4. Restaurants

The Commoner

458 Strawberry Way, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219
  • (412) 230-4800
  • Store is closed

The Commoner Menu

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  • Amy L.

    Delicious meal at the Commoner. Came here on a Sunday night so it was not crowded at all. Ordered the lamb shank, flatbread, and roasted cauliflower--all of which were executed beautifully. But I gotta say, the dessert stole the show as the date pudding was one of the best desserts I've had in Pittsburgh. The drinks were solid but nothing to write home about. I look forward to coming back!

    (4)

  • Gretchen E.

    Ate here yesterday morning for Brunch. Modern yet inviting atmosphere, stellar service (knowledgeable and attentive, but not overbearing). Would definitely eat here again were I ever to return to Pittsburg. Drank a cappuccino, was nice and foamy. I had the Mess Beni. It was a little on the greasy side due to the chorizo, but had a good spicy kick to it. My fiancée had the Pub Toast, which was French toast made w soda bread. It wasn't to his liking--he prefers an 'egg-ier' French toast, and the soda bread just didn't seem to soak up any egg. He'd eat here again, but would order differently. Overall, it was an enjoyable and tasty meal. The Commoner is a brunch spot worth checking out!

    (4)

  • Bee M.

    We were staying at the Hotel Monaco so we decided to visit The Commoner in the Kimpton Monaco in downtown Pittsburgh on a slow, hot Monday night. Once we got off the elevator and walked toward the restaurant the noise was earsplitting. We were sat in the rear of the restaurant, thankfully the noise was muted in the rear. We were provided seats at the Chef's Table and it was amusing and entertaining. The atmosphere and decor was splendid. We had a wonderful waiter (Jeff) that attained to us and gave us many menu suggestions. We started with the Cheese Board and it was an okay start. Some of the bread and crackers were a bit stale. Succeeding the cheese was the Farm fresh Heirloom Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Ranch, it was very tasty and fresh. We then order the Seafood Stew and a basket of assorted "fresh" breads. The Stew was exceptional but the bread was far from fresh. We called Jeff over and explained to him that the day old bread was not worth the $5 up charge. He agreed and removed it from our check. Overall it was a fun place with a few, relatively small issues. We would return next time back in Pittsburgh, and maybe a four or five star review may materialize.

    (3)

  • Maura U.

    I was so excited to visit this place for a meal. Maybe I had built it up in my head, but then again, shouldn't every new venue in Pittsburgh be stellar? The answer is yes, and there was no reason why this amazing restaurant should have failed in comparison, but, alas... 1. The ambience is glorious. You are instantly transported to another time when you sit in this open and eccentric venue. 2. The menu is tantalizing to view. The cheese plate alone got us all geared up for a brunch to remember. The cheeses were all mild, though pleasing, and there was a magnificent array of honeycomb, chutney, and nuts and berries to compliment them. Unfortunately, the main dishes did not follow through. The chorizo dish was swimming in oil, the eggs were underdone (if this was on purpose, I get it, but they were cold) in the pierogi dish, and the potatoes were also overly oiled. This is something to expect in a greasy spoon, not a restaurant with $15-30 entrees for brunch. 3. The service. Why was the name of our server listed as "Darth Vader" on the receipt? It was almost appropriate, as she didn't smile the whole time. I had heard wonderful things about The Commoner for dinner, and I might return, but I would not recommend it to another for brunch. If you're up for a delectable brunch in Pittsburgh, Meat and Potatoes and Eleven are still my top recommendations.

    (3)

  • Amanda M.

    I had to give this restaurant 3 stars because of the overall average..... Ambience: ** It's so loud in here that I can't have a business discussion and my voice hurts after. It's like an echo? I seriously bypass this place if I have important things to discuss with guests. Decor:**** On point with the industrial look and feel. I love the Hotel Monaco upstairs with pops of color and play on the traditional Victorian... Waitstaff:* There is confusion as you walk in the door. If you come in from the hotel side you have someone to greet you and it works out nice. If you enter from Strawberry Way there are 2 doors. One that goes into the bar and another that everyone looks at you like ummmmmm, you arent supposed to be here. The waitress did not connect with us at all. She was awkward and confused. It took her forever to come to our table after pouring water. This is the second time I've had this experience. Also, when my beautiful cheese plate was delivered the lady couldn't remember the cheeses and said "shit". I need thus place to learn a little lesson from the staff at Mallorca. Food:**** Food is amazing...every...single time

    (3)

  • Charles F.

    I have had quite a few drinks and appetizers here, but this was my first time trying breakfast. The menu allows for just about anything you might want for breakfast. My eggs were cooked perfectly and the English Muffin was nice. I tried the beet juice and was wishing it had a bit more sweetness to it. Highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Katherine Z.

    Came here for lunch with a friend. Such a cool restaurant - very "Pittsburgh" themed in terms of aesthetics. We had the lobster mac and cheese as well one of the salads. Lobster mac and cheese was delightful. It's a very rich dish, so it was perfect for the both of us to split. Very popular lunch place for professionals who work in the area.

    (4)

  • John K.

    After a wonderful 2 nights at the Hotel Monaco, the GF and I had reservations for brunch at the in-house Commoner before flying back to Philly. The beautifully designed gastropub is a homage to the Steel City's industrial history, with steel beams and gold highlights throughout. It's not your typical "hotel restaurant," to be sure, as it's on par, if not exceeds other Kimpton property restaurants I've visited (think: Red Owl Tavern and Square 1682). Bringing more than 20 years of experience, Executive Chef Dennis Marron was brought in last year from D.C.'s Poste Modern Brasserie. It's clear from the dishes we tried, execution and quality are important to Chef Marron. But what sold us? The Bloody Mary bar we kept hearing about! Bloody Mary [$12] Bacon-infused vodka If a restaurant has its own Bloody Mary bar, there's no reason to get the standard Bloody. What does the Commoner's entail? A huge lineup for everything you need. First, you pick the type of vodka you want. The GF went with the celery-infused vodka, which had great herbaceous notes. I went with the smoky bacon-infused iteration, obviously. After you server brings the alcohol, you take a trip to the bar. For toppers and mixers, they've got every hot sauce you've dreamed of including meats, cheeses, pickled everything, infused tomato juices, bacon, and yes, grilled cheese. I had more than just a little fun with my creation. Pierogi & Eggs [$12] Sour cream hollandaise, grilled scallions For the meal proper, the GF went with the pierogi and eggs, much to my delight. While the poached egg was slightly over, the sour cream hollandaise was the perfect rich and tangy balance to the starch of the creamy, well-seasoned pierogis. The dumplings were spot on and had a crisp outer shell. The grilled scallions imparted some bite and the home fries were great - well seasoned, slightly crisp, yet creamy within, with roasted red peppers and onions studded throughout. Bacon Beni [$13] Crispy house-cured bacon, pork belly, house-made English muffin, onion soubise I went with the bacon beni which was one of my favorite dishes of the weekend. Amazingly crisp bacon sat atop of gorgeously braised, then crisped thick-cut pork belly. The housemade muffin maintained its toasted texture with a perfectly poached egg on top. The onion soubise was the right sauce to provide some bright acidic counterbalance to each bite. A must order in my mind. Roots & Tubers [$7] Roasted baby carrots, beets, sunchokes, parsnips, celery root puree We had plenty of starch with our mains, but when I saw the roots and tubers go out to another table, I knew I had to order this as well. A gorgeous plate of carrots, beets, sunchokes, and parsnips came atop a roasted celery root puree. The innate sweetness came out from this beautiful melange of perfectly roasted and lightly seasoned veg. Sticky Toffee Puddings [$8] Steamed date cake, toffee sauce, rye vanilla ice cream And with this, the kitchen sent out some sticky toffee pudding. And despite being full, we finished this with no problem - it was that good. We were sold from the house-made ice cream which was clearly not just vanilla. It had a surprisingly light bite from the whiskey, which really complemented the richness of the perfectly made cake, with the macerated portions with toffee really standing out. Rich, bitter, sweet, salty - it was all there. So if you're in Pittsburgh, there's no reason why you shouldn't stop by the Commoner for a meal or a drink. And if you're staying at the Hotel Monaco? It should be part of your itinerary. Well-executed, and thoughtfully delicious dishes with quality ingredients await.

    (5)

  • Arlene M.

    My best friend and I decided to check this place out for our pre theater dinner. We had a reservation but got there early and were seated immediately. They seated us quite a distance from the bar but the place was so loud I couldn't even hear my cell phone ring! We had a helpful waiter who served us tap water from a bottle and gave us menu suggestions. We ordered drinks, French Onion soup and the PA burger combo for our meals. He told us that most of the menu items are seasoned and that they make their own different ketchups for the burger and the fries. The PA burger is a combination of lamb mixed with ground beef topped with pickles and hot red peppers. It comes with a large box full of French fries. When we got our soup I asked for crackers but was told they didn't have any. Instead he served us three different types of bread-zucchini, cherry buckwheat, and cornbread. These breads were generous portions with our favorite being the zucchini bread. The soup was outstanding! We figured we must have come during happy hour since there was a vibrant bar scene. Dress is casual. WiFi requires a pass-code from the Hotel Monaco of which this restaurant is a part of. After we finished the soup we had to wait at least 30 minutes to get the burgers. The place wasn't crowded so we couldn't figure out why the long wait. The staff was friendly and very attentive to our needs in the meantime. When we finally got our meals they were cooked just right and surprising light. We loved the homemade ketchup they made for the fries so we added that to our burgers. They were very good. When we had finished we were given a dessert menu but having consumed the bread since we waited so long we turned it down. This place is costly, extremely noisy, and long wait times for your orders. Go only if you have time to kill.

    (3)

  • Mark W.

    Wow, be careful not to order too much. My pancake loving daughter could only eat 1 of 3 of her buttermilk pancakes with herbed lemon butter. My wife's egg Benedict was so good she finished first place in the clean plate club. Orange juice is fresh squeezed and very delicious.

    (5)

  • Terry B.

    Nice space, good energy, good food. All around I would recommend. I had the crab stuffed shells and my friend had the cauliflower sandwich. We got fries for an appetizer which were a little over spiced and salted so not too thrilled. No wait to be seated, service was ok during lunch hour rush. I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Tessa M.

    really enjoyed this place. my boyfriend recommended going here because he knew a handful of the staff and it was well worth it. all of the staff (his friends or not!) were very nice and accommodating. our drinks were very good (he had some sort of whiskey drink while i went with the gin and house-made tonic). we started with a cheese board which was delicious and i had the lamb for my meal which was some of the best i've ever had. my boyfriend had the steak which was cooked to perfection. the atmosphere is gorgeous too.

    (5)

  • James L.

    SETTING: Black steel beams and warm yellow lighting. I can't think of any other way to describe it than to say it is a combination of hip and extravagant. Word of the day: Hiptravegant. FOOD: For appetizer #1, got the Scampi and Chips. Such a basic dish, but I've never had it THIS good before! I might even venture to say that this is better than fried chicken! Uh oh...shots fired. When it comes to fried foods, the type of batter/breading matters A LOT and they did it well--light and crunchy. Appetizer #2 was the braised pork cheek. So tender and with a hint of sweetness from the brown sugar. I'm 100% convinced Elvis' lyrics, "Love me tender, love me sweet" refer to this dish. Not meant to be a tongue-in-pork cheek comment at all. Then, the entree arrived. The Steak & Ale Pie. Like a pot pie stew, but with braised short rib and a brown gravy broth. Yes, all the crust was eaten. Pretty good, but it wasn't my favorite. Saving, literally, the best for last is the Sticky Toffee Pudding dessert. Our waiter said this was quite possibly the best dessert he has ever had in his life. Bold statement. But he was spot on with his previous recommendations, so we went for it. Let me put it this way, I wish I could invent something so each bite I took of this dessert would immediately be replenished on the plate! I want to eat this forever. SERVICE: We were treated well from the get-go. Jeremy, our host, showed us to the table and when he found out this was our first time at the Commoner, he gave us a few recommendations. When we had more questions, he made himself available to us right away. Our waiter was also very patient and informative. Came by to check on us multiple times. Terrific and professional service all around. IMPRESSIONS: Such a cool place with fantastic food and solid service. If I'm in the area again, I'd like to come back for the apps and--no question--that Sticky Toffee Pudding.

