Porcini Churros with Huckleberry Jam – These tasted much better than they looked (let's not discuss what they resembled). The flavor of the mushroom wasn’t very prominent, but I enjoyed the warm bready/doughy churro with the tart huckleberry jam.
Grilled Chicken Livers – This was my first experience with grilled chicken liver…the texture is much more stringy and definitely not as elegant as foie gras (duck liver). The flavor of the chicken liver was too strong and mineral-like when eaten on its own. However, it tasted a lot better when combined with the brown rice & black pepper crackers along with the pickled onions and herbs.
Slow-cooked Farm Egg, Matsutake Mushrooms, Barley – More about experiencing the textures, as the flavors were quite subtle. I liked how the soft, creamy egg coated the salty mushrooms and the chewy barley…all washed down with a smooth dashi broth.
Kabocha Pumpkin, Black Kale, Yuba, Coconut Milk – A more refined version of pumpkin curry. The balls of pumpkin and strands of yuba were nicely cooked and coated with a slightly sweet and creamy curry foam.
Sweet Potato Tempura with Sea Urchin – Being obsessed with sea urchin, I was most looking forward to this dish. However, it ended up just being ok. The sea urchin wasn’t that high quality, and I thought it should’ve been better incorporated into the dish instead of just laying next to the tempura. The spicy yuzu sauce had a nice kick though.
Sierra Mackerel on the Plancha, Smoked Potatoes – Least interesting dish of the evening. The fish was meaty and cooked well, but needed more seasoning and acidity…making it bland and boring.
Cinnamon Mille-Feuille, Cardamom Marshmallow, Chocolate Ganache, Burnt Honey Ice Cream - Very creative with a multitude of different flavors and textures. It was exciting and fun to eat each component separately and in different combinations. I really liked the cardamom marshmallow and the sweet burnt honey ice cream, especially with the candied cocoa nibs.
This was one of the rare meals where I didn’t really have a favorite dish of the evening. The food was pretty good overall, but there was nothing that I loved. My dinner felt a little flat and left something to be desired. The tables are also really close together, and the space feels cramped. On the other hand, the service was great with knowledgeable and friendly waiters, and nothing on the menu was more than $15.
To sum it up, I wouldn't mind eating at Commonwealth again, but I also wouldn't miss it if I didn't either.
BITE METER: Commonwealth – 3.0 bites (out of 5.0)
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