Food is ok. Poor presentation and poor service. Slow and didn't get any refills. There are better options.
(3)
Tonja F.
Okay-first let me say I've been coming here since 90's and looked forward to it every time. Today I was totally disappointed. Came in with family to get a Bloody Mary and also ordered salads (you know, a well balanced lunch). So, the Bloody Mary was average at best-a pool of tomato juicy flavor at the bottom and the rest was just okay. nothing to write home about. The Funky Monkey, which is actually no longer on the menu was lacking the "FUNK". While we appreciate that someone thought they could resurrect it for us it just didn't hit the mark. It was more like a vanilla milkshake. Salads-BUST! Caesar salad wasn't well dressed, included sun dried tomatoes (which in my opinion have no place in a Caesar salad), and whole when croutons made from slices of sandwich bread (plain, dry and unseasoned). Greek salad came to the table and we were notified that they were out of feta cheese...well then it ain't a geek salad dude ! No we don't want Parmesan or cheddar instead. The waiter was kind enough to offer us a different salad which gave us hope but when we received the less than impressive Spinach with pecan salad we pretty much have up all hope that lunch would be satisfying at all. You win some- you lose some. What was once a favorite hangout is now part of my college life history. Somewhere I used to go and enjoy everything I ordered. Am I suggesting that you shouldn't check it out??? No, not at all. I'm just saying I'm not going back. I've enjoyed it but it's clearly time to move on.
(2)
Michael F.
Very nice meal. Quick, friendly service. Young man had recently relocated from SoCal. Had the Daddy Warbucks coffee drink and a large entree called the Screaming Buddha. Both excellent. Wife's meal equally good. Eclectic atmosphere. Will definitely return.
(4)
Daisy D.
Stopped in for breakfast with the fam when I was in town for graduation. Cute little (well, really not so little) place with a quirky atmosphere. Reminded me of a place back home which is always nice to find when you're on the road. While the idea of a cappuccino or other breakfast beverage was on my mind, getting a bottomless cup of coffee with multiple flavor options on the coffee bar won out. It was hard to figure out what kind of breakfast mood I might be in, but when I saw Bagel & Lox on the menu, I knew what I wanted. I don't know what's come over me, but I've been almost obsessive about trying this everywhere I go lately. And I most say CG's was definitely at the top of my list. The bagel was well toasted, but still soft. They had spread just the right amount of schmear on top. And most people wouldn't pay attention to the cut of the tomato & red onion, but the ring of onion fitting perfectly around the slice of tomato was not lost on me. No sir. It gave me a little bit of everything with every bite which is exactly what you go for on a NY Style bagel. Definitely one of my favorite stops in Fayetteville.
(4)
D D.
Horrible drinks that taste like dirty carpet... No thanks! Keep your dirty carpet to yourself. This place was not what I expected and it needs a serious makeover/cleaning. I want good coffee, fair service, at a reasonable price. I didn't get either one. My fix is simple, so I expect that most coffee shops can take care of my fix. I'll hit a Starbucks up or suck a bullet before I get treated like that again. Good service goes a long way in the local business industry.
(1)
Tiffany S.
The common grounds offers live performances in a very comfortable environment and has areas for client meetings or school study sessions or work time. The food is delicious (I suggest pizza sticks) and the drinks are amazing. I would suggest it for everyone needing great food, internet and a place to meet up with clients or friends.
(5)
Nadeem M.
Coffee shops should not sell automated brewed coffee as espresso shots. The chicken pesto sandwich listed as smothered in pesto had hardly any pesto to speak of. What a disappointment.
(1)
Patty B.
Coffee drinks are mediocre at best and overpriced. The atmosphere is laid back and chill, but not worth the price. I didn't find anything here that would make me want to come back.
(2)
Tori K.
The atmosphere and the menu were somewhat confusing. We walked in just wanting a coffee to go but didn't see anywhere to place a to go order and we got seated with menus. There were so many things on the menu that it made it too hard to decide. I settled on an Italian cream soda and it was ok. We waited forever for a check and ended up having to leave a tip on something I could just walk up and order anywhere else. Our 5 minute stop turned into an hour long ordeal. For the price and the awkward atmosphere, I don't think I will frequent here.
(2)
Hannah P.
