The Common in Stratford

The food, service, atmosphere and presentation are all top notch.

Our first time and not the last. Everything about our experience was incredible. From the warm, big smile welcome to the great service, excellent recommendations and delicious food. We had gin thyme and gin basil sour cocktails. We were more excited about the appetizers so decided to share the squash galette, gyoza and the brussel sprouts. Excellent choice. Our next course was the steak on frites and jus, delicious. I would recommend offering the option of a crispy fry or less crispy, as it currently served.

Excellent Cuisine and Service.

I was absolutely wowed by the quality, taste, and presentation of all the door at our table of 7. The corn fritters and beef rib special was unctuous!

Nice patio out back, helpful and accommodating service, food was good. Thanks

We had a delicious dinner and great bottle of wine. The back patio is beautiful, I think one of the nicest in Stratford. The service was outstanding and best of all the patio was dog friendly! All round a lovely evening.

Delicious cocktails and the Cuban shrimp and pork was also delicious.

The Chef is excellent. The meal started with cocktail that was served as performance art. With smoke and thyme to go with the gin and grapefruit juice. The appetizers of vodka meatballs and coconut squash soup were excellent and a perfect size. The flavors of the main dish (shrimp scampi linguini) were infused through all of its ingredients. Had a new desert on the menu ginger rhubarb jelly. The layers of very different flavors combined for an amazing experience. The staff were great.

All around a great experience.

It s been a long time since I ve had the perfect balance of great food, hospitality and all round elevated at home feel. My partner and I will absolutely make this our home from home, top notch.

Great food, fantastic service. Tim is awesome.

Found this place in Stratford and went with my husband. It was a surprise tasting menu chefs choice. Every dish was awesome and tasty! Staff was excited and had great energy! Atmosphere was perfect, we had a booth that was separated by a curtain from the ceiling, felt very private. All around wicked place I will be back and I recommend :) I will also say it was refreshing to see an entire drink menu dedicated to non alcoholic drinks! So nice. thanks for a great dining adventure

I cant wait to go back.

Randomly ended up here on their Community Appreciation night. Amazing food, fantastic service, large and diverse drink menu. Definitely will be returning soon

Very good dining experience

Absolutely outstanding ambiance and excellent service. Fabulous patio and great and interesting decor! Good food; good drinks! We shall return!

I loved this place! Interesting and delicious menu items. Fun beverages with and without alcohol. Loved the interior - great Vibe!!! Patio is very cute - feels like a downtown New York restaurant. Everything was on point!! Except for one thing - you have to move the trash somewhere else - the patio smells - and has a ton of flies - not cool! I can t even imagine what it would be like on a hot summer day. You would get 10 stars if it wasn t for that . Otherwise a great place Vegetarian options: Plenty of options . Enjoyed the vegetarian dishes even though I m not vegetarian

I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was excellent. The drinks are excellent and the service is great too. Many delicious vegan options (except for dessert). We sat on the patio on a beautiful evening. The inside of the restaurant has a lot of character. The mushroom main dish was absolutely delicious. The cocktails were also delicious and creative. They were also mindful of time so we could get to the theatre. The non plant based eaters in my group also loved their food.

Love the atmosphere and the food was delightful. Staff was friendly and very attentive. Great experience.

Great vibe and drinks

Busy night?

This is a new place for us and it was quite lovely. Great service, not too loud, and we enjoyed everything!

Came here for a special date night after a day theatre thing, and it was completely fantastic!! We had a wonderful bartender, amazing atmosphere, terrific service and sublimely delicious food. Just a win on all levels. Vegetarian options: Delicious vegetarian options

Good food. Excellent service. Loved sitting outside.

Has potential but lacks in execution. The menu has some really interesting options and shows creativity bringing ideas together. The atmosphere is quaint and the patio is very nice on a summer afternoon. The staff were very friendly and welcoming but, as the evening went on, there was some obvious lack of organization and attention to detail. We ordered the Num Tung and daily fish special (Mahi Mahi) for mains. The Num Tug was good but lacking the kick from the szechuan peppercorns that we were expecting (and were warned about by the server). The fish was plated well but quite raw with only a sear on the outside. The server was very apologetic and had the fish recooked for us. It was unclear if this was the intended preparation or an error in the kitchen. Either way, this lack of attention to details (in the kitchen or description of the dish) should be unacceptable at this price point. We requested a water refill twice during dinner (from two different servers), neither of whom ever brought more water. We had to ask for the bill twice (again from two different servers) and it took almost 20 minutes to get the bill. It seems as though there was some confusion with the servers about who was responsible for our table. At the time, the patio and dining room were ~2/3 full and the number of servers seemed appropriate for the number of patrons. We had high expectations of The Common and had heard positive reviews from our host in Stratford. Unfortunately, the restaurant did not live up to its reputation or price point ($180 for 2xdrinks, 2x apps, 2x mains +tax&tip).