    (4)

  • Britnie J.

    I was so excited to try The Commoner! I loved the decor and cocktails. I had the Commoner Collins and it was so delicious! It's a gin cocktail served over a watermelon chili ice cube! Yum. So refreshing! Also, they make their own tonic. They had a few flavors to choose from. For dinner I ordered the hangar steak with fries. It came with house made Ketchup and steak sauce. My steak was ordered medium, because that's what the chef recommends. I like my steaks prepared medium rare but I always go with what the chef recommends. It came out well done and dry. It had a nice flavor and I really enjoyed the the fries and ketchup! I don't even like ketchup but there was something magical about theirs. I highly suggest you make a reservation. It was a packed house. We couldn't get in until 9:45 for our reservation made a week prior. They had a rooftop bar that we didn't get to enjoy, it was at capacity. Bummer. Great place for cocktails and apps! Hopefully next time I'm in town I get to check out the rooftop bar.

    (3)

  • Jayna G.

    Popped in for Sunday brunch and loved the vibe at The Commoner. Menu contained standards like pancakes and omlettes, but I had a hard time deciding between the four "beni" options (benedict) that caught my eyes. I've never passed up a benedict! Chose the lamb beni and it was delicious. Full of savory flavor and two perfectly poached eggs on top. Side of potatoes could have used more seasoning, but it didn't take away from the overall meal. Servicer was helpful and attentive without crowding us. Place was moderately filled when we got there around 12:30. Also wandered to the room above the hotel lobby and the eclectic charm was darling. Fire place, miss matched furniture and whimsical figurines. Great addition to the downtown food scene!

    (5)

  • Barry R.

    Nancy Reagan famously said When it comes to drugs "Just say no." I have my own version of this, which is just as addictive, mind altering and pleasurable. When it comes to the commoner's Toffee bread pudding "Just say yes." Get the toffee bread pudding. Do it, or I will never forgive you. More importantly, you will never forgive yourself. Now that we have that out of the way, brunch is a good place to start at The Commoner. There is a bloody mary bar that has all of the accouterments, and is 2nd only to the endless bloody mary toppings of Meat & Potatoes. Overly obsequious waiters tend to be a problem in swanky hotels. The ambiance hits the mark between hip rustic industrial and dimly lit speakeasy. You walk down stairs to patent leather upholstered booths, high ceilings, and thick wooden tables, feeling like you've found the only place that will serve gin in the city. The menu has a small plates section that is priced well and just as tasty. The service is top notch, attentive but not pushy. The onion soup burger was decent, but very well done. the brussel sprouts were good, but not great. Other than the toffee bread pudding dessert the flavors aren't transcendent, and the dishes are tasty but not particularly imaginative. If you go, definitely checkout the main hotel and the roof top deck, they're both beautiful, and provide a much bigger pull than the restaurant itself. Worth going to for the decor and view, but with so many amazing high end brunch spots in Pittsburgh, you can find even more flavor per dollar.

    (4)

  • rach l.

    Incredible food, great drinks, always fun atmosphere!! Whether you're dining or having a cocktail. One of my favorite hotels in the country with exceptional service and over-the-top concierage. I am so happy they came to Pittsburgh. Even though the rooftop bar (Biergarten) was closed due to weather, the party didn't stop downstairs at the Commoner. You can check out the picture is of the foods that we had for dinner which was; the lamb shank, which falls so delicately off the bone. The chicken which was so tender and juicy. The best burger in Pittsburgh and no doubt you can eat the bun we just choose not to. And not photographed was the tartar appetizer, deviled egg appetizer, and amazing Virginia oysters.

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    I expected wonderful things from this restaurant, and was sorely disappointed. Visiting Pittsburgh for the weekend and wanted to take my guest somewhere more unique than Market Square- I am regretting my decision. The hostesses were very friendly-though we didn't have reservations, and the restaurant was nearing the end of brunch and was fairly empty, we were given the option of the bar table or the chef's table. We sat at the high top and watched as two other groups that came in after us and sat at the bar tables had their drink orders and food orders in before us. Once we ordered, our food came out fairly quickly, but our waiter disappeared without giving us time to ask for more coffee. He did not come back until we were finished eating, though he stopped several times to make sure the single blonde girl at the table next to us had all the water she could ask for. I got the bacon beni, which had two hard boiled eggs instead of runny ones, and some very greasy potatoes on the side. I know I didn't sign up for a healthy breakfast, but this was really disappointing. My guest got the mess beni, which she didn't eat much of due to it's greasiness. I wish our waiter had bothered to stop and ask how everything was so I could be reviewing the restaurant's great customer service, but no one asked why we sent away two plates of half eaten food. Oh well.

    (2)

  • Christy C.

    All the buzz about The Commoner had me very curious... and since I'm always up for a good Sunday brunch, my roommate and I made this our dining destination yesterday! We were able to get an early reservation at 9:30am, which is more on the breakfast side of the day, but we were glad to get in nonetheless. When we arrived, the hostess seated us in a cute little corner booth that had plenty of room for us, our big winter coats and scarves. Plus the booths were super comfy! Our waiter, Ben, was over right away and offered coffee, juice and water. A coffee for my roommate and a water for myself, he was back before I could even blink and filled our glasses. We decided on the Bloody Mary bar to start, and to be honest: you could get away with this as your meal! They have EVERYTHING on their Bloody Mary bar, most of which is house-made and prepared. The infused vodkas range from bacon to lemongrass, and there is surely something for everyone. Sausage, salami, more olives than I even knew existed, pickled veggies, LITTLE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES (I'm still dying over these)... the list goes on and on. Ben even gave us 2 plates to add more garnishes to, since it's rather easy to overfill your glass with the goodies. For our meals, which might not even have been necessary considering the buffet we were partaking in, I ordered the Bacon Beni (house made english muffin, house cured bacon, pork belly, and the most perfect poached egg I've ever seen) and Shannon ordered the Pierogi and Eggs. I will be honest, I was stuffed to the max by the time our actual food arrived, but the Bacon Beni was superb and I somehow managed to eat almost all of it. I can't wait to get back here and try their lunch and/or dinner menus, since everything seems so good! Ben was an absolutely wonderful waiter and was so attentive and kind to us the entire time we were there. I will most definitely ask to be seated with him when I go back! The restaurant manager even stopped by to see how everything was, and he was pleasant as well. Food is a huge part of the experience, but the superb service is also a "make or break" factor in deciding whether I'll return somewhere... in this case, I will absolutely be back!

    (4)

  • Amanda C.

    The Commoner is a delightful new addition to the ever expanding Pittsburgh restaurant scene. The entrance is well set out with a view expanding the entire dining area. Lighting is soft and you are greeted by the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen. There is no shortage of seating options - shared family style and individual high-top, lower round, booth, bar as well as chef observation tables. Consistent with some of the new bars popping up, they have beer, wine and cocktails on tap. Interesting, each wine is kept at a different temperature and oxygenated to a different percentage. Unfortunately, there's no happy hour but the atmosphere and drink selections make up for it. Diverse menu selection with a English Pub focus. Highly recommend the liver mousse, steak and ale pie and the toffee pudding. I can still taste the toffee pudding -- sweet, decadent, gooey deliciousness! Five gold stars to John, our server! He was attentive, well informed and more than happy to answer all our questions. He chatted to us about the temperature and oxygenation of the wines and briefed us on how we could easily make the steak and ale pie ourselves - detailing the ingredients and giving a short 'how to.' Overall, it was a excellent experience. Delightful atmosphere, knowledgable and friendly staff, great food and cocktails. Highly recommend visiting next time you're downtown!

    (4)

  • Nina P.

    THIS IS A BAR REVIEW...AND IT'S BAD CAUSE MICTHER'S RYE AND MICHTER'S BOURBON ARE 2 DIFFERENT THINGS PEOPLE! HELLO! Hi My Loves! I was out on a wild night with The Wild Bunch and came to The Commoner cause friends had a suite in the The Hotel Monaco for an anniversary party. Foodies have been a buzz for the chef of The Commoner but word on the street was that this was a whiskey bar. WRONG! This is a bunch of nuts & bolts pretty cocktail waitresses that don't know what classic drinks contain. A true test is a simple one...an old fashioned with RYE! Scan what they have at the bar...ok I guess we will go with Michter's...who also happens to make bourbon. I SPECIFICALLY said RYE...I got freaking bourbon! Which by some bartenders bibles would not necessarily be wrong per say but I asked for the damn rye lady! THEN...I took a right turn to girl drinks...lavender nasty something...I went to the B Team...champagne cocktail...UGGG! I'M ON THE LOVE BOAT! There was no way I was gonna eat here. Now I will say...::gramma voice:: the bathrooms were amazing! Clean and beautiful! The layout of the restaurant is odd a lot of wasted dead floor space. I'll try the roof top bar next time around but honestly I'm not going back there unless someone else is paying. Still can't beat Tender! Love you, Muah

    (2)

  • Jonathan D.

    My friend and I recently had the opportunity to dine at The Commoner for dinner. I was not only excited to dine at the restaurant, but to check out the public spaces of the Monaco Hotel. The restaurant is located one level below the lobby and is tastefully decorated, which I wouldn't have expected anything less. We arrived a little early for our 6p reservation, but were promptly seated. Their food menu is separated into categories: nibbles (appetizers), slurp (soup/oysters), chomp (salad), graze (larger, vegetable sides), feed (meats), and wood oven (flat breads, etc). On the other side of the menu, you will find a wide array of cocktail choices. For myself, I ordered the Commoner Old Fashioned. This $12 cocktail is made with smoky pork belly infused bourbon and oaked maple house made BBQ bitters. I enjoyed my drink, but didn't love it. Perhaps personal preference? We didn't get too crazy with our dinner choices, instead opting for their meat board ($16) as an appetizer, and the simple greens ($8) and hearty greens ($11) for our main meals. I'm hopeful that had I opted to order something a bit more, well, interesting, that I would have more to say. You would think, however, that at a restaurant like The Commoner they would churn out an amazing salad, even if it's called the simple greens. Unfortunately, they did not. It's pretty basic, people, and for $8 you're not getting much. Head over to Hello Bistro for a yummier and more fulfilling salad. Overall, my guest wasn't impressed and noted that he wouldn't go back. As for me, I'd definitely give them another go. The table next to us ordered dessert and it looked scrumptious. Until next time.

    (3)

  • Jodi L.

    I love the ambiance and vibe. The food was hot fresh and amazingly good. However; I sat at the bar and the service was poor at best and it was the worst Moscow mule I have ever had. I had no one ask how my food was and no one follow up to see if I needed anything else. Still waiting for my ketchup for my fries....and waiting...and waiting.....and they are beyond cold and hard....still waiting. Check please. While it could have been a regular; as often as I live at the Omni; I think I'll stick to the tap room. Two may be generous; but business partners of mine raved about this place so maybe table service is better. Kudos for the Incredibly clever food presentation.

    (2)

  • Isa T.

    We tried this place on a trip to Pittsburgh and loved it!!! Great atmosphere, delicious food and a real good service. What else do you need :) We started off with the Sausage Deviled Eggs appetizer. It was tasty and something new for us. Since we weren't too hungry we decided to split an entrée and a desert later. We decided in the Steak and Ale Pie. The meat is just perfect and deliciously juicy with a nice and crisp crust. Our waiter helped us out so much with drinks - and got us some good virgin mojitos. The recommendation to go with the Sticky Toffee Pudding was great. It was gooey sweet and the highlight of the meal. Finally our waiter actually gave us a few more tips which places to check out later once he heard we were new in town. If that's not customer service, what is ;) This place is a must try!

