Today, after picking my parents up from MSP, we headed to Common Roots Cafe in Minneapolis for what we assumed would be lunch, but ended up being brunch. I want to make the statement right now that I will be back for lunch and/or dinner in the future–just so you know.
We walked in at two minutes to 11 AM because my parents’ flight landed 30+ minutes early. Even so, at 11 AM on a Saturday I expect lunch to be served at a restaurant, not breakfast. Seeing that they do not start serving lunch until 11:30, I asked if lunch menu items were available and were told it was “brunch” only. Not being a breakfast food fan, this was incredibly disappointing for me. I quickly changed my predetermined choice to something else and placed my order along with everyone else.
My mother ordered their sourdough french toast which has nectarine sauce, maple syrup and toasted nuts for $8.75. My father ordered their farmer’s breakfast which was your fairly standard two eggs, fresh herbs, with American fries, toast, and turkey sausage for $8.50. I ordered their quiche which was described as leeks, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, greens, and parmesan for $9. I also picked up a cup of pasta with balsamic roasted shallot vinaigrette (I don’t remember what it cost). My wife wasn’t very hungry after a late breakfast and just ordered a side of potatoes. My parents both ordered lemonade, my wife picked up a strawberry-banana smoothie (bottled, not made in house), and I just went with water.
After ordering, we went and sat down in the front of the restaurant. I watched as many people happily poured in through the door and ordered a variety of different items while others sat in the sun beaming through the windows playing on their laptops or reading books from the library. A nice space that’s comfortably decorated and offers seating at heavy wooden tables with chairs that don’t feel like they will crumble under the weight of a waif. I had plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere as we waited–and waited–and waited for breakfast. After 31 minutes we finally received our food, something which I found to be extremely ridiculous for the simple items we ordered.
The balsamic roasted shallot vinaigrette pasta was given to me at the counter so at least I had that to eat while waiting for the rest of the food. The pasta was doughy, undercooked, and tasteless. The feta cheese was the best part of the dish and almost made up for the fact that the side was basically awful. After all the raving that I have heard about how great Common Roots was I hoped that this was some strange fluke and not an omen of things to come. Unfortunately, after the 31 minute wait for breakfast foods, it proved to be all too true.
We’ll start with the good. My mother’s sourdough French toast was good. You could definitely taste the citrus in the syrup and the nuts, while not my thing, were a nice touch. I prefer very little syrup on my French toast or pancakes but even though my mother doused the bread with it, it was the only decent item on the table. My father’s farmer’s breakfast was just a bit above mediocre. The turkey sausage patty had too many different things in it (carrots, really?) but wasn’t anything to write home about. The eggs apparently didn’t taste any different to him than normal old eggs that he’s used to (organic, cage free eggs generally taste better to me but since I didn’t eat them, I couldn’t tell you). His biggest complaint was the ketchup. First, it came in a small side container that isn’t nearly enough for him (he likes to use ketchup like people drink water and expected a bottle) and it was heavily spiced–inappropriately. They apparently make this in-house but it was absolutely miserable to eat. It was similar to Annie’s natural ketchup that’s sold out there but it wasn’t even as good as that. My father also complained about the bread and told me it tasted like rye (it tasted like white bread to me and I thought it was fine but…) My quiche (pictured above) was fucking terrible. I mean, seriously, when the only thing you can taste is a single sun dried tomato and the rest of the dish is nothing more than a pile of soft and tasteless mush, there’s not much else that can possibly be said about it.
I was extremely disappointed in my meal and the length of time that it took to be served. Unfortunately the entire experience along with Common Roots’ food reinforced to my unknowing parents that organic means tasteless and terrible. What an absolute disappointment today. Ugh. That said, I do plan to return for lunch as that’s what I wanted in the first place and my mother kept saying that she really wanted to try the caprese–something which she will absolutely not do after our experience at brunch. A really poor first impression after hearing so many great things about this place :(
Have you eaten at Common Roots Cafe in Minneapolis? If so, what did you think? While their menu is new for September, what do you enjoy eating there? Is the service always so very slow or was this a one time thing? Whatever you have to say about Common Roots Cafe in Minneapolis comment on as I’d love to hear what you think!
Address:
Common Roots Cafe
2558 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Phone:
612-871-2360
Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7 AM – 11 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM – 11 PM
Vegetarian friendly:
Very
See all the pictures on Flickr here.
