Communal Food & Drink

I give this place a hopeful 3 stars. They have the potential to earn more, but I have been slightly disappointed both times I have come.
Ended up here our first time after Mike and Anns sent us here for breakfast after messing up our reservations there. We walked in our their first morning open.
Atmosphere: love love this place! It has a romantic feel to it which would be great for a date or a fun place to hang out with friends. It feels like you enter this whole other world not in LA area. They have an open feel surrounded by greenery and romantic lighting. Both bar seating, high tops, low tops and fun booth areas. I also love how the music isn’t too loud so you can talk and laugh without shouting.
Food: This was the most disappointing part of our time here. The menu is so confusing and gives no representation of what your actually getting. For example Sirloin Steak and Chili beans is literally just chilli with steak and non — remarkable, their mac and cheese was the best option in my opinion on the whole menu. Also came here for breakfast, the eggs Benedict was to die for! However the remaining items including the squash, sweet potato hash and several other dishes I sampled again were disappointing. I didn’t even bother taking home my leftovers.
Drinks: Coffee was great! They have great drink option and several good beers on tap. Unfortunately, our waiter brought us the wrong beer which was frustrating.
My recommendations here would mostly be for atmosphere and for drinks :)

Noticing several reviews saying the kitchen closed at random times I called ahead tonight. Was told that the kitchen closed at 10:30 pm and last call for alcohol was at 11 pm. We arrived at 9:45 pm (on a Friday night) and was promptly told that the kitchen was closed. The owner decided. I asked to speak to the owner but he wasn’t there. Of course. It’s sad because the place looks nice. I predict they won’t be in business long. The other couple sitting nearby had the same experience.

I came here on a Thursday night with my parents and we were seated right away. The décor of this place is so charming — you’re actually sitting in a tent with little string lights all around you but it feels like you’re inside.
Our server Britney was awesome, friendly and provided speedy service. The coursing came out perfectly. We had the trout salad, brick chicken, bratwurst and tuna tacos. We had lots of special requests and changes to the food on the menu and they got everything right. The food was interesting and tasty and the prices are spot on ($ 10 – 15 for an entrée)

Loved Communal Food & Drink! A little gem in the Old Town/​Mission section of South Pasadena just steps away from the Gold Line. Can you say, Cute Central?! The neighborhood and the restaurant/​venue is just perfect if you’re looking for a low key spot with a cute and modern yet nod to a rustic feel. The front has this beautiful façade from the awesome typography of the logo that looks hand-​painted on the wall, to a large barn-​like door that looks like it was inspired by wood pallets (in a cool, design-​y kind of way). The wood theme carries through inside to this beautiful — what feels like — outdoor seating that’s tented with lots of (vaulted) ceiling space, and at night (we were there for dinner), the lights are dimmed and globe string lights streamed throughout (one of my rustic design weaknesses!). The one downside was — the one TV that the restaurant/​bar had was tucked away on the far-​end of the bar if you’re sitting in the main dining area/​under the tent. So, if you were wanting to catch the day’s big game, make sure you sit closer to/​at the bar.
OK, now the food? Just. as. great! I was with a group of 8 (so yes, this place is great for groups), and we started with various appetizers. Couldn’t go wrong with any of them. The deviled eggs, the nuts and chick peas, cheese platters, and fried pickles (although I would have preferred fried pickle chips versus fried pickle spears). Then, the beer & wine selection looked quite good with a lot of variety. I myself didn’t have anything to drink, but others in my group seemed pleased with their selections. As for entrees, I had the burger. Not your run-​of-​the-​mill burger. You could tell the meat was fresh and the juiciness of it was perfect. Not dry at all, and not too drippy with grease that your bottom bun got too soggy. Nope — none of that! And, good bun-​to-​meat ratio, too! Needless to say, I’ll be going back! Maybe next time to try their brunch selection? Who doesn’t love this sort of ambiance in LA sunshine?!

What was ordered:
Crispy chicken sliders
Shrimp & grits
Steak frites
Bratwurst sausage
Smoked trout salad
Chocolate Mousse
We started off with the crispy chicken sliders. The batter was light and the buns were soft.
Next was the shrimp and grits. This is normally my favorite dish but I didn’t care for it too much here. The shrimp could’ve been seasoned more.
Steak frites– I ordered the steak medium rare but it was more on the well done side. The orange sauce that accompanied it was delish! The frites were soggy. I’d pass on this dish.
The homemade bratwurst sausage was my favorite dish. The potato salad was very flavorful. Everything was perfectly executed.
I didn’t like the trout salad. The pieces of trout were minuscule. I’d need a microscope to find it.
This place is perfect for a date… its under a canopy with stringing lights. I’m a sucker for stringing lights.
Portions are a bit small.