    (5)

  • Serena T.

    The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because of the sticky toffee pudding, which is a date cake with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream. It's so rich and a large portion that I encourage folks to share. Rest of my meal deserved a 2...maybe 3. I went here with a friend for lunch and tried the Cauliflower sandwich which was totally underwhelming. It needed a little something something...perhaps something pickled to offset the dry and monotone tastes of the hummus and cauliflower (they seriously had no flavor to them). I thought the pesto would give it some flavor but the unflavored cauliflower and hummus overpowered the sandwich. While we had no issues with the service from our waiter, I think this establishment needs to train their staff better on what is and not in their food. My friend that I was with has a nut allergy (tree nuts) and when looking over the dessert menu I asked if the sticky toffee pudding has any nuts. Our waiter responded yes and so I asked what kind as the description didn't mention anything about nuts. He told us it had a "date nut"...ummm, what the hell is a date nut?!? I told him that a date is a fruit but was second guessing myself since I didn't want my friend to have an allergic reaction. When the dessert came, I tried it to see if it had any actual nuts in it or nut flavoring - both of which it did not contain. My friend had some without any reaction because dates are FRUIT not nuts.

    (4)

  • David B.

    Not much of a wine list yet, but they are just days old and I'm sure they will add some more wines to their list. But they have some really great beers on tap. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The food is creative and delicious. It's a bit noisy, but at least it's lively. The decor is very stylish and inviting. It's a large room in the lower level of the hotel, however it's not drab in any way. This is a great place to take a group.

    (4)

  • Derry R.

    This was my second visit to the new Commoner. One thing that I do not understand about this restaurant is their table reservation policy. Both times I have been lead to believe that they are squeezing me in due to last minute reservations. After I arrive, there are tables open throughout the dining room. Ok fine, maybe tables are reserved for larger parties or such. Both times, no one ever sat down at these empty tables. Is this a marketing ploy to create absent hype? Anyway, the food was very good tonight. I am a sucker for french onion anything. I wasn't that hungry so that's the only thing I ordered with a Coke. I was very satisfied and would recommend this entree if you are looking for a lower ticket selection.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    We decided to go to The Commoner before going to show at the Benedum. I did like the ambiance inside and how it was decorated, though it's an exposed ceiling so when it started to fill up with the dinner crowd it got very noisy. Appetizers: Scampi & Chips - 3 huge shrimp which were fried and very tender served with a handful of waffle fries. It was good, I would order that again. We also had the Roots & Tubers appetizer - it was okay, nothing special. I wouldn't order it again. Entree - Onion Soup Burger - this was just okay. It was filling but REALLY lacked flavor. It came with french fries which our server said take 3 days to make. I ate a few with their homemade ketchup and wasted the rest. There was nothing special about them. My friend had the skirt steak which he enjoyed. Service - our waiter was friendly enough but not that attentive. He came back to the table a few times but never offered to refill my soda so I had to ask him. He would stand around talking to other waiters near the bar when we needed plates cleared, refills, etc. He was good at explaining items on the menu, though he recommended the burger I had and it was lackluster. I would not plan to come back to this establishment because I was really underwhelmed and for the money we spent we could have had a meal that I KNOW would have been amazing closer to the cultural district at Butcher & the Rye or the like.

    (2)

  • Amy C.

    Yum, yum, yum! We were hearing wonderful things about The Commoner and I tried once before to get reservations but was not able to do so. I planned a little further in advance and we got in. Wow! From beginning to end, from decor to staff to food, this place has it all! We got to The Commoner right at our scheduled reservation time. We were greeted promptly by a friendly hostess and were seated immediately. At first me and the hubby were taken aback by how close the tables are but once the food comes out everything and everyone else fades away. The decor is chic, cool, & neat. We loved the aged, faded, wood floors and the steel columns & beams with awesome low lighting that seems to spotlight your food. We were greeted by our friendly waiter who was attentive and knowledgeable. We ordered an app to start: the meat board. It was good but I am not sure we would get it again when we go back. It contained prosciutto, pâtés, duck confit, and, what can best be described as a mouse-like meat blend (yes, I know that does not sound great) but paired with the grilled bread, out of this world! For my entree I got the brick chicken which was served on a bed of garlic roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts covered with a burnt leek purée. We have never, in our lives, had chicken so tender & moist. It was a huge chicken and to have it cooked perfectly-awesome! We loved it. The hubby got the steak frites. He picked the rib eye, again, the meat was cooked perfectly. Although he noted when we go back he is going to get the chicken. His fries were delicious too, well seasoned and a little crispy, terrific! For our dessert our waiter recommended the sticky toffee pudding and me & the hubby both got our own (no way I am sharing if it is that good). Oh my goodness! Heaven! We would stop back just for this. Phenomenal! The steamed date cake was just amazing! And it was topped with toffee sauce and rye vanilla ice cream. I could eat this stuff for days and not get tired of it. Even my drink was good. I got a plum tarragon shrubble, light and sweet! All in all yummy and scrumptious and we will visit again and again even if it's only for the sticky toffee pudding (did I mention that I loved the pudding?!).

    (5)

  • Mark P.

    I was a little worried because the place is on the fancy side and I wasn't dressed for the occasion. I sat at the bar anyhow. The server was so pleasant and helpful with food and wine suggestions. I ordered the shrimp and chips. The shrimp was HUGE. Literally the biggest I'd ever had or seen in my life. My friend even joked that it was fake. Lol. Also, they have a house ketchup that's to die for. They could totally give Heinz a run for their money. The food was well priced too. The wine, on the other hand, was much more than I anticipated. $11 for the glass I had. At any rate, I would go again, but I'll be getting a cocktail this time. And some ketchup to take back to NYC :-)

    (4)

  • Michele S.

    It is my first time visiting Pittsburgh. I was looking for a place to have brunch, was trying to eat at meat and potatos but the wait was 45 minutes so we decided to try this new place that was opened 3 months ago. It is located inside of a hotel..open basement of the hotel lobby..plenty of seats and the decor is beautiful. NO WAIT was needed..awesome! The best thing I like about this place is its customer service Our server was friendly and professional. I had mimosa at first which is delicious, typical mimosa good, but didn't have anything special i want to comment on it We ordered a lamb beni ..it is delicious..poached eggs and chopped pieces of lamb meats on top of an English muffin..poached eggs were done perfectly..meats was flavorful and tender also ordered the PA burger..mixture of beef and lamb patty...the first time around, ,I felt the patty was burned and tasted really bitter...I brought this concern to our server, and she offered to replace the burger...so the second time around, the manager brought out a perfectly cooked burger, juicy and not burnt at all! I would recommend this place for friends because of its decor(really unique),, quality of the food and its great service

    (4)

  • E H.

    Nice place; nice décor/feel and great staff. Food was good. Everyone was raving about the French toast. I recommend skipping it -- Irish soda bread is too dense to absorb French toast custard, so the toast is just dry bread, really. Trust me, do not order this. Everything else was enjoyable.

    (3)

  • Erin N.

    It's difficult to not jump immediately to that sticky toffee pudding. +1 and I had made reservations here before a weeknight hockey game. Luckily, I am a nebshit and had to go through the new Hotel Monaco. After seeing what the little boutique Sephora lookin' spot's deal was (I still couldn't tell you), I found that is how you have to go. We watched more than a couple parties come in through Strawberry Way--you know, what's listed as the address--and be overlooked. Um. A member of the management watched an older couple walk in, be confused, and leave without saying a word to them. This woman also sat us at the very waaay end counter looking into a prep area (weird), but that's a whole 'nother tiff. We did luck out sitting in the bad kids section though, as it was much more quiet and our server was INCREDIBLE. Super helpful and patient, even though she definitely did not have time for my indecisiveness. On her recommendation, I had a buck and a brace first which ended up being extra sweetened cider and vodka as they were out of the bison grass vodka that it should have been made with. Cider definitely was not the Arsenal bone dry either. Kind of lame. But! I tried again with the pandan rickey. A slightly boozy grass seltzer with a tiny bitty hint of gingerish lime?! Yes. Why isn't everything ~infused~ with pandan? I guess obsessing over my new favorite plant got me in the mood for more, as I ordered the green plate special. This dish was my savior; everything else seemed to be pig, burger, or brussel sprouts. You get these little seitan disks with three veggie sides. So much food! Veggie sides include mashies ("champ potatoes"), yaknow, and half an order of that charred cauliflower you all love so much. The dish wasn't too flavorful, but I don't believe it was necessarily supposed to be, and I am into that. We didn't get bread though. Just sayin'. Since he is predictable, +1 had the onion burger. The bun is apparently dipped in the onion soup and given aioli spread. He ate the damn thing completely, and even commented on how good the actual burger was (as sometimes there's a skimp on the meat when there is all kinds of other fancy stuff going on it). His fries that came with that burger were all me though. It sounds crude, but they were like Long John Silver's fries .. which is awesome. Get over yourself. I ate 'em all. And, of course, we had the toffee pudding as dessert. I know everyone raves about it anyway, but we need to highlight that rye vanilla ice cream-- slightly less creamy than normal with a beany hint. I don't even know what that means and who cares. Makes a woman want everything a la mode forever. I have too much to say for The Commoner. I thought this would be more involved, more British, more .. not for Pittsburgh, but they do pretty well. It's really like if my slovak grandma and some frou frou chef decided to open a spot. Sounds cute, right? Now if only babi started making her spritzers with pandan.

    (4)

  • Hannah P.

    A lovely brunch. Great atmosphere in the winter. Solid drinks. Hip setting.

    (4)

  • MaryAlice R.

    I came here with my Dad and Girlfriend as a birthday celebration. We thought it would be a good place to go since it is a new place and I have heard great reviews. I rdered a gin a house made tonic, it was pretty good, but I guess I am an old fashioned girl and would prefer my regular ol' Tanqueray and tonic. For food, I ordered the steak and ale pie since I saw a lot of reviews on here and it looked amazing. Of course it was!! It had great flavor to it and it was the perfect portion size. My dad and girlfriend both ordered burgers, according to them they were over done (they both ordered medium) so if you are a person who likes pink/red do not order medium. Even just looking at the meat I could tell it was overcooked, but they both said the flavors were there and that it would be a perfect burger if it wasn't dry. I would come here again and try something else. The ambiance was really great as well!!

    (4)

  • Kristy A.

    If I had walked in and gone straight to the table, this would have been a 5. But I went to the bar first...and had to deduct a star because of it. I almost deducted two. Let's start with the dinner. The table was roomy and comfy for our party of 7. The menu looked great and I wanted to order a whole bunch of stuff. I pared it down to the Brussels sprouts and the harissa skirt steak with fries. The Brussels were great - charred, but will just a little crunch left - and were served in a cute cast iron crock. The entrée was ample and equally delicious. I ate every bite even though it was really very large. The steak had a nice flavor and was cooked nicely. What topped off that dish though was the house made steak sauce. It was served in a little ceramic gravy boat shaped like a cow. I finished the madness off with the white pot, which was good, but not something I would order again (mostly because I sampled the sticky toffee pudding and it was way better). My companions had the crab mac and cheese (solid, but not my fave), the short rib pot pie (I didn't try it), and a burger (also didn't try it). We also sampled some wine, champagne cocktails, and a few beers - all good options. Service was excellent. Katie Z was very helpful and attentive and we had several others come to help with water, plates, etc. So what was up with the bar? Fruit flies and a smell, that's what. When I sat down, I kept getting a waft of something stale (maybe a clogged drain or a dirty drink well?). And then I look and there are fruit flies everywhere. Crawling on the drink well and the bar tools, etc. Gross. The bar staff seemed oblivious and were not taking any steps to mitigate it at all. I was not very excited to dine after seeing all that, but I had a group of friends coming and decided to suck it up. The dinner won me over, but they need to get that bar situation under control before I'd want to go back.

    (4)

  • Sara R.