We had an amazing anniversary dinner with wonderful service. We look forward to returning next time were in town!

I had my wedding reception at The Common and it was perfect. The team there had so many great suggestions for food, but were always willing to do anything special or specific we wanted. They were happy to do whatever decor we wanted, but they have such an incredible vibe and atmosphere already we didnt need anything else. They have a beautiful outdoor patio, perfect for cocktails on a sunny September evening (or any other time as they have shade and heaters available). The food was amazing and so were the drinks. Everyone on staff (wait-staff, chef, bartender, managers) all know excellent service. You certainly pay the high-end service price, so if thats what youre looking for then The Common is the place to be. A treat for all of our guests.

Been to The Common 4 times over the past 2 years. The consistency at a high level is as remarkable as it is rare. Times visited have varied, as have staff engaged. Have seen every dynamic in those visits. Doesn t matter, they run a tight ship front of house and outstanding quality and skills back of house. Whether a terrific cocktail, unique appetizer or creative main, the food and beverage is precise and on point. Staff is friendly, attentive, and professional, strikingly different than other establishments who are uneven. Indoor dining is great, sometimes with a live band, which is a nice touch, and the patio is truly magical in ambience, comfort and perfect playlist music. Some comments say pricey, not for the service and quality, frankly it is right on the mark. Worthy of a Michelin star? Darn close IMO, but with that comes a delta in customer demands that may not be worth it to be honest. The Common sits in a rarified space - so good to surprise and delight, but not pretentious or underperforming. It is hard to compare it, which tells me Tim and the crew know what s what and nail it while Cass and staff perform so well that you leave feeling as you should: pleased, satisfied with just a titch of special. The Common punches above its weight class and may, in fact, be misnamed - it is uncommon - a welcome experience that is hard to find and harder to replicate. Highly recommend!

Amazing food and atmosphere! Would recommend!!

Was the best meal so far in Stratford and we will be back. Thank you!!!

The quality of the food did not match the price point. We ordered the pickerel special ($40) and Khao Soi Gai ($35), and for that cost would expect something excellent. However it was very simple, a seared piece of fish with under seasoned steamed vegetables and (admittedly tasty) mashed potatoes. The chicken curry was not bad, but we were really hoping for something fantastic. The service was also fine, which again is quite below expectations for this level of restaurant. Cocktails and overall atmosphere of the space were very nice

Where to begin let s start with the fact that Cassandre went above and beyond. I had planned my birthday weekend celebration well over a month ago, theatre and dinner reservations the dining establishment canceled last minute cause they decided to close and sell (hard to believe this was a last minute decision, regardless it left many diners scrambling) - anyway that s a whole other story. Cassandre to the rescue!! We really wanted to have dinner in Stratford as we are both from out of town. The Common staff went above and beyond to accommodate my friend and I. They were able to find space for us into their cosy and very cool restaurant, and were extremely kind and empathetic to our predicament. I cannot thank the whole staff for rescuing our night and capping off a wonderful birthday weekend. Now the food. Delicious, tantalizing, mouth watering a veritable symphony in our mouths ..I had the steak and my friend had the duck leg .omg. Amazing. Dessert was crème brûlée for my friend and for me a pear cake. We were blown away by the food. Like Stratford, do you know what an incredible gem this place is?!!! The atmosphere is cool and dining space is beautifully decorated!! From the bottom of my heart I want to thank every one of the staff that we had the good fortune to meet and chat with. I m not sure you understand how much of a difference you made for me today, it I genuinely cannot thank you enough. Highly recommend!!!

The word amazing does not even do this place justice. The flavours are unbelievable!!

Went here last night everything about The Common was phenomenal! The service, the food, and the atmosphere. We tried the mussels, steak, and bao everything about our dinner so delicious!

Would highly recommend The Common! The service, staff and food are one of a kind. I had the Steak and Fries and can not wait to have it again. They had live music the night we were there too and that was just the cherry on top! Cant wait to go back.