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September 5th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Think that’s bad? We were at The Happy Gnome today at 2:30 and it was still brunch only. We wanted a burger but had to wait 20 min for the kitchen to change to lunch. Our meal ended up being excellent, but WTF.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I once ate at The Green Room in Waconia and found that they had the same sort of thing–brunch all day long. If you’re going to have “brunch” and have it run that late into the day, at least have some items on the menu that actually stretch into lunch fare!
September 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
That’s too bad. I’ve eaten there many times and find their food to be top notch. I’ve also never waited that long.
It is too bad you couldn’t get lunch because I think they have the best burger in town. 1000 Hills Cattle beef cooked perfectly. I also love their bagels and cream cheese.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I have to second Kassie’s comment, I’ve always enjoyed the food there. I’ve yet to have anything but a bagel for breakfast, but dinner has always been good.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Sorry to hear that. I stop in Common Roots quite often and like it. My standard there is lox and cream cheese on a bagel, but I’ve enjoyed other things like their fish tacos. I’m not sure it would be my first place for a full meal, but for a coffee shop-plus-soup/salad/etc. it’s usually spot on.
I actually almost ran into you there yesterday…I was biking on the Greenway at that time and was hungry, but decided to eat at the Freewheel Bike Center instead.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
My son really enjoyed his burger there this summer. I’ve gotten bagels there twice; once they were very good and once they were obviously old – very dry and hard (basically inedible). Bagels have to be sold the day that they are baked, PERIOD; there is no fudging here.
Being a baker myself, I have looked over all of their other baked goods and they don’t look very exciting. I can make better bagels and more exciting baked goods myself rather than traveling that far to pay money and be disappointed.
That said, this is the kind of place that I would like to see work and I will try their lunch/dinner sometime and see what that’s all about. From Bill’s review, it sounds like they kind of have the right idea, but need to pay more attention to flavor and details.
September 7th, 2009 at 10:20 am
[...] Roehl wants to like Common Roots, but has a less-than-perfect brunch: “Unfortunately the entire experience along with Common Roots’ food reinforced to my [...]
September 7th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I live near Common Roots and, like you, really really wanted to like it. But, also like you, the food I’ve had there–on several different occasions–has been undistinguished, slow, and relatively expensive. Props to them for the great garden they have in back and for using produce they grow themselves. But there are too many other great eateries in Lyn-Lake/Uptown–several using locally-sourced and/or organic and/or sustainably-farmed produce–for us to put up with CR’s bland mediocrity. Thanks for your honest review.
September 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I’ve had a several sandwiches there and always came away happy. While I was moving it was a nice spot to escape for lunch, beverages and WiFi. The atmosphere, with its’ heavy wood and spacious feel, was really enjoyable and good music was frequently playing. Power strips (which are a must for me) were readily available too. I’ll also note that their WiFi, with its’ regularly-changed WPA security, was one of the fastest in town for uploading photos and downloading updates. :)
Thanks for sharing your brunch experience though, with all of the places around town for a proper brunch it may be awhile before I find myself down there to make my own assessment.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Thank you for calling a spade a spade. I think a lot of us *really* want to like Common Roots for their ethical practices, but it just too clear that do not have a knowledgeable chef (or s/he is being stifled by overbearing management). It’s like they can’t decide if they want to be Lucia’s (ethical, but classy and good) or the Seward Cafe (ethical, but stanky and mediocre). Instead they are more like a Birchwood with worse desserts–cute place, great intentions, but skimpy portions, erratic service, and bland food. :(
They do serve excellent local beers, though.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Oh, and I must add: even the picture of your quiche tells me it was lame. I can’t believe you had to pay $9 for that! I can get one that actually fills out the crust (aka twice that size) at May Day for $5. And it comes with a salad. And it comes in about 5 minutes. AND they use organic eggs.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I have to agree, I have wanted to like the food at CR but rarely have had anything that was memorable. The bagels are good and their cream cheese spreads are homemade and pretty good, but being borderline allergic to wheat and dairy means I am usually looking at other things there. I have also waited quite a while for food more than once. I find the portions to be a bit skimpy. I like reading the menu, it sounds like some creative ideas are being played with, but the execution doesn’t seem to come very close to the concept.
I am always looking for healthier less sugary desserts and it seemed like when they first opened there were some nice looking fruit tarts. I get the feeling they have had a lot of turnover of kitchen staff. When I look into the kitchen standing by the deli case, it doesn’t look very…together. Kind of chaotic stressed looking people in there.
And I don’t really like the music or the noise level, seems like it’s the preference of the younger laptop set, many of whom have their ipods in their ears so I suppose they aren’t bothered by the music!