    Lots of hype about this trendy new place in the 'Burgh, lead to a very disappointing meal. The only plus for me was the atmosphere. Drink prices were out of this world. Appetizers- avoid the oysters and the wrapped hard boiled egg. Main course- the Porterhouse was tough, gritty and unseasoned. Could have doubled as an athletic shoe. The chicken breast was undercooked and slimy. The only decent item was the butternut squash side dish.

    (2)

  • Rachel C.

    Negroni on tap, yes please! You had me at that! This was obviously a highly anticipated restaurant for multiple reasons. The location, inside the Hotel Monaco, and the chef, coming from an afar land (Washington, DC that is) to make his mark in the Burgh. Both, very exciting reasons to visit. The place screams hip. They seem to think of every detail when coming up with a concept, down to the mis-matched serveware. I was super pumped with the freshly baked bread basket offering, as that can set the tone of any great evening. I was really into the pickle bread, which had real pieces of pickle in it! I ordered the Cedar Plan Scottish Salmon for my entree. It came with butternut squash champ potatoes and celery salad. I had no idea what the potatoes would be like, but love butternut squash, so I was in! I think I would have gone for a tad more butternut squash, as I really didn't taste them with the powerful potency of the potatoes. The salmon was good, and well cooked too. But, I think I was expecting a more impressive dish in terms of flavors. We ordered the bread pudding and cookie tray for dessert. I had in mind it would be grandma's cookies for the tray, when it was really an upscale mix of cookies. The bread pudding was very good though. You can't go wrong with warm bread and ice cream. I feel like with all the hype, I was expecting to be blown away. While everything was good, I'm excited to see where they take the restaurant as the months progress. I've definitely got eyes on the bar scene very soon!

    (4)

  • DJ J.

    Good food! Good service! Way to load! Why are all the newer places not taking noise into consideration when they design and build the restaurant! We tried a couple of appetizers, the mussels and cheddar board were very good. Liked the apple butter and fried fruit with the cheese board. The Steak & Ale Pie was good with tender short rib and some veggies. We tried two deserts. The banana bread with a delicious banana ice cream and the Whitepot, a classic English bread and butter pudding with creme anglaise, which I found to be just OK.

    (4)

  • Heather B.

    Great waitress. Very accommodating. Seemed like a hot spot for lots of drinking which can make for good people watching but not a quiet dinner by any means. Good the first night, but couldn't even get seated on a fri and staying at the upstairs hotel. Frustrating. Don't try the veggie dish, seitan or whatever chewy thing it was, it was horrible. Great onion soup... Crab Mac & cheese & the toffee desert was good. Menu is somewhat unique so good choice to try a few new things. Just depends on what your looking for. The waitress saved this rating

    (4)

  • Jim O.

    I guess this may have been a case where the four-star reviews had me expecting just a bit more. Don't be fooled by the pub food claims, it's not your standard pub fare. Maybe that's a good thing for some, but for me it was a bit over-the-top. I finally settled for a burger which came over-cooked and tasted quite dry. The presentation was good but that's about it. I gave it one more try the next day for breakfast but again was disappointed by the offerings on the menu. I settled for a yogurt parfait. The homemade granola was very good but very sparsely distributed throughout the parfait which only included a few blueberries on top and was 90% yogurt. Though I stayed for nearly a week, I never returned.

    (2)

  • William K.

    Visiting friends in Pittsburgh and planned a brunch get-together for six on at a far-too-early hour on Saturday morning. Living near the Hotel Monaco in Alexandria, Virginia, and being a fan of its Jackson 20 restaurant, we were very excited to try the new location in Pittsburgh. The hotel lobby was gorgeous with a very unique hanging chandelier, and the restaurant itself balanced Pittsburgh's steely stoicism with the fanciful Prohibition-style decor that I associate with Kimpton locations around the DC Metropolitan area. The restaurant wasn't too busy and the hostess was happy to seat us despite two in our party running late. The four of us ordered drinks while we waited--two Pimm's Cups and two "Man-mosas," or traditional mimosas with a splash of Grand Marnier, that I sometimes order at Jackson 20. The drinks took about ten minutes, but we were still waiting on the last couple to arrive so it wasn't too noticeable. The Pimm's Cups were delicious, but the Mimosas a little too orange juicy and served with a full shot of Grand Marnier on the side rather than a splash in the cocktail. While I knew this spelled trouble and was prepared to switch my drink order, the third couple excitedly joined us with the "Man-mosas," unknowing that each cocktail would be billed at $10 for the mimosa and $12 for the Grand Marnier. Our server was very attentive and happy to split the bill between the couples from the start, so we ordered in suit. She was very knowledgeable about the menu, knowing which items could be prepared gluten-free and while the rest of the table was ordering eggs and pancakes, we opted to share the Foraged Wild Mushroom Soup [without the croutons], the Local Farm Tomatoes salad, and the Mussels [despite using beer in the base of the broth]. The soup was delivered with the croutons, which we spooned out, and was very good. The tomato salad had a very light buttermilk ranch drizzle. The sweetness of the dressing complimented the salty Pennsylvanian Amish blue cheese swimmingly. The mussels were a bit of a disappointment, tasting generic and under-seasoned, and a few of the mussels had not opened up. The mussels would also benefit by being served with a bowl for the shells, which quickly piled up on the side of the salad plate. Our second round of cocktails was better than the first, and luckily no one at the table told me it was far too early for a traditional Last Word. The Bloody Mary had a little more olive brine than I might have liked, but the rest of the table enjoyed them and there is a full Bloody Mary bar for the creative. Overall, brunch was good with the highlights being the space and service. I wouldn't perhaps recommend ordering off menu or you may be surprised with a $22 cocktail or soup with floating croutons. We may check out the rooftop biergarten or try dinner at the restaurant the next time we are in the Steel City.

    (3)

  • Jenny B.

    I am a big fan of the commoner. We ate here the first week they were open, and I think it is the only time in history my husband has ordered three drinks from a bar! They were just SO GOOD! We both had old fashioneds (he had the house bacon infused; I had a "vegetarian" old fashioned that the bartender and I had a good laugh about), and then he tried a couple more cocktails from their list. I had the hearty greens for dinner (a large salad), and was impressed with their veggie selection of entrees. H had a steak and ale pie, and loved it. We will definitely be back--the staff was SO friendly, and we loved the atmosphere. I would recommend it to anyone who wants something a little different from your usual cultural district fare.

    (5)

  • Alex W.

    The Commoner is the beautifully adorned bar and restaurant located just off the lobby of Hotel Monaco. The interior is dimly lit but in the right way with dark wood, beautiful marble and tile work, and a design that lets you know you're where the cool people are. The bar area is located at the front half of the restaurant and gets pretty hopping during happy hour. Their beer selection is great with about 10 rotating drafts that cover a broad spectrum of tastes. This is accompanied by a selection of about 50 bottles, a nice wine list, and some great sounding cocktails. The bartenders, and overall staff were fantastic. Everyone was quick to help without being intrusive. For all of the highlights that the space, service and bar offer, the major downfall is the food. My party tried six different dishes including the romaine salad, mussels, charred cauliflower, ribeye, salmon and skirt steak. Across all of those dishes the only one I might recommend to someone is the charred cauliflower. It's a quarter head of cauliflower, cooked to a delicious, nutty brown on 1-2 sides, then topped with a walnut and sage pesto. Unfortunately the dish lacked seasoning and the pesto didn't offer that flavor punch I was looking for. I ordered the mussels and the Harissa skirt steak. I think that the best part of a mussels dish is the delicious broth in which they are served. This broth had a strange bitterness, and the toast had an off putting, acrid, burnt flavor. For my entrée I had the Harissa skirt steak, medium rare. The only flavor the steak had was the same burnt charcoal taste as the bread, and it was cooked to medium well-well. They offered to replace it, but after tasting the unseasoned ribeye and the mediocre salmon I wasn't looking forward to trying anything else. I'll be back for the bar area, but not for the food.

    (2)

  • Marie B.

    Atmosphere was very nice, but service was very poor. Our server was not friendly and was slow. Drinks and food tasted good, but portions were extremely small. My $12 coconut old fashioned was about an ounce of actual drink coupled with a lot of ice. My husbands $12 Pinot noir was half a normal serving at any other restaurant. The $9 deviled eggs and chi orzo sausage came as three and had the thinnest slice of sausage you could barely taste it. The PA burger was just ok. All in all very disappointed in the Commoner. Will not recommend to anyone or be returning. The hotel Monaco though was very appealing. It's nice to see a hotel like this in Pittsburgh.

    (1)

  • Robbin B.

    We went as a group of 13 with reservations and our table was waiting for us. The food was excellent. I had the steak and ale pie and the meat was tender and the "gravy" had a deep rich flavor. Highly recommend it. The place was LOUD however and almost impossible to carry on a conversation with anyone but the person sitting closest to you. We went to have conversation over dinner and it was virtually impossible.

    (4)

  • Jaye L.

    Only been there once for brunch, but I think it's safe to say their food deserves at least 4 stars. Love the benedicts and liver pave.

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    The best beef brisket sandwich of all time. Accompanied by fresh cut fries and house made ketchup.

    (4)

  • Keith M.

    A co-worker and I visited this place for lunch today which is the first day they are serving lunch. They've been open for a few weeks for dinner. YOU SHOULD ENTER VIA THE HOTEL MONACO ENTRANCE, NOT THE STRAWBERRY WAY ENTRANCE. Make a left, and go down the stairs, the hostess stand is at the bottom. The ambiance is modern and upscale, and it seems like it would be a great place to have a couple drinks after work. The service was fine, and a first day mistake of switching our entrees with another group ended up with us sampling three items instead of two, which was fine by me. :) The Western PA omelet was good, but $14 for a chipped ham omelet seems like a shaky value. The corner brisket sandwich served with Au Jus was very tasty, although they could be more generous with the brisket. I would definitely order it again, although maybe next time I'll ask for double meat! :) The lamb hash was more like a spread, and there was very little meat at all. The bread-to-ingredient ratio was horrible. Again, for $15, you'd expect something more substantial. The lamb hash seemed to have some overly strong red wine reduction, and the flavor was more ODD than good. I wouldn't order this again. Overall, I think this place has potential, but the food and value is just questionable. For apps/drinks, I think you'd be fine. For lunch/dinner, you might want to keep looking. I'll come back and re-review this place once it has some time to settle down.

    (3)

  • Jacque R.

    Great urban Kimpton environment. In the open basement of the hotel lobby. Beautiful and plenty of seating for small and large groups. Turkey Sandwich = superb. For a lunch portion, it is large. Easily can split. Great flavor and a nice rendition of Thanksgiving meal.

    (4)

  • Simone H.

    As I am always thrilled to try the newest swanky spots in the city, I was especially thrilled to try the Commoner on a Friday afternoon. As we arrived when it opened [5 pm - lunch is not open yet] we were seated at a table that did not hold a reservation until 7pm. [it is wise to book ahead until the opening crowd settles] The table comfortably fitted the 6 of us but i must note that I was unhappy for most of the happy hour as there was a consistent draft coming from the staircase which left me shivering. The waiter was a thrill, personable, with a way with his addressings [I personally do not mind being called dear and darling, however I could see the boys giving him weird looks] and he advised us promptly on the rotating craft beer draft selection and some of his personal favorites. I was happy to have a bottle of the Blithering Idiot, a singular positive about winter: an increase of stout beers on every menu. With it being 6 pm we naturally sampled some of the food as well. One at our table ordered the Onion Soup Burger which looked delectable and received a positive nod of appreciation and i had two appetizers of the Butternut Squash Champ Potatoes and the Brown Butter Brussel Sprouts. While enjoying the potatoes, I did not find them particularly special and almost forgot there was butternut squash in them, however I found the Brussel sprouts well seasoned and not drenched [:)] Overall the experience was delightful and well paced. I will gladly return at another time.

    (4)

  • Matt E.