We came here because we love deviled eggs. Turns out they are out of them! On a Saturday at 6pm!!! So disappointed. Our Malbec was good, waitress attentive.
Lamb sausage is good, portion could be bigger. Liked the steak frites but too much Rosemary!
They were out of mouse dessert.
Love the vibe inside, it’d be great for a reception or rehearsal dinner.
It’s too bad there aren’t better spots in south pas. Looks like we’ll have to pay up to try crossings next time.
Overall I would recommend but be aware of potion size and limited options.

We were pleasantly surprised to find this place!
The food was frickin’ delicious. We had the fried pickles, the lamb sausage over couscous with yogurt sauce and the burger. All delicious and all freshly cooked as we ordered it.
The service was initially slow– it could have been because there was a farmers market outside and it was Saint Patrick’s day as well. Over the course of our meal the service was more present. Our waitress was very pleasant and helpful.
Despite the fact that there were children at every table around us (I have a thing about children at nicer restaurants), there weren’t any serious noise issues or TV watching that could disrupt the room– kudos to those parents.
Overall, we will be going back. Next time we’ll be eating inside as opposed to the beautiful pergola in the entrance way.

Four stars for great service! Hosted a large party at Communal on a Saturday night and their staff was extremely accommodating. From adding additional tables to fit our large party to moving us indoors after it started raining… they certainly made it happen.
Drink selection is plentiful, and they have a good variety of craft/​tap beers to keep things interesting. Food, however, was passable. We had a variety of appetizers, from their deviled eggs to fried pickles, and while everything came out without any trouble, do not expect too much. I had their pan-​fried chicken breast and my partner had their steak with chili. Again, food was not bad but do expect it to be standard items for a local gastropub.
One of my friends, however, ordered her burger medium-​rare and they brought it out well-​done. The server asked her if she would take her burger like that and she felt pushed into taking an order she didn’t want. Beware!
Ambience is laid-​back. Would recommend this place if you are looking for drinks at a non-​pretentious location and want to pre-​party before going somewhere else. They close their kitchen by 9:30 PM and last orders for drinks at 10:00 ish PM. Communal closes at 10:30 PM, a real bummer for a local hang-​out. BEWARE: Hours posted on Unilocal are not correct.

Overpriced and underwhelming. We were at the Thursday night farmers market in South Pasadena, thought we’d get a bite to eat. The restaurant is smack-​dab in the middle of the row of vendors, so Communal seemed a logical choice.
Walked in, there was no one there to greet us. Had to walk up to the bar to get anyone to seat us. Service was pretty slow to start off. Took about 10 min or so to even get a drink order in.
Ordered the charcuterie. Have had this many time, other places, it’s a meat and cheese plate — how can you really get that wrong? We opted for the $ 17 version with meat and cheese. Cheese only is $ 11.
Another 20 minutes later, the waiter brings out a cutting board with 2 small slices of cheese (was literally the size of 2 slices of cheese out of a Lunchable), 3 olives, 2 tiny piles of prosciutto and salami and 3 pieces of burnt baguette. Really? It was like $ 4 worth of food at most. Needless to say, the cheese tasted like it came from Trader Joes and the meat was dry and tasteless. Really disappointing. Would have complained to the waiter, but we didn’t see him for another 20 min.
When he did come around, I expressed disappointment at what was brought to our table, he didn’t seem to care, so we left. Will never come back.

Came here on a Saturday night and it was EXACTLY what I needed after a long week… DRINKS, some food (drinks priority), relaxing environment without complicated wait times and noise.
Walked in and liked the different seating options available — patio, bar, high tops, low communal, or booths. The restaurant feels like its half outdoors, decorated in wood and strung lights… very intimate ambiance.
Robust list of craft beers and wines. Great service. Our server was extremely attentive and stopped by over 5 times to check if we needed more drinks and how we liked our food — cheese plate, lamb sausage. I saw a few Unilocal reviews with what sounded like some cause for concern in the kitchen operations. Nonetheless, I will come back and definitely put this place on my regular Pasadena rotation list. Good spot to catch up with friends and to unwind. Happy I found this place.
SERVICE= 5 stars
DECOR/​AMBIANCE = 4 Stars
FOOD= 3.5 Stars

NOW I know why it has the rating that it does. It’s a hit or miss with this place.
The food here is great– I took my friend here and we got very meat-​heavy dishes. Amazing, bold; it wasn’t Michelin but it definitely held its own here in Pasadena. They have a cola float that’s to die for.
However, I returned here yesterday, and was turned away since I was told that the kitchen was closed.
I was so sad. I was so hungry and we made the trek out to eat, only to be told that.
I hate it when restaurants do this and they don’t specify on their website. You have a chic, simple website– you couldn’t be bothered to add bar hours and last call for food? I came at 9:20 when their site says they close at 10:30.
So you’re saying that technically, you only open for 4 hours for dinner service?
Your chefs and cooks are great, but your front of house needs work, or please update your website.