Laid back atmosphere to enjoy excellent food & drink. Staff are professional & knowledgeable

Just perfect. The food, the staff, the space. Love the patio and little booths inside. Might be my favourite new spot when visiting Stratford. Highly recommended.

Wed just seen an afternoon production of King Richard and left the theatre hungry. By luck, we happened upon The Common. Little did we know, we were about to experience a delightful evening. Without a reservation, we snuck our heads in and received a friendly greeting and immediately felt welcome. The atmosphere was intoxicating.. Dine inside or out. All three of our dinners were exquisite. Tastes and textures to delight. Let me finish by saying the food was excellent. The service was excellent. The wine selection was excellent. If youre going to Stratford, this restaurant is a must.

Great food and service, best frites ever! 10/10

Very cozy garden at the back, food was great, but effort should be put into minimizing about of flies. It was extremely annoying. Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian choices

Love the atmosphere of this place. Very friendly staff, great food and fast service. What more could someone ask for.

Great food, lovely staff and owner, great location.

All round excellent.

The best experience. We loved both the delicious food and exceptional attitude of the personnel. Everyone was very welcoming and nice. Will totally recommend this place

Nice outdoor patio

The service was great, but I was disappointed with our appetizer. Grilled calamari, which two of us split, and it was a very small portion. Came on a bed of greens with no dressing at all on them! Just a wedge of lemon for the calamari. No flavour at all to this dish, and $16, too small for 2 people to share, and I told our server we would be sharing it. My main was okay; a salmon special. My mom had the steak frites which she said was great. Maybe thats the dish to order. Wanted to love it, but just okay.

The best dinner experience. The staff are so welcoming and interactive throughout our whole dinner. The food was spectacular. Eat without borders is definitely the perfect definition of this restaurant. You will have the choice of all different kinds of food. You will not find food like this anywhere else. Also Tim ( the owner) had some spare time from the kitchen to welcome us to the common. Definitely will come back!

Second time at the Common. Excellent service, beyond excellent wine and wonderful food!! Great choice for dinning in Stratford

Stopped in for a drink. Liked the style or the place. Not ordinary. Which is a great thing about bars in Stratford. Not ordinary.

We made a special trip to enjoy The Common and it exceeded my expectations. The food is phenomenal (try the Canapes!) and the hospitality is outstanding.

Beautful place, beautiful people and amazing food.

Just had take out from The Common. Staff were so incredibly accommodating and the food was spectacular! Cant wait to go back!

Nice food and a great variety of cocktails. Sangria was really good.

Ate here for a birthday dinner, was pretty disappointed. For the price I thought the service should have been a bit better. $36 for a steak I expect it to be pretty good, couldn t eat half of it because it was so tough and fatty. The part I could eat was really amazing, garlic butter melting on the top. Patio was over crowded. I get that restaurants have to make it work with the space they have, but I really felt as though the tables were too close, very loud. I think I would have a better experience dining indoors, and hope to be back to try that.

Really great evening. Very interesting vibe. Wonderful food and service.

We where there for dinner last Saturday night It was my brother in law and sister in laws 50th Wedding Anniversary Was extremely disappointed the rose I ordered you where out of and we heard how great the lamb shanks where you where out of them as well We came from London to take them out So all in all it was very disappointing The patio is lovely if you had the wine and the dinner we wanted It would have been a great night Not a disappointing one

This is my favourite restaurant in Stratford. The atmosphere is fantastic - especially the lovely patio. The staff is always super friendly. And the food is wonderful! Amazing flavors, beautifully presented. Both take-out and dine-in are consistently delicious. Try the pork bao bun appetizer - crazy good.

Discriminating against Canadians....how dare you? Who do you think keeps you open......bad choice!

Really good food, sweet service. Just a bit noisy with exhaust fans in the beautiful courtyard.

I loved their outdoor patio! Service was fantastic and food even better ! I look forward to going back with friends !!

the most beautiful place to share a charcuterie board and deliciously innovative cocktails! excellent service and wonderfully surprising local cuisine!

Last minute choice and we were not disappointed. Friendly atmosphere, excellent wait staff and the food was delicious. Will def. be back.

This was a fantastic restaurant! I had the duck and the pot-de-chocolat, which were both incredible. Their cocktails are unique and the one that I had was delicious. Will definitely return.

Ive tried to come here several times. Theyre always closed, even when their hours are posted on insta.