This does sound whiny…thanks for listening. Oh, they do have a community room that they offer free for groups. I went once to a meeting there and it was super hot in the room.
Maybe they need some Feng Shui.
September 7th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Alexis – first rule of M*D* Cafe is never talk about M*D* Cafe!
As for Common Roots, like everyone else I really want to like it, but out of the 5 or so times I’ve been there, 4 have probably had an issue. I also don’t think I’ve ever gotten friendly counter service there.
I did have an excellent grass fed beef burger there once, and my girlfriend swears by the smoked salmon sandwich, which I will try next time we go. But they have a ways to go to get the kinks out.
September 7th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Tim, to avoid confusion with a prominent author also with the same name, I have changed your username to Tim R. If you’d like something else, please let me know via e-mail.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I also live quite close to Common Roots and eat there a lot. In doing so I’ve learned that they are really inconsistent: sometimes the food is amazing and perfect, and sometimes it is bad. For brunch, I always get a bagel with cream cheese (chipotle if they have it), capers and sprouts and am never disappointed. These are the best bagels in town. But just this morning I tried the turkey sausage and it was way underseasoned. If they had just mixed some more salt in it would have been fine. I have also had chicken that was dangerously undercooked. But then I have had some of the best pasta of my life — hand rolled with fiddlehead ferns and asparagus. Overall I like Common Roots — great happy hour beer selection, good drip coffee, awesome bagels — but it can be really hit or miss.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I can see where you left with this impression, Bill. I regularly eat at CR, some times more than once a day (3 times is probably the most I’ve ever done in one day) because of its proximity to where I live. I encourage you to go back; I’ve eaten plenty of things that have potential but seem to be missing something… but there are also many many items that are consistently good. The ingredients are always of great quality, I find it is the seasoning that is sometimes off. As I’m not a big fan of salting-at-the-table, this can be a big turn-off, but it hasn’t stopped me coming back.
Things I enjoy at Common Roots:
• Bagels Bagels Bagels. With sprouts, capers, heirlooms grown in the back, and cream cheese… preferably smokey chipotle.
• Flatbread pizzas ($5 during happy hour)
• Happy Hour… 3 to 6 and 9 on. All beers are $3 and all apps are $5.
• 1,000 Hills Burger
Things I think could be better:
• Quesadillas
• Turkey sausage… you’re SO right. Carrots? Not just carrots. It was the entire threesome of carrots, celery, and onions in giant, GIANT chunks.
• Biscuits and gravy (made with mushroom gravy)
September 7th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I have to emphsize that I purchased bagels there that were very old, hard, and dry. Unacceptable. I don’t care how good they were when they were fresh.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I feel your pain. I was pumped to eat there due to all the hype, but had a pretty disappointing meal. Stay away from the meatloaf. The burger was better, and I thought it as pretty good – my companion did not. I appreciate their food philosophy, but our meal was bad and the place was a bit too dirty for my tastes when we dined there. If I went back I’d stick to lunch or their bagels, but would eye the kitchen for cleanliness before I would order.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Regarding the comments about the bagels…how many of you have eaten bagels in NY? How do they compare to the real thing?
September 8th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Even New York bagels are not NY bagels anymore. It is very difficult to find a good bagel. In NY, my favorite are H&H, which are also sold at Zabar’s (best deal in town: lox and cream cheese bagel, oj and coffee for something crazy like $6 or $7!). I won’t claim to be a bagel expert, but I did live in NYC for 6 years, and I would rate the dry, skinny bagels at CR below those found at most street vendors in NY (where they give you about a 1/4 lb of cream cheese on the sucker). Which is to say, pretty darn low.
I am really surprised by how many defenders the CR bagels have, honestly. I think St. Paul Bagelry does a much better job, even when you buy them at the co-op, where they are arguably not as fresh.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I’ve never been disappointed although I’ve only been there for lunch and dinner. My sandwiches have been great and for the small number of taps they have, what a great line up! Plus, when the weather is nice they’ve got a good patio. And hey, you can always hit the Bulldog for some awsome tots afterward.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I’m not sure the owner has a significant food background and is rather young. They have a new person in the kitchen a young lady who seems quite informed. But hiring a real chef as a consultant might be the right business move at this point.
I suspect its been tough for them to turn a profit and keep prices down. After all there is a reason most places order from the Sysco truck. The owner is leading the way metro wide to source all of his food from local growers. They could not make it selling coffee and bagels with the average customer spending more time then money.
