Common Grounds Restores Faith

Eat It
By Rachel Birdsell
TFW Contributing Writer

Preamble Ramble

I broke up with Common Grounds a few years ago after a couple of rounds of bad service and even worse food. I was heartbroken because it has always been one of my favorite Fayetteville eateries. I decided to give the brunch another go because I can’t hold a grudge forever and I was hungry.

Food for Thought

I opted for the Cowboy Scrambler, which is a plate of three scrambled eggs with roasted peppers, onions, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and garlic tossed in with salsa, uncommon potatoes and a side of fruit. It was delicious.

The eggs were just right — not too dry from overcooking and the extras weren’t so strong that you couldn’t find the flavor of the eggs anymore.

The salsa was fresh and had a slightly fermented taste, but a good kind of fermented. Maybe “aged” would be a better way to describe it.

The uncommon potatoes were chunked and spiced and cooked to perfection.

If I was a total dork, I’d say the Cowboy Scrambler was eggceptional.

Bottoms Up

I ordered the declared “World’s Best Bloody Mary” because Bloody Marys are what thou shalt have for Sunday morning brunch, right? I’m not sure who decided the Bloody Mary at Common Grounds is the world’s best, but they really should get out more.

The menu claims they use their own “unique Infused Vodka.” I wasn’t able to place exactly what they infuse the vodka with, but I’m guessing maybe lighter fluid. The vodka overpowered everything else.

After I got past feeling like I’d just tasted an 11th-grade chemistry experiment, I got slapped by the overwhelming taste of garlic. Don’t get me wrong, I love garlic, but after a few sips of my drink, I could have warded off a few vampire armies.

I’m pretty sure that tomato juice was somewhere in there, but I won’t swear to it. I think the “world’s best” Bloody Mary would be better suited to being served in a beaker.

The Sporkcast

(1-5 sporks)

<25B2> Atmosphere: 5 wood-grained sporks with leather handles. The atmosphere is cozy, but at times I felt crowded; probably because of being seated along the wall in the main aisle. The walls are lined with art for sale from local artists, and I love restaurants that support the arts.

There are sofas and big comfy chairs for laptop usage and coffee sipping.

<25B2> Food: 4.6 shiny sporks – 1.2 chemical and garlic infused sporks = 3.4 still pretty shiny sporks.

The menu is quite massive, and with the plethora of food choices, you’re sure to find something you’ll like.

The drink menu is also extensive. As well as having at least 258 different kinds of coffee (that could be a slight exaggeration, but there are a lot!), they also offer a full bar. Plus, if the website can be believed, you can order take-home bottles of wine and can even do so on Sundays.

<25B2> Staff: 5 sporks. I was very well taken care of and checked on just the right amount of times.

<25B2> Dollars spent: Around $15. The prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner stay right around the $7-$10 range. Drinks are $3 bottle o’ beer, $5 for pints, and $7-$8 for mixed drinks.

<25B2> Chance of Returning: I don’t know what happened to bring Common Grounds back to the place I once loved, but my faith has definitely been restored.

I am happy to announce that Common Grounds and I are once again going steady. Just don’t tell it I’m cheating with more than a handful of other restaur