    I ve been to the Commoner a dozen times in the past 2 months because of work related business trips. Good food, too trendy for its own good. I walk in like I usually do and the place is half empty on a Tuesday at 530 pm. Ask for table and I get the usual "we only have the chefs table available" which is somewhat cramped space next to the serving counter for the kitchen. I ask if I can have a real table and they no... Go figure. I ve been here a dozen times and I ve never gotten a table. Not sure why... I am not the ugly customer you try to hide. So I am sitting here at this chefs counter and it's been 25 minutes... No waiter yet. I see all the staff goofing around because it's not busy.. How long should I sit here before I go give the hostess a hard time for sitting me in an unstaffed section and refusing to give me a table when half are empty? Good food... Crummy service

    (1)

  • Natasha H.

    I really wanted to love this place, but it just wasn't in the cards. The space itself is so super cool- so hip- that I thought I was going to love it. The interior is slightly below street level. The lights are dim and the decor is dark and kinda romantic. It definitely has the feel of a restaurant that I would enjoy. When I finally went for dinner, I found it to be "just okay." I really was expecting to be blindsided by amazing flavors and creativity, but I just wasn't blown away by the food. Let me that the drinks that I started off with were fantastic. I had the champagne cocktail with bitters (yum!) and then the hibiscus gin and tonic (double yum and so pretty!). Both drinks put a nice little smile on my face, as neither was overly sweet. We ordered shrimp for an appetizer, which was good, but heavily breaded. For dinner I had brussels sprouts and the crab shells and cheese. I would have enjoyed my meal more if everything hadn't been so oily and incredibly heavy. The sprouts were literally soaked in olive oil and the crab shells were more slimy than cheesy. Neither dishes were home runs for me at all. Maybe it's my fault for not looking at the menu prior to dinner, but I was disappointed in how limited the selection was for those who don't eat red meat. However, taking into consideration that this is a new restaurant, I'll definitely give it another shot. When I do, I hope that it will be a five star review!

    (3)

  • Bryan J.

    Great lunch today. Service was very good. Prompt and courteous. Food was very good. Cauliflower sandwich was exceptional. My friend had the brisket sandwich which was also very good. I've been to the Commoner several times now and as they get the kinks out of their process, it is getting better. Looking forward to dinner there soon.

    (5)

  • Henry Y.

    Other than standout service and a warm vibe to the place, I wasn't terribly impressed by the food. The steak and ale pie was wholly unimpressive...the braised short rib was tough, the crust just left memories of salt, as did the pie filling itself. The pork cheek was somewhat better but belied it's nice plating with a dull flavor. The beer list is great and they had a wide variety of good choices.

    (2)

  • Jennifer G.

    I expected so much more of this place. While everything was okay, it all tasted bland. The chopped liver mostly tasted of fat and not that liver taste I was craving. The bread served with it was tasty, warm and perfectly toasted, and the mustard was pretty good. Sadly the star of the dish fell flat. The steak and ale pie was pretty, but the short ribs were stringy and dare I say a little dry and there was not much more to it than a watery gravy. I think there may have been an issue in the kitchen as two tables next to me sent dishes back (one cold, one overdone) The best dish of the evening was the crab pasta, which had a fair amount of crab, though lacked any texture. Beer selection is great, though all the taps were down. There were still many nice bottles to choose from. Cocktails were also done well, though the odd pacing of the dinner limited our imbibing.

    (2)

  • Brandon F.

    I walk down Strawberry Way every day after work as I head from the US Steel Tower to my bus stop, so I've been passing by the windows that look down into The Commoner for months now. I have been so eager to try it after basically watching its construction, and especially since the interesting lighting and finishes were installed. My roommate's mom was in town visiting this past weekend, and we decided on The Commoner for dinner after an afternoon spent at the orchid and bonsai show at Phipps. You enter the restaurant through the main entrance of the Monaco hotel which seemed very interesting in itself, with a very unique (and huge) chandelier of dried flowers hanging in the lobby. I loved the style of the restaurant; the dark finishes and low lighting give it a upscale feel, but the high ceilings and general spaciousness keep it from becoming stuffy. We were loving the hardwood floors which looked as though they had been branded with a geometric pattern. Very interesting and different. We took a chance by walking in right after opening (5PM) on a Sunday and were told there were no open tables due to reservations (I guess they are doing well!), however there were ample bar and kitchen-view seating options available. We chose to sit overlooking the kitchen, which was actually a pretty entertaining experience. It was kind of like watching Food Network, except in real life--no complaints here! We started with the daily oysters and the brown butter Brussels sprouts. I am by no means an expert on oysters, so I don't remember the specifics of that day's selection, but they were great. Presentation was also great, and we enjoyed the pickled vegetables that were served as a garnish. The sprouts were buttery and delicious, and there were plenty to split between three of us. I had the steak and ale pie for my entree, consisting of braised short rib and vegetables in a delicious and flaky suet crust. Perfect comfort food! The crust was perfectly baked and the filling was piping hot. I loved the cute penguin pie vent! The meat was tender and practically falling apart. The gravy was also delicious. The pie was the perfect size--I had no trouble finishing it by myself. I enjoyed all of this with a gin and tonic, made with the Commoner House tonic. They also offered an Elderflower tonic, which sounded great as well. Nice selection of cocktails--I will definitely be bringing some coworkers here sometime for a post-workday cocktail. Overall I really enjoyed the food, the friendly service, and the ambiance. The Commoner is already a new favorite of mine and I'm looking forward to my next visit!

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    Ambience 5 stars- this place doesn't feel like Pittsburgh, food 3-4 stars, service marginal 1-2. With all the buzz, I had reasonably high expectations. I booked a reservation for 12:30 brunch today (Sunday). Throughout the meal, our waiter primarily ignored his tables and chatted with what I assume to be management throughout our meal. At one point, another patron actually got up to ask him for something because he had been so neglectful of his tables. I could see the waiter stand from my seat and watched him spend most of the time chatting. I typically tip 20 to 25% and he certainly did not receive that type of compensation for his blatant laziness. The food was quite good. There are a wide variety of brunch and lunch options. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meals. However, the timing of our food took exceptionally long for brunch and was debatably worth the wait. No apology from our waiter or assurance that our food was on the way. He wasn't paying any attention anyways. The ambience goes without saying. The drink menu looked to be interesting and creative but the attitude of the staff (I won't get into the blah reception we received from the hostess - not even a hello?!?) will ensure that I don't break my neck to get back here.

    (3)

  • Jessica D.

    I haven't visited the Commoner for anything other than Brunch. However - Brunch has always been amazing. Hands down one of the best brunches I've had. My friend and I both, almost always, get the Beni's. I lean towards the amazing - seriously - amazing - bacon Beni. You can never have too much bacon! The only frustrating experience I've had the couple times I've had brunch - they always tell us to wait at the bar till our table is ready. Every.single.time - the table is ready upon us arriving, but they want that money spent at the bar. To the point - one time - they forgot us. We sat at the bar for almost 45 minutes - granted they gave us both a free Mimosa to make up for the error. The food is amazing, the Mimosas are amazing. I will be back. Many. Many Times!

    (4)

  • Turd F.

    Brunch was ok. The Bloody Mary bar was really well done. And our bartender was very very good. Do a better job with the menu, don't fire that kid, and you've got yourself a winner.

    (4)

  • Matthew N.

    After all the hype of this new restaurant, we had to give it a try. The atmosphere was "speak easy" like as the entrance is hardly marked. On to the food.... I ordered the skirt steak & chips and the wife ordered the leg of lamb. We split a side of shells and cheese. Everything was satisfactory. The big difference maker was the waitress Katie. She explained all of our questions and was very attentive. I know I read reviews about service being less than desirable, but that wasn't the case. We will return to the commoner!

    (5)

  • Sandy F.

    I love that we finally have a new hip trendy hotel and restaurant in Pittsburgh. I have been to The Commoner for dinner and also drinks and appetizers. Both experiences were good other than the wait. I went yesterday for brunch and was very disappointed! I had the pierogi and poached eggs. The egg yolks were not poached, they were fully cooked (cooking 101), the pierogis were burnt and the potatoes were hard as if they had sat there all morning. My friend ordered the lamb with poached eggs and they were cooked as well as hard potatoes. I would say if you are going to go, drinks and apps are the way to go.

    (3)

  • Deirdre G.

    It was our servers first week & he was very accommodating. I was really in the mood for a burger, so I ordered the PA burger. It hit the spot for sure... a lot larger than I pictured and the fries were fantastic. They have a "special" ketchup and it's delicious with burger/fries. The couple next to us said they had the bartender make their Bloody Mary's with the "special" ketchup and it was phenomenal. Although I did not try the bloody mary's, they seemed to thoroughly enjoy them. I knocked them one star because our server as well as another server could not identify all the meats/pickled vegetables on the meat board appetizer when we asked.... Other than that, the meal was excellent, we all left satisfied. I shall return!

    (4)

  • Haleh M.

    I'm only giving a 1 star for the dessert... We stayed in the hotel and we tried to make a reservation the night before. It was full, so we made one for the next night. The only opening was late at night so we ended up just ordering it in the room. We ordered the brick chicken and it still had the sticker from the grocery store on it. The chicken was completely raw and a mug had a lipstick mark on it. The food was awful but the dessert was decent.

    (1)

  • PJ C.

    I went back and forth between giving them two and three stars. I'm landing on three because this place is still relatively new. Five stars for decor. Five stars for amazing, attentive waitstaff who were friendly and welcoming - they always knew when to check on us without hovering too much. The food was mostly pretty solid - we were there for breakfast on two days where we stayed at the Monaco - but I had egg dishes both days and the eggs were really, really watery and runny. That suggests to me that either they were prepared wrong, or that they came from some sort of prepared egg mix. This is a place that seemed very proud of its cuisine and I had assumed that we were talking about farm-fresh sourcing, but I am not sure that was at all the case. It's a lovely space and we might give it another shot with friends sometime.

    (3)

  • Garrett R.

    Ambiance: incredible. Drinks: elegant. Food: rich and decadent. Dessert: extravagant.

    (4)

  • Barbara D.

    Had the scotch deviled eggs and steak & ale pie for dinner during my stay at the Hotel Monaco earlier this week. Both were pretty good. Nice portions and certainly worth staying and eating if you're in the hotel and don't feel like venturing out. Better than most hotel restaurants, for sure. Would definitely try it again. Minus one star for consolidating everyone to one bar table and making it a bit tight and awkward as the place started to fill up. Plus, with one dude saving 4 seats, it made things a bit crammed.

    (3)

  • Kim P.

    Wonderful dinner. The filling and delicious portion of mussels was enough to satisfy my appetite, but the server's recommendation of the sticky toffee pudding had to be obliged. While two of us couldn't finish it, I am so happy that I indulged. It is all they say it is!

    (5)

  • Yasser R.

    Superb experience. Amazing Bourbon cocktails and I had the lamb... Honestly one of the best meals I've had a while. Impressive place, highly recommended

    (5)

  • AJA J.

    I sauntered into Hotel Monaco on a beautiful Monday afternoon because sauntering is something you can get away with in a Kimpton property. Upon entering the lobby I was directed by two friendly members of the front desk staff to The Commoner downstairs. The décor can best be described as a modern/retro feel where the sounds of "Mad Men" can be heard alongside the clickety-clacks of "The Devil Wears Prada." In any case, I like it. Fortunately, my lunch matched the impressive interior, as did the incredible service provided by a server with a smile so wide I feared for her facial muscles. I ordered the Cauliflower Sandwich and my guest enjoyed the Crab Shells & Cheese. What exactly is a Cauliflower Sandwich, you ask? This cauliflower sandwich (as if I've ever had another) was comprised of a thick steak of a cauliflower head, sliced in half, roasted to perfect and smothered in pesto and hummus on grilled bread. For $12 including a healthy portion of greens, I couldn't complain. You can throw down $12 at Au Bon Pain and enjoy half the quality of this artisanal delight. Don your Sunday best and give The Commoner a try, where the food, ambiance and service are anything but common.

