastic recommendations, I was met with an incredibly unwelcoming attitude from the moment we walked in.

The staff seemed annoyed to see us, barely acknowledging our presence as we entered. Instead of a warm welcome, we were greeted with a cold stare and a lack of basic hospitality. It felt as if our presence was an inconvenience rather than a reason to celebrate.

The staff took our table and gave it to another party while one of my friend sitting on the table.

To top it off, the atmosphere was anything but inviting. The café had a gloomy vibe, and the overall lack of friendliness from the staff made it uncomfortable to enjoy our time there.

I was truly disappointed, especially since I had high hopes based on my friends' recommendations. I would not recommend Commonwealth management to hire more friendly none discrimination to anyone. looking for a welcoming and enjoyable café experience. Save your time and money and choose somewhere that values its customers. If I can rate it -5...