I called ahead and made reservations, as I have celiac and wanted to make sure that there was something I could eat. I was assured basically the entire menu could be modified- this was not the case. My server (who might I add was absolutely lovely) let me know that my options were the $38 steak frites (minus the frites) or the vegan spring rolls. I went with the rolls, they were okay, and I didn t get sick from them, so that s always good. Beautiful beautiful patio out back, but nobody was overly impressed with their food. Our server was absolutely lovely, but I think perhaps a little overwhelmed. With new menu, I d try it again, just very disappointed with the miscommunication regarding what I could/couldn t eat.

The food was excellent. Fresh, and so many flavours. Masterfully done, especially the dumpling appetizer. Our waiter was attentive, and very welcoming. Great job all around.

Great atmosphere. Very accommodating. Excellent food.

The food was delicious. I found the portions to be small for the price paid. And the chef did miss the request for no tomato.

Cant say enough good things about this restaurant! Amazing atmosphere, food and service! One of my favourite places to eat in Stratford. Definitely a must try and hidden gem!

This place was great. Amazing food and amazing service!

Best hidden patio in Stratford

Love, love, love it here, delicious food and fantastic service.

Great food and staff

Great service and s wonderful dinner. Thank you.

Great food and environment.

Stopped in between plays and were fantastically surprised with how incredible the food was. The aloo curry was so good I had to hold myself back from licking the bowl.

A nice place but we run into small things that made me rate it 4. We arrived at our reserved time and the greeter had no idea were to sit us. The waitress to our appetizer order and promised to come back for mains once we finished the appetizers. Meanwhile we are stuck with the menus on the relatively small table. When asked another waitress whats on tap. She said shes underage and doesnt know (good for her!). The somewhat samosa was excellent. Chicken salad was perfect. My pasta was excellent and my wifes a bit colder so they took care of it. Daily pie was great. Bottom line great food just need some touches on wait staff.

Dinner and service was amazing!

Fantastic experience! Dropped in tonight before our show at the Avon theatre and couldnt have been happier about the decision. Food was off the trolley! We had the crispy duck leg and ossobuco. Finished it with the chocolate cake (you havent lived until youve put that in your mouth!). Our server was excellent and attentive, and chef came by a few times to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Will for sure be back to try some more of this tasty menu!

Delicious food; pleasant and efficient service.

First time there and very good!

What a nice place! The food was delicious (especially the burger and the artichoke soup), the menu is really special and diverse so there is something for everyone. Our server was super nice and made us feel at home. We also enjoyed the atmosphere and the music a lot. Cant wait to go back!

Great food and atmosphere. Taste buds were a fan of the pork tenderloin.

Very good, freshly made food. Wonderful presentation. A little noisy atmosphere which made it hard to have conversation. Could have just been the crowd that night.

Recommend the Common 100%. Great vibe, music, and service... definitely will come back!! :)

Had a great lunch at The Common with the family. My wife and I had the gnocchi which was great. The kids both had the burgers. Food and vibe to the place was awesome and service was great. Will definitely be coming back next time we go to Stratford.

Great meal great service great drinks. Thx tim

Fantastic restaurant with a diverse menu. I never imagined a chicken liver pâte brûlée becoming one of my favorite dishes.

Awful experience... Will never go back there again.

Succulent fresh food. Can get extremely busy.

Great patio

This was the perfect place for our dinner after a matinee on 13 July, with a comfortable atmosphere on the patio, attentive service, and nutritious vegetarian options (I enjoyed the baingan bharta). One caution: a deconstructed dessert might sound more impressive than it is! Wed recommend the charcuterie board appetizer: lots of options and good quantity.

Completely disappointing experience. Took over an hour and half to be served appetizers and mains. The server was inattentive, and just opted to avoid our table. Another couple was seated after us , received their food, paid, and left before we even got our mains. Advised that we had theater tickets and received our mains fifteen minutes before the play started, despite arriving an hour and forty-five minutes before the play.

Good food and great service

Visited twice in one week and was very happy both times. Super cocktails and desserts. Luncheon menu is varied and reasonably priced. Attentive and professional service. Clearly the front-of-house manager knows what she is doing.

Excellent food, service. Lovely atmosphere.

Food is good. Atmosphere is nice. They are just slow service. Takes them a while to make the dishes.

A lovely atmosphere, delicious food, interesting wines, and a super friendly hostess!

Had the daily seafood with family and everything was excellent, including the atmosphere and music.