    (4)

  • Kate K.

    My husband and I love trying new restaurants in the area but we were particularly excited about The Commoner and it certainly didn't disappoint. This was by far one of the most amazing meals that we've had the opportunity to experience together. We started off with the 'Scottish Deviled Egg' which turned out to be the best one we've ever had (sorry mom)! My husband chose the 'French Onion Soup' as his next course and I decided to try the daily soup which turned out to be 'Cream of Carrot'. I fell in love with this soup after the first spoonful and devoured every last bite. I selected the 'Crab Shells and Cheese' as my entree while my husband chose the 'Steak and Ale Pie'. Our server suggested the 'Charred Cauliflower' to share and we're so happy she did because the presentation alone was phenomenal! Our entrees were equally delicious and I ended up taking home half of mine because it was so filling. We ended our dinner with 'The Crumble', a perfect combination of apples, butternut squash and lemon ricotta. We also enjoyed a few specialty cocktails throughout our two hour experience with my favorite being something with gin and blackberry. Clearly I had a one cocktail too many because I can't remember the name! We're already planning our next trip back and I hope you start planning yours after this review!

    (5)

  • Mj M.

    Great rooftop but drinks are a lite pricey. A great place for a group as their are tons of giant board games to play for free.

    (4)

  • A Michael M.

    Had the salmon and orange/arugula salad which was excellent But..restaurant is too noisy

    (3)

  • Richard W.

    The Commoner is a great addition to downtown's restaurant / bar scene. I suggest you make reservations as its popularity has not waned. I've been there for brunch twice and found both the service, food and drinks to be top notch. The Chorizo Mesi is a great and dish I highly recommend trying it if you are there for brunch. Also cool is the fact that they offer three different types / flavors of tonic (for G&T's) which is a 1st for me in Pittsburgh.

    (4)

  • Laura H.

    Last week I had been thinking about how I had not had a really good Sunday brunch in awhile so I, on a whim, decided to see if the new hot spot in town, The Commoner, had any openings for my bf and I for Sunday brunch. Luckily, we were able to be squeezed in at 1pm this past Sunday. It was very crowded upon arrival and we were put at a table that I felt was a bit too close to the surrounding tables on either side but being it was so crowded, we were ok with our location. Our server (I can't remember his name but he provided excellent service throughout our dining experience) came over quickly and greeted us, taking our drink order right away. After reading other reviews about their epic bloody mary bar (coupled with the fact my bf had NEVER had a bloody mary before-I know, the horror!) we both went with that. He chose the house Smirnoff vodka, but after hearing about their lemon-thyme, bacon, and rosemary infused vodkas, I had to go with the rosemary. It took quite a long time for him to bring over our vodkas, but once he did, we made our way up to the bar with gaping mouths-sausage, hard boiled eggs, bacon, and-get this-little grilled cheese sandwiches! I totally wish I would have taken more than one grilled cheese bite because WOW these were just such an amazing treat with the bloody mary! They had all kinds of spices, hot sauces, seasonings, pickled veggies, and multiple types of cheese too. Oh and a TON of olives-my favorite accompaniment to a bloody mary! To my rosemary infused vodka, I added smoked tomato juice, blue cheese crumbles, tobasco, green olives, and of course-a piece of a grilled cheese sandwich. My boyfriend chose to do blue cheese crumbles, tobasco sauce, bacon, and a grilled cheese sandwich. Now, it's our fault we both added a tad too much tobasco but other than that fact-OMG these were flippin' amazing! What a way to start out a phenomenal brunch! For our meals, both my bf and I ordered the lamb beni (Braised lamb, house made English muffin, rosemary lamb jus). This dish came with diced potatoes sauteed with red peppers and onions too. The lamb was so tender and flavorful and the eggs on top were, as Christy C. commented, the most perfectly poached eggs I have ever seen! The english muffin was delicious too and was perfect for sopping up the egg yolk. It's very cool they make their own english muffins too! Both of us were full about half way through but we "powered on" and my bf completely cleared his plate eventually, while I only left behind a scant amount of potatoes. By the time we were finished eating, the place had cleared out and we were left with only two other tables for company if that gives any indication just how long it took us to power through the meal :) Both of us made the comment we would love to come back for dinner at some point in the future, however, I am thrilled to add another must dine at option to my usual brunch repertoire here in the "Burgh.

    (4)

  • Bridgette S.

    We sat at the bar with Josh as our bartender and it was AMAZING! Our standard drinks were delicious and then we let him play around and create and it was even better! He was very knowledgeable and personable! Our experience was so enjoyable because he truly enjoyed what he was doing!

    (5)

  • Xin Y.

    This restaurant definitely has a cool vibe and trendy feel. The decor is amazing. We came in on time for our reservations; however, we were seated 45 minutes later. The manager was very kind, checked on us frequently, and bought our first round of drinks. I got the Enoch's penicillin, which was pretty strong, but good. When we were finally sat, we were greeted by our waitress. She was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive our whole meal. Our group is very close so I was able to have a little of everything. We started with pork cheeks and scotch deviled eggs. The pork cheeks were fantastic, a little pricey (you get about 4 bites), but that's expected at a place like this. The scotch eggs were extremely overpowered with horseradish. I like a taste of horseradish, but not that much. The people I was with loved them and are big fans. For all those who love horseradish, this is for you. I got the steak and ale pie. The meat was tender and the flavor was good, but it was extremely salty. I also think mine was a little over done because the top seemed a little burnt (see picture). My friends got the strip steak, onion soup burger, and Pa burger. The Pa burger was my favorite, meat was tender and flavorful, toppings paired wonderfully, and over all very well done. The onion soup burger was good as well, just not as good as the Pa burger. The steak was very tender and cooked well, a little under seasoned, but it came with a decent steak sauce. I usually prefer a well seasoned steak with no sauce, but that's just personal preference. I would say the belle of the ball was the sticky toffee pudding. People are not exaggerating when they say it is delicious. It is a must have. I did order a salad, but some how it got looked over, which ended up being okay because that just saved me room for dessert. Overall, this place is okay. The ambience is to die for. The staff and the service was great. The long wait can happen anywhere and they handled it appropriately. The food, to me, wasn't really anything mind blowing, the only thing that blew me away was the sticky toffee pudding. I would definitely come here again, just maybe for brunch, or I would order something different.

    (3)

  • Laura C.

    I visited The commoner two times because I stayed Monaco hotel.Their dishes were delicious, and the interior is nice and the high ceiling is great. However, the place was really really noise to communicate with my husband at dinner time. Also, the service was a little bit slow and hard to catch servers.

    (4)

  • Meghan C.

    Menu - is fresh and fun, but doesn't require a dictionary! The charred cauliflower is highly recommended. Atmosphere - is vibrant (and doesn't feel like a typical hotel restaurant). There are a variety of options for seating including a bar, chefs table, long high tops, and traditional tables.

    (5)

  • Robinson R.

    Solid restaurant stop. Had the onion burger and sticky toffee. Everything from flavor to service was great.

    (4)

  • Matis A.

    Excellent new option in downtown Pittsburgh. Food and service were equally impressive.

    (5)

  • Alyssa R.

    I had high expectations for The Commoner based on other reviews from various sources. I went for lunch to try to Lamb Hash and was surprisingly disappointed. The hash came on a huge, dry bun, which made each bite about 80% bread. It would have been better if the lamb hash had a strong flavor, but it was very bland and also a little dry. I tried salting it a bit, but then it was just salty and dry. It came with a side of greens which was alright. I personally am a fan of simple salads, but the dish as a whole had no distinct flavors that stood out. Eventually I ditched the bread and ate the hash on it's own, which was an improvement. The best part of my meal was the brussels sprouts I stole off my friend's plate. His open-face turkey sandwich was actually pretty good. It tasted like Thanksgiving on a bun, and the sprouts had a good balance of flavor and texture. Their beer selection was good. I was told to stay away from their cocktails, so I was happy with the beer. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were friendly. No complaints there. I may consider giving this place a second chance, but you would have to twist my arm quite a bit. Overall this was a let-down.

    (2)

  • Mireille M.

    We hit up the Commoner for a weekday lunch. The staff is really friendly and professional. We did not have a reservation (note: make one) but I think since we were checking out the space to have a work-related event - they bent over backward to accommodate the three of us. This place is busy, so be sure to make a reservation. Our waitress, Abigail (I think that was her name) was perfect in every way. Super friendly and efficient with just the right amount of personality to be charming and entertaining. The space is beautifully renovated. The long communal table was made from a slab of marble. It is very bistro like - good energy - but not so loud that you have to shout to have a conversation. I had the lamb hash - this was pretty great. Good flavor and the side salad was nicely dressed and a good contrast. I shared a side of fries - those are amazing and so was the house-made ketchup. I also ordered a Bloody Mary - outstanding. OH, and that sticky toffee pudding everyone raves about? yeah, there's a reason for that... sooooooo good. I am looking forward to coming back!

    (5)

  • Annie C.

    I really enjoyed a date night at The Commoner, but it was quite pricey. The cauliflower was recommended and at first I thought, "huh?" but ended up loving it! The food was really delicious, I just wish I would have had room for dessert! Can't wait to go back after a pay day!

    (4)

  • Manu U.

    At 5:30 it was empty. By 6:30 it was full, so reservations are a must. We sat on the kitchen bar. Nice crowd and it was a little loud, but not typical bar loud. Ambiance is great. Do not sit near the entrance as they only have one door and it is cold in Pittsburgh. Here is what we liked. Scotch Deviled Egg, it was a good Scotch egg with a flavorful yoke. The Cheddar and Meat board, Smoked Beef Tartars were Ok (as expected). You got to try the Wood Over Charred Cauliflower. It is different and nice. The Broccoli Cheddar Flat bread and French Onion soup were as expected. I would have liked to try the Brick Chicken and Steak & Ale Pie but ran out of time (we had to get back to DC). The wine list is OK. Would recommend it because they have a good veg selection and the food they make is good to awesome.

    (5)

  • Tomas C.

    I'm a fan of the Hotel Monaco properties. I stay at their hotels and eat at their restaurants often when traveling.. so I was excited to try lunch at the Commoner. I walked past the host stand and who I believe was the host fiddling with his cell phone. I was alone, so headed to the bar. The female bartender struck me as pretty rude and off putting straight away. I asked if I could eat at the bar to which she replied only "sit anywhere, but not there" referring to the seat directly in front of me that had a jacket over the chair and a drink on the bar. Like I would actually sit there. At first I thought she was joking around but there was not a bit of humor or sarcasm in her tone. I grabbed a seat at the bar and asked for a lunch menu. I was given a cocktail menu and before I could even look at it asked if I wanted a drink from it. To which I replied "I'll probably order a drink once I know what I"m getting to eat" I moved the drink menu aside and asked again for the lunch menu. Offended it seemed that I had no interest in the cocktail menu, she practically threw the lunch menu at me. At this point my phone rang so I stepped away to the lobby area to answer it. I had left my seat for less than 2 min to take a quick call and returned to find my seat taken and my silverware, menu and water removed. Rude bartender said "I thought you left". To which I replied" I think it's rude to talk on a cell phone at the bar". The bar was pretty empty as it was now 3pm so I took another seat. I ordered half a dozen oysters, brisket sandwich and gin, tonic splash of Campari. My cocktail was very poorly made, not enough gin, too much Campari, a lime when I asked for a lemon and no cocktail napkin. My food arrived quickly and all at the same time. The oysters were a disaster. First they were shucked terribly, still attached to the shell, missing their liquor and with lots of broken shell particles remaining. Accompanying them were the classic mignonette, some lemon and all over the actual oysters was an obscene amount of chopped parsley, pickled vegetables, pickling liquid, mustard seeds, black pepper, chili pepper, and a mess of other spices from the pickling liquid. Such an overload of unnecessary crap on them you could not taste anything resembling an oyster. The brisket sandwich was basically pot roast on a onion roll.. tasty but nothing special. Rude bartender put on a fake smile with a last ditch effort to be nice as she dropped the check never asking how everything was. Overall very disappointing. The Commoner was exactly that... common. So staying back at the Hotel Monaco.. Against my better judgment brunch at the Commoner. 11:05 am Walked up to the host stand alone and stood directly in front of 3 "hosts" talking among themselves. Really unbelievable.. Standing there basically looking directly at them for a full minute with no greeting or acknowledgement what so ever until I speak up and say "excuse me.. Can I see a menu" girl with red hair glasses big hoop earrings asks "Do you have a reservation" to which I reply "no but it's only me and I'm a guest in the hotel" host: "sorry we are all full" me: "but the dining room is totally empty.. You don't have room for 1?" "No sorry it's all booked 'til 2pm, I start to walk away.. unbelievably shocked at how this "host" would be so dismissive to a guest when I look over to see several empty seats at the bar. So i walk to the bar ask the bartender "is this seat taken" "why no.. have a seat" "can I get brunch here?" "Of course" Wow really?? Good food.. Nice bartender (tall redhead). (Fyi.. 12:10 dining room still half empty) This place has the potential to be very good. They need to clean house of a few rotten employees with ZERO customer skills, who honestly don't give a shit about real customer/ guest experience and will never get IT.