So I took my own advice to come back for just a salad and cheese plate. And the whole experience just left a bad taste in my mouth literally and figuratively.
The caesar: this time around was not good, the lettuce was oddly at room temperature and the dressing didn’t really have the caesar dressing flavor I enjoyed the last time. It was really thick and there was just wayyyyyyyyy too much dressing weighing down the lettuce.
The cheese plate: was also just OK. The only good about it was the bread, although it was over charred compared to last times visit. It just tasted like burnt toast.
Overall just bland and inconsistent.
Another thing I’ve noticed from the several times we’ve dined here, there’s no real «presence», the restaurant is cozy and has a romantic ambiance but you don’t really get the sense that people like working there. Theres no warm welcome, no enthusiasm — which maybe all the servers are bummed they work there because the food is not that great and they have to deal with customers constant disappointment and shattered expectations.
You should also update your hours on Unilocal and your website. Nothing is worse than walking in at 9 pm on a Saturday to be told the kitchen is closing at 930? Your hours are posted as
5pm-​1130pm. The last time we were here some people showed up at 10 pm on a Saturday and were told the restaurant was closed. It’s incredibly inconvenient to keep late hours posted when people specifically search what spots are open late before arriving there.
Over it!

Walked on late on a Friday night for a drink only. As we sat I looked over the menu excitingly for next time we come back to eat. When the waitress came by I asked her if she had tried an item on the menu and her response was, «Well, it didn’t make me puke, so.» And then went on to tell us how after she started working there is when she became a vegetarian and how «this place» has changed her…
The conversation was really off putting and has made us think twice about coming back. I hope if we do we don’t get the same waitress…

I came here on Saturday with a small group of friends and really wasn’t impressed by the food. Off of the menu, we ordered:
Chicken Wings — Much to our surprise based on the reviews, the wings were disappointing. They lacked seasoning on the inside and outside of the crust and the sauces that they were served with were bland as well. 3 out of 5 — for at least being cooked.
Chicken Sliders — Definitely much more worth the hype than the wings, although they are essentially the same coating and fry principle. The pickles and slaw are really what make it better. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s served on a nicely toasted brioche bun. 4 out of 5 — the best rating we have for the night.
Mac n Cheese — Smokey in flavor, largely in part by the bacon crumbles. The roux should have been cooked out more because you can definitely taste «library paste.»
Steak Fritz — Actually, not bad. Also a solid 4 out of 5. I commend them on being able to make a medium-​rare steak just like we asked. It was hard to tell either way considering the poor lighting in the restaurant.
Shrimp and Grits– Nothing special. Shrimp were nice and opaque but the grits needed MOAR CHEESE.
Haus Braut — It was fine. I give it 3 out of 5 — definitely not the worst wurst I’ve had, but by far not the best. The whole grain mustard definitely gave it a great kick, but I doubt they make that in house. As for the cabbage — skip it. The consistency is of mush — needs less stewing.
Fish tacos — 1 out of 5. This was probably the worst choice to order while we were here. The fish was strangely seasoned … and they were so tiny! Though since they weren’t good — tiny in size was probably the best relief they could lend us.
I think if you’re not from South Pas, it’s a hipstery change of pace and definitely different than Firefly (which used to be here) — but all the same, not worth any of the hype. I have some nostalgic feelings for this area too, since Buster’s is right around the corner and I went to high school over here and remember the awesome «Down Unders!» But alas, another one bites the dust. I’d steer clear of this restaurant as the selection is limited and the crumbs in your seats aplenty.
Also — I know we’re in a drought but c’mon. The server neglected to fill an empty glass of water, but chose to fill a half-​full glass… maybe you should hold off on the dimmer in the restaurant so your servers can see.