The other reviews seem a bit surprising I had an excellent experience. Came in a 9 for dessert after eating at the Thai restaurant (which was awesome) as this was only a two minute walk from our b&b. the menu is huge.. I wish I would've been hungry bc a lot of things looked good! We had the espresso cheesecake and the original and shared, both were amazing. They drizzled it with syrup which I wish I would've known before but oh well amazing service as well + free wifi! Definitely recommend of you're looking for dessert and drinks!
(5)
Brenda-David L.
Love everything on the menu and the coffeehouse is the best in the area. Oh stay way from the deserts because they are addictive!! The only reason I gave three stars instead of five is the service - it varies depending on who is on staff - I have been there when it is packed and not so packed and have had great service and bad service which did not depend on how busy they were - confusing I agree so they get three stars
(3)
Lindsy B.
Regardless of how busy a weekend, service should never be this bad. My entire family was in town from California for my graduation and before everyone flew home Sunday(mother's day) we wanted to grab breakfast together. We decided to meet at 9:15am- as Common Grounds does not accept reservations, 4 of our 8 arrived at 9 to get a table which was no problem. We placed our order by 9:20 which was great and timely. However, it all went down hill from there... My cousin ordered a specialty coffee which she received 10 minutes later- the coffee was undrinkable it was so sweet so she asked for something else in it's place to which the server rudely said, "you'll have to pay for it"... There was no apology or customer service. At 10:30 we still had no food (though we continued to inquire about it) and there were no drink refills. At 11am still no food and half of the people in our group now had to leave for the airport. We asked the server to please bring to-go boxes along with our food... Which is ridiculous. The food arrived at 11:20, exactly 2 hours after we ordered. Four of our 8 had to eat their meals on the way to the airport. Half of the orders were cold, though plates warm. Again, the server never apologized or even seemed to care. Our bill came to $152.00- nothing comped, no apologies...I realize it was one of the busiest weekends in town but that is no excuse for such horrible service and food. Don't go!
(1)
Sebastian P.
First and foremost, I want to mention that the employees that work at common grounds are absolutely wonderful. I've interacted with the majority of them and they are a delight. I'm here to talk about how terrible the food is. I have been eating here at least once a week for the past month because it's very close to my work and very convenient. I've tried about 7 different items on the menu only to be continuously disappointed. Their menu states that some items are served with "fresh fruit".... What you actually get is a half of a strawberry, a slither of honey dew melon, and a piece of romaine lettuce. The eggs are bland and flavorless. Everything else I've had tastes like it just came out of a microwave. I hate to speak ill of a local establishment considering the fact that I work at a local establishment myself and am in the service industry, but I just want this place to have integrity and understand that the quality of food they're putting out is not up to par with what the menu describes.
(1)
K B.
This is honestly the worst place I've ever eaten at. I've been here twice (the second time only because I was with friends and they were set on it and I wanted to spend time with them) but I won't be back. My first visit I had a pizza (black bean I think?) and it was "meh". Would have rated the experience two stars. My second visit I got a sandwich (chicken with jalapeños) and it was awful. The chicken itself was so overcooked that it was hard enough to literally cut the roof of my mouth. I bit into the sandwich and thought there was one of those sandwich toothpick things in it because something really hurt my mouth but it was just the chicken. Even if the chicken had been cooked well (I don't know how you can ruin chicken this much!) the rest of the sandwich was bland. It was essentially bread with chicken and jalapeños. Go somewhere else. Please.
(1)
Jim L.
Great place for any time of day. Wonderful folks. The coffee. The food. The staff. The patio. Just the best Give me a Blue Moon or a triple latte. Check them out.
(5)
Kim W.
Very good desserts (especially their carrot cake), but everything is on the expensive side. If you want to go here for just dessert and coffee, it's a good option, but if you want somewhere to have a full meal, you can get much cheaper elsewhere that is just as good. I took my boyfriend here when he was in from out of town, and he didn't think their coffee was anything special, and they unfortunately did not have many dairy-free options for dessert for him to eat either.
(3)
Minny R.
I love this great "hang out" on Dickson. The ambiance is inviting with color-coordinated decor and artwork for sale on the walls. I really appreciate the free wi-fi, many electrical plug-ins for laptop users like me, and a large TV on the wall behind the bar that usually shows sports events. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner... coffee and alcohol too. One disadvantage: Their prices are expensive. This isn't the place for you if you're tight on cash.
(5)
James F.
