Third visit, just love the concept, does not matter how busy they are, there is no pressure, order what you want when you want.
Could recommend some far better house wines from the area.
Considering the tasting room has such great reviews we had high hopes for the common room. Food lacked in flavor and was not very exciting. Everything we ordered was pretty much thrown on our table at once shortly after ordering which wasn't that much fun. It was also not clear who was talking care of us for the meal. I wouldn't recommend it.
Great food concept, obnoxious service | By Karine | Thursday, 28 April 2011
We ended at the Common Room yesterday without really having planned it.
The lady welcoming you at the front is totally obnoxious, does not make eye contact and you really feel like "really you are so lucky to get in be grateful, be very grateful". The waitress was a lot better, but still that South African natural genuine friendliness was totally missing.
The food was great, except for the risotto which we all agreed was not up to standard and should not be served.
The tartare and the calamari are some of these dishes you want to go back for!
And that honey comb ice cream is a winner!
The idea of doing things in a different way | By Luc | Saturday, 16 April 2011
Twelve tiny oysters (R16 each) not even served on ice and not a single piece of bread to go with it. Then duck rillettes, risotto and the sabayon... we were far from impressed by the food. This is a tapas option, not a fine lunch/dining experience. Service is very professional and the setting (on the back stoep) can hardly be better, but this Common Room is more about the idea of doing things in a different way in Franschhoek than really adding something to the food scene there.
A good review in the Guide backed up by positive reader reviews on this site prompted a lunchtime visit to The Common Room in Franschhoek. We had read the note in the book review that this venue does not accept reservations and arrived reasonably early. It was a particularly hot day and the cool interior or garden tables looked inviting but were fully booked! Yes, they have changed their policy and now accept table bookings! We were offered a table on the streetside veranda, which we accepted.
The Book Review and reader's reviews proved accurate. We chose to share several of the small, Tapas style, dishes including, for example, warm roasted olives, satay spiced squid with peanuts and coriander, fried parmesan gnocchi with spiced brinjal and Swiss chard, chicken and duck liver parfait with salted plum and ciabatta and grilled vegetables. Each dish was a delightful blend of complimentary flavors, cooked to perfection and elegantly presented. A big plus is that several good quality local wines are available by the glass allowing you to mix and match you wine to your meal.
We finished up with a white chocolate and granadilla pudding with creme fraiche for my wife and summer berries and lemongrass sabayon for myself. The service was attentive without being intrusive. The experience was first class all the way!
The entire meal including wine, sweets, coffee and a 10% tip worked out at just over R200 a head.
What a great surprise. | By david | Friday, 04 March 2011
Wow. What a great improvement on the previous incarnation "Ici". This a different experience for Franschhoek in that, unlike most other places that use the expression in SA, they do understand that Tapas means small dishes not just that the food comes all at once. The smallish prtions make it fun to sample a number of dishes, all of which show particular attention to precise flavour combinations. With prices between 20 and 40 for most dishes except the crayish (which was only 80) and quality much closer to The Tasting Room than to the typical hotel coffee shop, the value was outstanding, particularly for LQF. Caesar salad and a wonderful , rich, mushroom risotto were great and lightly curried squid with onion and peanuts outstanding. Attention to detail was shown by the precise "crunchy but not raw" platter of grilled vegetables. Over-all both the best cooked and best value lunch in Franschhoek and worth 3 stars of anyone's money.
Great concept | By Stephen | Friday, 21 January 2011
I visited with a client for lunch yesterday and was impressed with the food and service. The concept of small and reasonably priced portions is great. I had a Ceasar salad. Simple Cos leaves with flakes of parmesan, crutons and a creamy dressing was delicious but difficult to eat from the bowl it arrived in so I asked for a plate and decanted it. Andre started with a buffalo mozzarella salad which was well presented and tasty. To follow we both had risotto with mushroom and peas - creamy and generously endowed with mushrooms. It came in small individual bowls. To finish Andre had a half grilled crayfish, very reasonably priced at R80 and we wound up with excellent coffee. There is a good varied selection of wines by the glass and the whole experience was one which definitely calls for a repeat visit. This is a good addition to the Franschhoek restaurant scene