This shift to a broader menu is most likely a minefield but we should all support this place for what IT IS not what it is not……
September 8th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
bud dingler wrote:
I’m happy to support a place that sources locally and with a high emphasis on organics (65% of Common Roots’ purchased foods came from within 250 miles in August) but I don’t know why I should support them as an intermediary when the food itself just isn’t that great.
If I want to support local growers and eat organics (I do both), I will do so. I will also be happy to support restaurants that do it but they have to do it better than I can at home or there is really no point in returning, right?
September 8th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I absolutely have nothing good to say about this place. Bill speaks about the “organic” food experience as something new, but Bill was raised on farm fresh fruits and vegetables and all home cooked food. Everyone who came to our table never went away hungry or unhappy. Those employees need a training course in Customer Service. I may not be the trendy local but I did not feel comfortable at all there. Thanks Bill for letting me vent!
September 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I think what Bills mom posted sums up how I feel about many of the trendy and/or high end places I visit in town. Sometimes even when the food is great, I know I wont be back because the people working in the place have not mastered advanced concepts like saying Hello, please, and thank you. If you are not comfortable in a place, its just kind of pointless imo.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I frequent Common Roots and have always had timely service and excellent food, so I’m sad your experience wasn’t so grand. My favorite meal thus far was the arugula pesto stuffed ravioli- it was so good that people at 2 neighboring tables ordered it after seeing me eat in bliss. Better luck next time, I hope!
September 9th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Casey H,
This is Minnesota…you keep your bliss to yourself.
(teasing of course)
September 9th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I greatly disagree with our host here – why be so demanding of Common Roots when there is a ton of food places in the CIties that spoon up flavorful food made from crap ingredients. These places are buying food that is mostly imported from around the country and the world.
sheesh give Danny a break for trying to set the standard for purchasing locally almost all of his food. the politics of food should be given more attention as the average schmo waddles down the sidewalk and multi national food companies will go to any length to lie cheat and screw the consumer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/business/05smart.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&hp
just out of curiuosity Bill where do you mostly buy your groceries?
September 9th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Bud, you are saying that because the owner makes an effort to source his food locally, flavor and service should not be considered important?
After reading the posts above, I would say a great number of people, Bill included, are giving this guy and place the benefit of the doubt. Bill, as a general rule, never gives a place a second chance, but he already stated he is going to give this place another chance. A number of posters have posted that they are predisposed to like this place, yet continue to be let down.
Seriously, using fresh local ingredients does not mean that you dont have to provide quality finished products, and it certainly does not mean you dont need to be friendly and courteous.
If you really want to know where Bill buys his groceries, you could spend 10 minutes reading the back story on this blogs older posts. I have a feeling he will tell you himself though.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Oh, Bud, did you really have to go there? Are you trying to shame Bill into going to Common Roots by questioning the rest of his food purchases? Did you not read the part where he said “organic, cage free eggs generally taste better to” him? I think that suggests that the author is a fan of sustainable food choices. I also think a lot of the comments here have implied a general enthusiasm for local, organic foods. That is what I meant by mentioning Lucia’s, Birchwood, and the Seward. I hear Bill saying he wants to support businesses like this as well, but isn’t going to go out of his way if they are doing it poorly. Like he says, if he can do it better at home, why pay them to do it?
The whole tone of your comment is the kind of thing that really rankles me about some people here in the Twin Cities. There is this fierce provincialism that argues that anyone who criticizes someone who is *trying really really hard* (and using the owner’s first name really helps with the emotional manipulation angle–nice one), is somehow trying to put them out of business. This species seems not to know the concept of “tough love,” wherein you say to someone: “I want to support you because you are on the right path, but YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.” It’s not mean, it’s not malicious, it can only help them in the end. But no, we are to embrace the mediocrity in the name of provincial pride, and anyone who dares stray from this path (insert appropriate sturm und drang voice) is ostracized (or silently dismissed, ‘cos that’s how we do).
Alexis
CSA member, Co-op member, avid home cook, and occasional denizen of Common Roots
September 10th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Great post Alexis.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Thank you Alexis.
bud,
You’re barking up the wrong tree about my food choices and I suggest that before you make any more ridiculous veiled accusations about anyone on this site, especially me, that you start doing some research on the near 1,200 posts written and commented on about what we all think, say, and do here.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I’ve found, that for some reason, breakfast is an extremely difficult meal to do well…especially eggs, quiche in particular. I don’t think I’ve EVER had a good quiche in this town…and that includes Barbette, which does brunch very well. That quiche looks just atrocious, more like an egg pizza.