I love me some Sunday brunch, but this was one of the less enticing places I have been to for that particular meal. I saw the less than stellar reviews but thought I would chance it anyways. I had no issues whatsoever with the service, which I know was something that a few other people mentioned. However, I was thoroughly displeased with both the food and the coffee. Considering the place is named after coffee, I figured that at least would be good; however, their standard coffee tasted like they contracted it out to a gas station. I got one of their eggs platter, and everything on it ranged from "average" to "terrible;" the bacon was low quality and poorly cooked, the eggs were completely unseasoned and boring, and the potatoes had seemingly been cooked by someone blindly clutching at a spice rack mid-preparation and hoping for the best. All in all, there are definitely better places to go for brunch. The only reason it didn't get one star is because the service was good and, while the food was bad, it didn't lead to food poisoning, so that's something.
(2)
Stephanie K.
Really expensive, and not all that great coffee. I got something with cinnamon and it was literally undrinkable. Tasted like they had dumped an entire jar of cinnamon powder in it. And their service is EXTREMELY slow!! The only thing that saves them is their amazing cheese cake!
(2)
Morgan E.
Have been to this place both times I was in Fayetteville. Amazing atmosphere, indoor seating, bar seating and a gorgeous back patio. Server was great in getting us just what we wanted, and helpful with suggestions on food. Perfect place for brunch on a Saturday, and well priced. I had the 3 Little Pigs, bacon sausage and ham on an everything bagel with home fries. talk about delicious, I had never tried something like that and the waitress was right, it was great.
(5)
Deserey S.
I came in this morning because I was told this place was amazing. When we came in, no one greeted us so we went up to the bar and they said to seat ourselves and someone would be right with us. We sat for 5 minutes till we got water and menus. The gentleman said out server would be right with us. We waited another 10 minutes in which 3 waitresses and a waiter passed us without even a glance. There were waitresses cleaning tables, putting up menus, wiping doors down and the bartenders were chatting it up behind the bar. A new table even sat down and was waited on IMMEDIATELY. This was absolutely ridiculous and decided to share with you the horrible service we received. We decided to leave, in which I decided to let the bartender know that we were leaving because we were there for a total 15 minutes and no one even took our drink order.
(1)
Lea M.
The bloody Mary's are maybe average (I've had much better). The coffee is average. Plenty of seating inside and out. My issues are these: having to pay for any parking in the area (it's a headache to find the pay-spot, remember my parking space number, etc). The supreme nachos would have been good had the beans not been rancid. I returned the nachos. I hoped I and my date wouldn't get sick later. Instead of comping my meal, they gave me a % off card for next time. There has been no next time. Yuck.
(2)
Lola M.
My advice? GO ELSEWHERE. The place claims to be a Coffee House? Ironic, seeing as how the coffee is horrible (i'd be shocked if it WASN'T Folgers) and incredibly overpriced. What else is incredibly overpriced? Everything. On my most recent visit to this cave of an establishment, I ordered a Greek Salad with oil & vinegar on the side as dressing - the lettuce was bitter, found some mold on the cheese....and the total bill? ELEVEN. DOLLARS. I asked the waitress why I had been charged an additional THREE DOLLARS - her response? The extra dressing. Never have I ever been charged for oil & vinegar. Like, ever. This place is horrid. If you're looking for great coffee and great food (most of which comes from local farms and not off the back of a Sysco truck) check out Arsaga's Creperie and the Brick House Kitchen. You'll thank yourself (and wallet) in the end.
(1)
Tim S.
I stop here every time I am in Fayetteville to see the Razorbacks. I actually really like this place. The bad reviews are puzzling to me. I'm not here to bash the reviewers who rated this place low. I'll stick with my own experiences here. I love coffee places like this. You can get all kinds of coffee, including spiked coffee. What's cool is you can also get wine and beer. It's like a Starbuck with an alcohol selection. They also have food as well. The food is alright. Not great or outstanding but it is very satisfying. Every time I show up here the place is very busy. If it sucked like some are saying then I doubt they would have lasted this long. If your looking for a place to chill then I highly recommend.
(4)
Adam M.
I absolutely loved this coffee shop! The service was great and the coffee FRESH! I had the Vanilla Lattè. Wonderful! :)
(5)
Luke C.
Been going to common grounds off & on for the last 12 years. In all my travels, it doesn't get much better. I love their coffee, breakfast, drinks and hours. Good work!
(5)
Mary C.