This place is such a gem! Total date night or classy GNO vibes. The architecture inside is so beautiful and contemporary. I don’t think a lot of people know about this place yet which is one of the reasons I wanted to write a review. It’s a really awesome spot and will make you look like a genius if you take someone there because it’s still under the radar.
My only caveat is I’m gluten free and the menu makes that tough. It’s a small menu, very meat heavy but very fried /​flour heavy. Fortunately, I was able to get the shrimp and grits and boy, is that a winner!!! It was so tasty, I’ll be back for it.
Also, if you’re a single Armenian gal — there’s a very attractive Armenian waiter there. I know your mom is probably bugging you to find a nice Armenian boy, so you’re welcome. Ha! :D

Such a nice little spot in South Pas. Grabbed dinner and a drink there tonight. The restaurant interior is pretty cool, with a nice little bar. Staff were attentive and friendly.
I had the burger and fries and a Saison beer. Burger and fries was really good. Fries were seasoned to perfection. Burger was cooked spot on.
The only downside was the state of their female restroom. The floor was strewn with toilet roll and the bin was overflowing. This is a big no-​no in my book. Although the patrons are largely responsible for being tidy, the staff should check that they are clean.

The deviled eggs and chicken liver toast were my favorite snacks. The homemade French fries were perfectly crisp and seasoned. The Sicillian caponata was soggy and not something I would order again. The small & large dishes we had were seared tuna tacos, smoked trout salad, shrimp and grits, market vegetable pasta and Mac ‘n’ cheese. They were all beautifully presented but for the price, the food was so-​so. The $ 6 Mac ‘n’ cheese with Gouda and bacon crumble was the most delicious dish we tasted.
If you are looking for a hip restaurant to enjoy some wine and snacks with friends after work this is the place to go. Our server was very attentive and made the entire experience very enjoyable.

I’ve been wanting to try this new neighborhood restaurant (Husband and I liked Firefly and were sad to see it close, but loved the space).
Friday night, we mosey down to Communal around 9:45pm (its open until 11pm). There’s plenty of free street parking.
We step up and there are a patrons sitting at the tables outside. Hostess asked if I wanted to sit inside or outside and I said inside; I’ve gotta see how the new owners revamped the space (Same owners of Mike & Anne’s).
Ambiance: I LOVE it. Its like walking into a intimate wedding tent. Hanging lights, open windows to shrubbery, reclaimed wood bar, chill music playing. Most patrons are couples, catching up from the work week.
Hostess gave us an array of choices to sit, and we grabbed a table next to open doorway away from other tables.
Drinks:
Beer & Wine only.
Wine: Very Good. I was very happy with Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir.
Beer: Husband really enjoyed his Craftsman Heavenly Hefeweizen.
Food:
Starters:
Deviled Eggs: These were Good! I liked the addition of the crispy chicken skin on top.
Charcuterie/​Cheese Board: Great selection of cheeses. Found the Charcuterie standard.
Heirloom Salad: Good. A little too much dressing for me (too much arugula for hubby).
Chicken Wings: Heavy Breading on these. I didn’t try, but a man at another table had to know what they were because he thought they smelled so good. Comes with a spicy sauce.
Ahi Tacos: Very Good. Its 2 tacos, but they were big! I could only eat one. Again, a little too much sauce, but great taste combo.
Finally, we had great service from Emil.
A Fantastic addition to the neighborhood & a Great spot for a date.

This place deserves a higher rating. It is very visually pleasing and romantic when the sun goes down. They offer indoor and outdoor seating including 3 tables enclosed in cabana like wooden frames for larger parties. Our waitress was the sweetest thing and she even went out of her way to make me a drink that I would like. We tried their burger, mac & cheese as well as the vegetable pasta and they were all very good. My only small gripe is that they only serve wine and beer and I am not into either one. I also wish they put another protein on the menu that is not beef/​pork or lamb as their menu can be a bit limiting. However, everything else here is spot on.

Communal is a spin-​off from the owners of Mike and Anne’s in South Pasadena and Wistaria in Sierra Madre. Having frequented Firefly in the past and being «fans» of M&A’s, the wifey and I were both interested and curious to see what Communal had to offer.
I had hoped for something new in Communal, but it sees that they’re staying within the menu formula that M&A’s + Wistaria offers. With so many other local restaurants offering the same dishes (sliders, mac and cheese, etc) I had expected something different; to be surprised. No luck. They offer sliders, but with the pickled cucumber. The mac and cheese is a variation of what’s already offered at their other restaurants. Maybe I’m a little close-​minded ere, but with M&A just around the corner (and they offer a full bar) I was hoping to be taken down another gastronomic path. Service: on-​point to the hostess who greeted us at the door and to the bar-​keep who is very knowledgeable on their beer offerings.
The décor is a huge improvement from Firefly and it has that «South Pasadena» feel to it. Love the quartz bar and the communal tables. Not liking the wooden contraption in the back room or over the bar, but after a few drinks I could learn to love it… maybe.
This was only the second day opening at Communal, so I’m giving Communal 3 stars, but looking/​hoping to be surprised in the future.