    (2)

  • Kelly R.

    Wow, this place did exceed my expectations. The on-line menu doesn't do this restaurant justice. I was traveling work, staying directly across the street. I was traveling alone, so I was seated at the chef's table facing the kitchen (which I loved). I was directly in front of the woodburning oven and prep area. It was amazing to watch the various dishes being prepared....the signature charred cauliflower, bone marrow, steak & ale pie. I wasn't starving, so I ordered the shrimp & chips appetizer, and side of brussel sprouts. The food arrived a short time later. There were 3 HUGE battered shrimp and a nice stack of waffle cut chips that were sprinkled with malt vinegar dust....yum! Tartar sauce accompanied the shrimp, I would have preferred cocktail sauce, but they were still yummy. The sprouts....oh, those sprouts....were so tasty....pan roasted, sprinkled with parmesan and then topped with lemon zest, YES! I perused the dessert menu, still trying to decide if I wanted dessert. My server gently suggested the signature sticky toffee pudding. I'm not a big fan of dates, so didn't think that I really would like the date flavored cake, but ordered anyway. Am I glad that I did! The dessert arrived in a small tureen, warm and yummy, drizzled with toffee sauce and topped with Rye whiskey ice cream.....OMG, it was so tasty. I would definitely return to the Commoner!

    (4)

  • Warren P.

    Great meal at The Commoner. Had an absolutely delicious Burger from the "Linner" menu before a 5pm flight. Burger was one of the best I have ever had! Fries were good, but the topper was the "Roasted Yellow Tomato Ketchup" that typically tops the burger. I ordered the burger with no bun, and the presentation was excellent. The burger did not need a bun, it certainly stood up well on it's own. Great ambiance in the space that is part of the Hotel Monaco. Server was attentive and pleasant. Will definitely come back next time I'm in Pittsburgh.

    (5)

  • Ashlee S.

    I brought my brother here for his birthday & came ready to try everything!!! The inside has a nice rustic retro kind of, but very nice, unique feel to it, Love the décor. Our server Jordan made excellent recommendations, & provided excellent service. He even had a candle in the AMAZING sticky bun cake dessert that we ordered, & sang a little birthday song. Our first round of drinks included the old fashion & a brumble something or other? I cant remember but it was a very good drink recommendation, it ended up being my favorite drink of the night For our second round we had a Manhattan & a pickled chili pepper martini. We went big for appetizers, everything sounded so good. Pesto crusted bone marrow, smoked beef tartare, liver mousse, French onion soup, oysters on a half shell, & braised pork cheek. The tartare was my favorite, but I'm biased as I LOVE tartare. The next best picks were the mousse, bone marrow & oysters. For our main course, we shared the Lamb Shank & crab mac & cheese. The lamb was so tender, every bite just melted. The crab mac & cheese seemed a shade too salted, even for having seafood in it, but it was STILL good. Believe it or not, me & my brother alone ate every single bite! I will absolutely be recommending this place!

    (5)

  • Bobby T.

    Great atmosphere, interesting menu with quality execution. The drinks menu is up there with any in the city for originality. Timing could improve a bit but I imagine that was a result of it being in its first couple weeks of being open. Love the throwback decor that fits the note it is located in. Will return soon and often there after.

    (4)

  • Hillary B.

    This restaurant/bar has a nice feel to it when you walk in. It is dimly lit and the decor has an upscale NYC feel. On that note, I'd like to point out that this bar is not located in NYC and (that being said) I feel that their drinks are wildly overpriced. A bottom shelf vodka and coke was $13 for example. One of my friends ordered something pretty basic and it was around $20. In addition, there are these two long tables that are positioned very close to the bar. During my visit, it was very crowded and people were literally smashed on top of each other. The waiters had to constantly remind people to stop setting their drinks on the two long tables as they were preparing to seat the tables for two parties that had made reservations. I walked around the non-bar portion of the restaurant and noticed that there was plenty of open space and potential for seating. I'm not sure why those two tables were placed so close to the bar. As I wrote earlier I have only been here once but the crowd that I saw during my visit was "older". A lot of business people, women with caked on makeup and overdone hair, men who looked like they might smoke cigars and golf on the weekends, cougars and the such.... Mainly the sort of people that could afford overpriced drinks. I kind of felt like a turd in a punch bowl. I didn't get to try the food because I could only afford to nurse two drinks. Also, being crushed between some lady with a high pitched squeaky voice and some pot bellied dude with garlic breath wasn't fun. If you insist on giving this place a try I would avoid the bar area.

    (2)

  • Ben R.

    This was my first time here for lunch with a couple other coworkers on a Friday. Our server Riley was very attentive and did a great job. Complements to her. Upon entering it was very crowded and we were able to get a. Seat at the communal table which was just fine. My two coworkers both had the turkey sandwich with gravy and loved it. They both said the turkey was very moist and not drive at all. I had the brisket sandwich with onions on top. Sandwich also came with a Small salad. It was a good sandwich. I would definitely consider coming back to this place again. I absolutely love the Decour in the buildout was absolutely phenomenal inside the space. My only complaint was the noise level was a little bit louder so if you're going there for a business meeting it may not be the best place just because of how loud it is. I can definitely see coming to this place for drinks after work or even happy hour.

    (4)

  • Robin K.

    Innovative food, great drinks and awesome service. The Commoner Collins is amazing and if you are there for breakfast the Irish breakfast is very good as well. The whole ambiance combined with the menu & wait staff makes for a great experience. Ask for Ben if you go!

    (4)

  • R. G.

    Great food, service & atmosphere. We stayed overnight at Hotel Monaco and had breakfast. I had a baked egg dish with kale, zucchini and tomato which was super delicious and very light. My husband ordered a house-made English muffin with his breakfast which was so buttery and wonderful. Coffee was just ok but the food and service made up for it.

    (5)

  • Jonathan M.

    Solid food and good ambience. They could do with having a few more local beers on tap, but other than that, nice place.

    (4)

  • Victoria A.

    Hey Pittsburgh, keep an open mind and check this place out. I think the Commoner offers an outstanding food experience you must try. (maybe before a game?) ~Cheddar Board: cheese selections were terrific. Then add in that apple butter and dried fruit and bread and O.M.G. We were arguing over who got the last pieces. :) ~Onion Soup: we ordered it 2 nights in a row. a little salty, but good. ~Steak & Ale Pie: Hellz yes. That was seriously delicious. **Yep, it's super loud in there. Ask the hostess to put you in the back of the restaurant, much, much better. But if you can't hear each other, so what? Take in the really awesome design of the room. (with the steel girders echoing the heritage of Pgh) and the staff's uniforms (which i LOVED). If you have time, GO UPSTAIRS and dig on the biergarten; it must be terrific because we were guests of the hotel and we still had to get on a wait list. Overall, If I still lived in Pittsburgh, this would definitely be my pre-game or post-game spot. Loved it!

    (4)

  • Christine J.

    Just had Sunday brunch here, & we're really glad we Yelped this place! The Bacon Beni was outstanding, and the pancake stack was incredible (but beware, as big as your head). Bloody Mary bar looked awesome, but the one I got at the bar was delish. Only downside is the coffee was a little weak, at least compared to Bux.

    (5)

  • Larry S.

    Great valentine's day dinner. The food is fantastic had the seitan and Brussels, both very good. Also good beer selection. For the restaurant I thought it was very beautiful. Definitely would recommend.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth H.

    The food is amazingly creative combined with finger licking good:) outstanding job here. The layout, atmosphere is laid back / classy, and the food and drinks follow it up for a perfect evening:)

    (5)

  • molly r.

    I would have given it another half star - if that were available. And that's only because service was a little bit slow. The food was delicious, the Decour sophisticated and comfortable, and our waitress was so cute - we went there after our wedding and she jumped up and hugged us both when we told her! Really lovely evening. Oh, and the cocktails are out of this world.

    (4)

  • Jennie K.

    Waffle fries - awesome, shrimp within beer batter - succulent and sweet - and perfectly cooked; Mac and cheese and crab shells overly peppered so that pepper overwhelms crab; wait staff in need of some maturation and better dining experience. But overall, a great time and top addition to Pgh

    (3)

  • Lydia M.

    The food and drinks were really good, try the shrubble, it's awesome. My main deterrent for 4 stars vs. 3 was our server, though he was a nice guy, the wait times were really awkward and getting our cheeseboard only moments before our meals really sucked. We eventually could tell the waiter totally forgot to order it when we ordered our drinks. Sometimes it's hard to eat out as a former waiter, like I know I would have done a lot more to rectify that disappointing sitch...with the price points on this menu and an early 6:30 reservation we shouldn't feel rushed and like we're left waiting at the same time. Def worth a visit, though it didn't quite charm me the way I had hoped it would. Maybe next time I make it through the Pittsburgh rotation of awesome eats.

    (3)

  • Bill L.

    I was pleasantly pleased with my first visit to this restaurant in Pittsburgh's Hotel Monaco, a welcome addition to downtown. The atmosphere is simultaneously lively, upscale and modern with a cool vibe. The room is large, but still comfortable. The grand scale of it is visible descending the stairs from the hotel lobby, but once seated the comfort of the place make it feel almost intimate. In an era where places are trying to do outdo one another with cocktails, The Commoner has managed to produce some offerings that are both divine and different from the rest. The by-the-glass wine list is respectable too. Cheese lovers shouldn't miss the cheddar board. I was impressed that an all-cheddar cheese board would be so good and interesting - the accoutrements were tasty as well. The broccoli cheddar flatbread was okay. The Scottish Cedar Plank Salmon and the Steak & Ale pie were both home runs, as was the cauliflower side. "The Crumble" dessert a combination of apples, butternut squash and lemon ricotta, was every bit as delicious as the combination is unique, and suitable for sharing as well. Service was flawless. If you don't want to bother with the valet, I'd recommend parking in the nearby Mellon Square Garage operated by the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, which is almost just across the (side) street and is only $5 on evenings and weekends.

    (5)

  • Lindsay M.

    I loved the scene...dim, downstairs, bustling. Feels like you are in the right place. Service ....excellent. Food? Meh. Inconsistent. I was there twice in a week for business. Same green salad with grilled chicken. Once, full grilled breast, 2nd time, small pieces of chicken (far from a whole breast). Soup salty and cold. Must ask and pay for bread service, which is small (for 1-2) and notably stale. Really? With the prices as such, throw in the bread my friends!!! Let's give them another shot as they are new....but food in pittsburgh is fabulous and affordable. This place will need to step it up quickly.

    (3)

  • Lydia H.