If I could give this place a negative star rating I would. I can't speak for the food as we never got to eat. We got there and found a table and sat there for 15minutes before a server came over to ask if we wanted water and coffee. He left and never came back. After another 15min we decided to move to the bar for better service. Made it to the bar we were given cups for coffee and menus. We ordered and then waited...for an hour. We asked about our order and the server said he forgot to put it in and just walked away. No apology or explanation, not even an offer to rush a new order. So we left. I would suggest you find another location for breakfast. This place will waste your day!
(1)
Austin N.
Awesome breakfast food - get the Screaming Buddha. Staff is super friendly. Will definitely be coming back
(5)
Zachary S.
Meh, good enough coffee for a diner and the deserts are good when you've been drinking on Dixon. Their scrambled eggs are DISGUSTING, "premixed" and taste like styrofoam (about the same texture too). They even ruin the fruit!! Service is good about 10% of the time, 50% of the time bad, 40% of the time it's terrible.
(1)
Derek T.
Trying to find a great breakfast place before I left Razorback-ville, we were directed here. My initial disappointment at not being able to have the two or three eggs over-easy I craved was quickly offset by the very friendly and capable service - and the fresh-cracked eggs scrambled into whatever your desired done-ness and heart desire. Okay, at $8+ dollars the Cowboy scramble was a little steep - but I was a very stuffed and happy camper for the whole 5-hour drive back to Miz-Zou country. I took a slice of carrot cake back with me as well. Jumping Jehosaphat, that slice was almost 1/4 of a normal cake. Took me two nights of dessert to eat it (no, I did NOT share!!!) -and every bite was carrot-cake heaven...
(3)
R H.
I agree with most of the reviews about CG. Coffee-8 Food-4 Service-4 Beer Selection-8 Atmosphere-6 (obviously a coffee house motif) Desserts-4(I'm not into Frozen Sysco products) I have eaten here numerous times over the last 12 years or so, and the food quality/consistency has stayed the same. This is not the worst place you could go, but it wouldn't be on my top 25 eateries/bars to visit when you come to Fayettenam.
(2)
Timothy E.
Coffee, coffee, coffee. I have two requirements for a coffee joint, and it is met here. Coffee. The more the better. And...Wi-Fi. They have it! As much coffee as you want to drink, and usually at least five kinds to choose from, mix or match. I prefer the morning life to the night life here. Strange mix of people at night, coffee people, food people, drinking people...they all seem to be sizing each other up...haha. But mornings seem to belong to me.
(4)
Taylor W.
Expensive to the maximum. The breakfast and pizzas are good (ie. the breakfast pizza), and the patio is enjoyable. And the snickerdoodle coffee and free WIFI are worth returning for. Used to be a regular. Now I just go when others want to go there.
(2)
Abby T.
This place has quite a nice menu selection! Their breakfast is delicious but the lunch leaves a little to be longed for. Apparently they have a nice breakfast buffet as well. Our server spilled a bunch of balsamic vinegar and oil on me, like a complete stoner, but I am not faulting the restaurant for this kid waiter. He should have been more careful. I like the outdoor seating area of this establishment too. If I ever return to Fayatteville, I will definitely stop into Common Grounds.
(4)
Kate H.
As soon as we moved to Fayetteville, we were told to have breakfast at Common Grounds. We eagerly anticipated a fantastic breakfast based on word of mouth, and when we saw the creativity that went into designing the menu, we just knew we wouldn't be disappointed. How wrong we were.... Despite consistent rave reviews about the Bloody Marys, I was unimpressed by mine. I felt it was underseasoned and watery by the time it reached us. Both us ordered specialty items from the menu--the Breakfast Pizza and the Breakfast Quesadilla--and both somehow managed to be boring and bland. After paying $40 for such a disappointing breakfast, I don't expect to go back again.
(2)
Jenee F.
The reason I'm giving a poor review is because they put a mushroom in my boyfriend's meal after we had specifically sent back the last one that had mushrooms in it because he will have to be rushed to the ER if he eats one. There was only one mushroom in the whole plate, which he noticed before taking that bite. She told us that the cook "opened all new packages and used new bowls and utensils." If this is true then why was there a mushroom? My theory: They were sick of special orders. The day before I had ordered off the gluten free menu and they put gluten coated fried potatoes on my fruit and eggs and I sent it back. The cook was probably sick of this kind of thing. We have always been very polight and friendly. They did comp our meal (but my boyfriend went home hungry and blurry-headed from eating only a few bites and then discovering a mushroom). We left a 5 dollar tip for the server because it wasn't her fault. Most of the staff is pretty nice to us but if you have a food allergy nice doesn't always cut it. (Common grounds is one of two breakfast options for me because they have a gluten free menu. For breakfast, you have only 4 gluten free options. Hope you like eggs. And watch out, ordering off the gf menu does not mean they put it in that way to the cooks)
(1)
Sacha D.
I can not say enough how great this place is it's been there for yrs use to hang out there alot in high school every morning there bakery was better then but the atmosphere is still calm and laid back and the coffee and tea is great
(5)
Kris H.
I would really only recommend coming to Common Grounds for brunch, and then really only for the Bloody Mary. The food is okay, but too expensive for what it is. The food isn't always made from fresh ingredients, and you can tell. I like to sit on the back patio though, so I'm glad summer is here.
(3)
Whitney W.
When my fiance and I had our first official "date" we came here and shared the hummus platter. Afterwards we took a walk around Lake Fayetteville and had our first kiss, which tasted like hummus. I will never forget that.
(5)
Sam B.
I loved the friendly service, the wide variety of menu items, free wifi and great atmosphere. I highly recommend "Lotsa Lox", it's one of the tastiest dishes I've had in a long time.
(5)
Robert G.
Visited 8/5/10 It should be noted here that this review is only of Common Grounds as a drinking establishment. I didn't eat anything, and I didn't order coffee. However, i did sit on the back patio with several grad students and order two beers and one drink. And i spent 18 bucks. This, as the kids say, is bullshit. FIrst of all, our waitress was non-existent. I know people hate to read about industry stuff like staffing, but as a former culinary professional, I can tell you that if you can't get your staffing levels right, then its "Danger, Will Robinson!" time. While the website and online menu were impressive, i found the operation to be a bit lackluster. Someone below compared Common Grounds to Austin's Kirby Lane. I lived in Austin for the last three years and have dined at several of the Kirby Lanes, and i can tell you that Common Grounds isn't even close. Its not even the homeless man's KL. And its not in the same universe as Magnolia Cafe. Because they allow smoking on the back patio, i brought my own cigar (the cigar selection, while, i suppose, a nice revenue enhancer, was not spectacular). As i often do when i smoke, i ordered a Jameson Irish Whisky (the standard, they don't carry the 12 year, though i don't penalize for that) on the rocks. What I got, several minutes later, was a rocks glass that was completely full of ice, with a liquid that was 75% water and a splash of Jameson. I paid $7 for the privilege. Now, I don't mean to deviate from my review of Common Grounds, but let us all take a quick review in how a proper Jameson rocks should be poured. In a rocks glass, place no more than two large, or three medium sized ice cubes. Onto the ice, pour two fingers of Jameson Irish Whisky. Serve immediately. Notice that liquid water is not in the mix. If i'm going to pay $7 bucks for a glass of whisky, it had better be nothing but whisky. (oh, and a further note to those who don't drink, American and Scottish whiskeys have an e before the y. Irish Whisky does not.) After the stunning disappointment that was my Jameson, i waited for a good 20 minutes before ever receiving so much as a glance from the waitress. You'd think, since i just ordered a $7 and looked to be sticking around that i'd warrant attentive service. Apparently, you would be wrong. Given that i could not trust the bar to pour a proper drink, i ordered a Boulevard Wheat. Getting a second one a little while later proved as difficult as the first, and when i asked another waiter for the beer, he simply said he'd find my waitress. She printed tickets before anyone asked for them, and was generally inefficient, inattentive, and unacceptable. The only reason i left a tip and did not ask to speak to the manager was because i was with a group. Had I been alone or with a smaller number of people, I most certainly would have. All in all, as a drinking establishment, Common Grounds is so unacceptable as to not warrant the single star Yelp requires me to give it. But since i must give it one star, i will say that at no point was there any sort of structural collapse, alien invasion, or violent squirrel attack while i was there. For that, Common Grounds gets one star. For everything else, they shall never have my business again. oh, and PS: I have it on very, very good authority that the vast majority of the food at Common Grounds is not only not fresh, its microwaved. Having not eaten there, i cannot personally confirm this, but my source is quite knowledgeable about the food industry.
(1)
Red G.