    I love Hotel: I've not stayed in any of the rooms yet, but I've seen the space & I adore it. I feel like it captures elements of Pittsburgh without really being of the city. I similarly enjoy the Commoner in terms of the setup & design. However, I was there for an early lunch and noted that both the service was slower than hoped and the room was louder than hoped. This could have been due to my table's position in the center of the room, but it was hard to keep conversation going. I ordered the Lamb Hash, and felt like A-Ok is about how to describe it. Not bad, but not anything to rave about. I look forward to going back and giving it another try.

    (3)

  • Lisa H.

    A little mixed on the food and totally sold on the service from Ben, as well as the friendliness and teamwork of those others with whom we had interaction. The brisket meat was perfect ... on a stale bun. The shells were cooked perfectly al dente and there was an acceptable portion of crabmeat (I'm from New England so my standard is different for seafood) and it was all baked beautifully but the butter (oil?) pooled a little too much. Ben's service is perfectly timed and his personality is perfect -- engaging and humorous without being dramatic or exaggerating. He has an excellent sense of timing and communication.

    (4)

  • Scott S.

    My girlfriend and I went to this restaurant to celebrate my birthday. It was AMAZING! We had a reservation and were seated as soon as we arrived (something few places actually do). We ordered oysters to start, along with two cocktails. The drinks were delicious and the oysters had a great presentation. The homemade hot sauce had a distinct and delicious taste. We then each had an entree. My girlfriend got the steak ale pot pie. The steak was tender and juicy and the crust was cooked to perfection. I had the lamb shank. I love big portions and this was the epitome of that. Unlike other downtown restaurants (cough Butcher cough) I was extremely satisfied with the portion sizes. The lamb was tender and juicy and falling off the bone. It was cooked to perfection! Finally, the service was EXCEPTIONAL! Katie was our waitress and she was as friendly and polite as can be. Now it may be because they had just opened and want to make a name for themselves, but we received a free entree (crab mac n cheese), two glasses of champagne and two desserts . However, even without those freebies, I would have been stuffed. I am still in a food coma! I loved this restaurant. The food. The service. The ambience. The drinks. Even the bathrooms were clean and tidy! I will definitely be back! Great work, The Commoner!

    (5)

  • Judy B.

    Excellent food! Wonderful ambience and amazing service! A great addition to Pittsburgh restaurants.

    (5)

  • Markisha K.

    Loved brunch today! Great food, spectacular service. Can't wait to go back for dinner in the near future

    (5)

  • Kitrina D.

    My work team and I grabbed take out from the Commoner one night. It is definitely a great option for food but probably not the best takeout option. I had the burger which definitely didn't suffer, but some of the other meals didn't travel very well. I would still highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Liana M.

    Best meal I have had in a long while! Thank you Melanie! The best part was the service! I was showed so much love and met people who truly love their craft my server, Deanna was so kind and attentive and one of the cooks, Davon shared many plating ideas with me. I love food and cooking and love to be supporting folks who love it as much as I do. Ps. Order the Smoked beef Tartare

    (5)

  • Robert T.

    Dined there last evening as a party of six trying to celebrate a birthday. Noise level is off the scale. We were at a round table, which is usually nicer than a long table for conversing with a larger group. In this case, the noise level pretty much restricted conversations to whoever was sitting to your right or left. Even then you had to talk very loud to be heard. So if you're going, and hoping to catch up with friends on what's going on in their lives, consider yourself warned. My food was very tasty. I had their Seafood Chowder every bite of which was delicious. Happily the waitress warned me that it was "deconstructed" rather than a bowl of soup, but they provided a little pitcher of the chowder cream which was just right for pouring on and/or dipping the various ingredients in. The portion size was just right for me, which means a tad small, but plenty. My wife had their Brick Chicken which was also quite tasty, but in contrast to my meal, her portion size was huge. My meal left room for dessert which was their delicious Whitepot, a form of bread pudding. We shared it and it was very good. And finally, the valet parking. It was very busy when we arrived and the sidewalk out front was jammed with cabs forcing us to wait 5 to 10 minutes until we could pull to the curb and turn the car over to the valet. The valet charge is $9. We observed that they parked our car on the street right across from where we got out. When I left I gave the valet our claim check and pointed to my car. He said I should go get it because he doesn't drive a "stick". I paid him and gave him a tip, which I later though was dumb on my part, given the lack of service. Four of us walked across the street, got in and left. I guess he also is challenged when it comes to opening doors. If there is a next time, I'll park elsewhere. Funny, on the way in my friend asked if valet parking is a problem these days seeing as how my car has a stick. I told him it has never been a problem, and that apparently being a valet requires knowing how to drive a standard transmission. So...there's a first for everything.

    (3)

  • Amanda H.

    We have been here a few times now and loved each experience. Our last was definitely one of the best! We decided to celebrate our second anniversary here. Everything was great. My husband enjoyed the seafood special and I couldn't get enough of the steak and ale pie. We were told to save room and enjoyed not one but two desserts. My husband loved the fudge while I preferred their signature pudding dessert. The best part was definitely the service. Deanna really made sure everything was perfect and gave excellent recommendations. We will continue to visit here on a regular occasion and will request Deanna every time! But this is now officially a part of our anniversary tradition. Looking forward to eating here again soon!

    (5)

  • Bobi S.

    Nice selection of seasonal small plates to share and/or to put together into a satisfying meal. Plenty of vegetarian choices, along with a wide range of meat-based options. Especially enjoyed the roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Didn't try the seitan, but plan to visit again and give that a go. Good selection of wines and beers. Great industrial chic decor with a combination of seating choices between the bar, communal tables, and traditional tables. Attentive but laid-back service.

    (4)

  • John L.

    We went for a lunch and had the pleasure of the brunch menu, which isn't yet on the Commoner's website. I had the Bacon Beni (Eggs Benedict), which was tremendous. They make their own english muffins, which are to die for, and the combination of bacon, pork belly, potatoes, red peppers and hollandaise was phenomenal. I also had the Bloody Mary, which is nice and spicy. My wife ordered the Skirt Steak and Frites. The skirt steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and comes with a house made steak sauce which is really flavorful. The frites come with a charred tomato ketchup, which is also unique and flavorful. The atmosphere at the Commoner is really comfortable, and the service was impeccable. This is a great addition to the downtown Pittsburgh dining scene.

    (5)

  • Philip S.

    I have been to the Commoner twice since it opened this year, and both times were on the earlier side and for breakfast/brunch. That being said, I enjoy this spot very much. The first time I had the PA burger and fries, which were great, and most recently I had the 'Mess' dish which was what the name implies, all sorts of breakfast meats/items/ egg in a nice hot miniature skillet. The service here really shines too.

    (4)

  • Barbara Z.

    The food was delicious and the drinks great, but unfortunately our evening was ruined by the noise level throughout and primarily emanating from the neighbouring table of 9 women who were drinking and doing shots. The pleasure of some should not be at the expense of others, especially at an establishment operated by the KIMPTON Group. We did complain, but rather than asking the offending members to be considerate, they offered to move us, as we were finishing our main course. REALLY? Unfortunately, we have no guarantee that this scenario will not recur and probably will not return. Is this what the definition of good vibe is?

    (3)

  • Priya M.

    Fun place for happy hour. Very happening. Lots of corporate crowd too. Very good bar food. Loved their Brussel sprouts and Cosmo.

    (4)

  • Nick P.

    Just left here after waiting 45 minutes for anyone to come over to our table...we had a reservation for 115 and at around 145 had spoken to the one of hostesses and she apologized and said someone would be right over, but nobody ever came. It wasn't busy, and people at the table next to us were getting good service. Both hostesses watched us leaving and avoided eye contact... Too bad, menu looked great.

    (1)

  • J G.

    Worst hostess service!! It is freezing in here. We asked for extra stools as they seated us at a table with 6 on one side and 4 on the other and they bring us chairs that do not even reach the table. It's so cold we have jackets and ear muffs on --- they don't care!!!! Do not come here!!!!! The hostess is the worst!! The waiter John is awesone!!!

    (1)

  • Conor M.

    I was in a couple weeks ago and sat at the bar. The food and drinks were phenomenal. The bar staff considering of Alex, Patricia, and Justin took great care of me. I will be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Jay S.

    This place is good, if a bit pricey. It could use a happy hour.

    (4)

  • Ed O.

    My wife and I were celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary and we wanted to visit a eatery we have never been to. So this was our first trip here. The restaurant was nicely decorated and open. There was a cool vibe to it that made the place comfortable for business and pleasure or just a great place to stop after work. The service was very good and the staff attentive. The menu contained an ample assortment of vegetables whether fresh in salads or roasted. The charred cauliflower was to die for. Our entrees were good but not outstanding. My wife had salmon on a cedar plank. She was quite happy with her choice. I picked the short rib pot pie which I found to be only average. Then as contents of the pie had a decent amount of juicy short ribs and root vegetables. The crust however was the dishes downfall. Instead of light flakey crust, it was a thick bland piece of pastry. That small complaint will not deter us from returning. The menu has many interesting things we want to try on our next visit

    (4)

  • Sally C.

    I have been a huge fan of Kimpton hotels for many years so I anxiously awaited the arrival of Hotel Monaco. We decided to go with our best friends to the Commoner for a birthday celebration on a Saturday evening in February. Sadly, our experience was not just disappointing -- it was horrible. Things started badly when we (along with several other parties who also had reservations) waited nearly 15 minutes for someone to acknowledge our presence in the reception area. No host or hostess, no manager, no one who seemed remotely interested. When we were finally seated, a male and female server engaged in a somewhat heated argument over and across our table concerning who would serve us. She won and we lost. She took our drink order and disappeared for nearly 30 minutes. We could see our drinks sitting on the bar and debated whether we should walk over and get them ourselves. We should have; apparently it would have been appropriate. We watched people from two other tables do just that after they grew tired of waiting for their drinks. My husband and our friend each ordered a half dozen oysters on the half shell and my friend and I split the cheese flight. While still waiting for our drinks, the oysters -- at least some of them -- were delivered. Both plates of oysters had two empty shells. The remaining oysters were dry and shriveled, most likely from embarrassment. When we pointed this out to the servers who delivered them (our server was still MIA and the drinks were still diluting on the bar), both servers shrugged and said they didn't know what had happened, and then went MIA with our waitress. The cheese flight was dry and minuscule - it must have been sitting on a ledge somewhere for hours like our drinks. The person who served the cheese flight was unable to provide any guidance on the identity of the cheeses. Once in a while we would catch a glimpse of our server running around looking perplexed, but she failed to make an appearance at our table for quite some time. Perhaps she was distracted by the noise; the acoustics in the restaurant are horrible. We could hear all the loud conversations going on at the bar -- 30 feet away from us -- but could not engage in dinner conversation with our dinner companions across the table without shouting. And still no manager to be seen anywhere in the restaurant. Finally, our server arrived with our drinks and took our dinner orders. We told her about the missing oysters which seemed to throw her into another tizzy. Our friend ordered a steak which arrived overcooked and gristly -- and once again a lengthy wait for someone to bring a steak knife. My husband ordered the seafood chowder which consisted of five overcooked shellfish/seafood items served on a barren dish with a small pitcher of congealed and tasteless white sauce. I ordered the unimaginative and unseasoned salmon which was served cold and dry. My friend had the wheat seitan which, although nothing to write home about, was probably the best choice of the evening. All of these were delivered by our otherwise MIA server who took another drink order that was never delivered. Perhaps she hid in shame after serving what purported to be our dinner entrees. After waiting for another half hour after we stopped eating our entrees (note that I did not say finished eating), she finally came back to the table to ask if we were ready to order dessert. We weren't -- we had all we could take. For the first time that evening, she actually was fairly prompt in bringing the check which still included the charges for the less than complete oyster appetizers. Rather than quibble and spending another hour waiting, we paid the bill and got out of there as soon as we could. What a debacle! And I have spoken to others who have had similar experiences. Such a shame. We had such high hopes. This is not what we have come to expect from Kimpton.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :6:30 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Valet, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Loud
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

The Commoner

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