We were really disappointed with the breakfast. We were trying to get away from the hotel buffet, but we fell right into it. This place has sooo much potential! The menu LOOKS great!, but the eggs are powdered and the potatoes were the pre-made frozen type. Coffee was decent. I would definitely look for somewhere else to eat - even if the food wasn't better, at least I wouldn't have to pay "fresh" prices for reheated bland food.
(1)
Callan C.
I agree with Tay Tay. CG is one of those places that you continue to end up at but never really enjoy. It's kind of pretentious and isn't really that excellent. I will say that daytime service seems to be a little more attentive than the evening service. The menu has remained unchanged, it seems, for quite a while and it would also be nice if the aesthetics were a little more updated. Main complaints are the overprices and super slow service.
(2)
Penny M.
I think I like the location and atmosphere of Common Grounds way more than anything else about it. The food can be good, particularly for lunch. There are a couple good salads (the California Chicken Salad is good), and the Garden Pasta has been consistently tasty when I've had it.. The side items that come with most meals (bland roll or plain tortilla chips) leave a lot to be desired, but they are just included side items. No big deal there. Breakfast is sort of another story. Everything I've ever ordered for breakfast there tastes pretty much exactly like every other thing I've ordered. This is not to say it tastes bad - there just isn't really much variety. The coffee is good, but nothing I couldn't make at home. Everything on the menu in general seems like it costs a little more than it should. We've also had to wait for our food for way too long to be worth it. One Saturday afternoon (around 2pm and after the lunch rush), my husband and I were told we could order, but food might take 20 minutes or so. We had some time to spare and books to read, plus the 20 minute wait was more or less what we'd already expected, so we agreed. We had to wait an hour and a half before my salad and his sandwich (neither of which involved anything more intricate than a microwave) to show up. While we had willingly agreed to wait a little while, I find this completely ridiculous. That said, it's not a bad place to go and hang out for awhile, if you're not intending to have a major meal or are in a rush of any kind. I like the changing artwork on the walls and being able to people watch out the windows. The patio is usually a nice place to be with a group. My pleasant experiences going and ordering something small (a desert and coffee or a drink) almost, but not quite, balance out the more unpleasant experiences.
(3)
Derek M.
The food at Common Grounds is nothing spectacular. In fact, sometimes it is downright awful. The service is slow -- it seems they are constantly understaffed. The coffee is also mediocre. Common Grounds is a bad version of Austin's Kerbey Lane. However, they serve food late at night and the bloody mary is decent. Don't worry Common Grounds, I'll probably be back in you next time I visit Fayetteville.
(2)
Nathan S.
Yum! Great breakfast and excellent coffee.
(5)
Katy N.
I'm from out-of-town; just stopped in for a mocha. Service was really friendly and mocha was delicious.
(5)
Bo C.
Common Grounds, I suppose it's called this because it's a place you come to politely respect everyone else's tastes no matter how crappy. I suppose you can get an endless cup of snicker doodle coffee for 4 bucks, but I can get an endless cup of coffee at Waffle House for about 100 pennies...and the antiquated Waffle House commercial art on the walls could probably best most of the rotating local art in Common Grounds. Too bad Waffle House doesn't serve beer and mixed drinks, cause they too would probably not break the bank Grounds style. All things considered though, Common Grounds does have a friendly variety of menu items and beverages and the kitchen sometimes stays open till almost 11. You don't have to be afraid of bringing your vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, or even oxygenarian friends to this place cause they'll probably find something on the menu and find something on the walls to comment on. If you're a regular ole' carnivore like me though, the Big Dipper is a pretty good bet, but screw the horsey sauce and get some spicy mustard on the side. You'll thank me later. They also have a supposedly "famous" breakfast menu and sunday brunch...but like I said...there's always Waffle House.
(3)
Laura G.
My two experiences with Common Grounds left me less than impressed. First visit---I had a sandwich that was mozzarella/basil/tomato and it was the least flavorful thing I may have ever eaten. The second time, I just went for desserts and was just as unimpressed. The cheesecake was one big hunk that was hard to cut through with a fork and the cake completely separated from the crust almost immediately.
(2)
Shannon R.
I go to Common Grounds only when I'm walking on Dickson and crave a nice sit by the front window & a cup of decent coffee. Sadly, that's all I ever order at CG anymore; they used to be fantastic, but everything has gone downhill. The waitstaff is snooty and barely there, the food and drinks are mediocre, and they have strange rules about seating (no card games while you are waiting hours for your food!), when lunch or breakfast can be served, and everything takes forever to get to your table. Edit: I again found myself an unfortunate victim of Common Grounds three times in the past month. With such a central location between work, school, and my house combined with the late hours & wifi access, it's hard to stay away. I wish I had. I took away one of the two stars I had given CG because of my consistently bad experiences these past three times. While there is a definite improvement in the attentiveness and attitudes of the waitstaff (from zero to quite pleasant), the food has gone from bad to worse. From salads with forgotten dressing to salads with way, wayyy too much dressing (we're talking a literal cup of dressing on a plate-sized salad, which was unpalatable!), cold coffee drinks (which were supposed to be hot!), soup that was still cold in the middle, and an agonizingly long wait for bar drinks, everything that was barely acceptable about CG has disappeared. I'll miss the patio and the centralized location. I'll even miss the bizarre art on the walls. But this is one local business in Fayetteville that I will never frequent again. I'd rather go to ihop. Bummer, guys.
(1)
Jenae T.
As a local, I advise you to not waste your time. The service is slow, food is sub-par, and prices are too expensive. Dickson Street is great- but this, and Hog Haus, are not.
(1)
Aaron G.
I happen to like their breakfast (Buddha!) but the other comments are dead on about lunch and dinner. The place isn't really a restaurant but rather a coffee bar that serves decent food. It's a great place to go to enjoy Fayetteville's nightlife, especially for a date or if you don't want to yell over blaring music. Specialty drinks are a little pricey but no more so than most places on Dickson St. and your typical bar drinks are pretty much the same price as everywhere. This is one of only a few places that can make Mojitos and make them well. I personally wouldn't spend a whole evening here drinking nor would I come every weekend but during the summer when the patio opens up it's definitely worth stopping by for an hour or two. Did I mention I like their breakfast?
(3)
Alured P.
Decent coffee based drinks. Fairly good alcohol selection in the evening. Food is okay. Just not one of those places that ever called out to me when in the area.
(2)
Sarah F.
I keep going back to Common Grounds because I think it's good. It's not. It's just their Bloody Marys. They're awesome. Everything else totally blows. The music totally clashes with the rest of the atmosphere, and the food is unduly expensive and average, at best, and takes too long getting to your table. I heard they have a tiny kitchen and like one microwave, and while that's maybe an excuse for slow serving times on Sundays, it's not really any explanation for a perpetually indifferent waitstaff. All the same, I like the Birdseed Salad a lot. And the Bloody Marys. That's about it.
(2)
Cathy W.
My husband and I rolled into Fayetteville on a motorcycle during the triple digit heat of midafternoon 8/10/10. We were hot, sweaty and VERY thirsty. We were looking forward to cooling down a little with what was touted as the best Bloody Mary we would ever have. And, we really wanted to find the answer to the age-old question, "What the heck is a dilly bean?" We were satisfied in both respects. The Bloody Mary was thick, spicy, very flavorful and topped with the famed dilly bean in lieu of celery. I also had one of their signature cold coffee drinks which was good and my husband had a diet soft drink, which the waitress forgot to bring after it was ordered. However, when I ventured to the bar to get it for him (without complaint or mentioning the waitress forgot it), the bartender insisted on bringing it to our table, which was very nice. Normally we are sticklers for good service, but since the waitress in another city at dinner the night before also forgot to bring my husband something he ordered, we figured it was par for the course and laughed it off. (Did I mention the Bloody Marys were very good!?) Common Grounds was cool, literally, and had lots of cool, not literal, local art on display. We would definitely stop by again if we are ever in the neighborhood.
(4)
Dion B.
The only real reason why I would continue to go here is because it really is a cool place to hang out at on Dickson. I really hate that I had to give the place 2 stars but I really have experienced better SERVICE and that is key to a businesses success. I just thought about it, SERVICE is the only thing that separates coffeehouse from coffeehouse. Common Grounds the, as they're referred to on Yelp, is an amalgamation of all of Fayetteville's cool and chic coffeehouses rolled into one. Except they left out the great service that the other places have. Maybe one day they'll decide to add that to the mix. The service is not bad all the time but it is that way too often. Consistency is key to maintaining a reputation whether it be good or bad. The food unfortunately suffers the fate of inconsistency in its palatability. You never know what to get when you come here so you stick with one "sure thing" until that ends up on the do not eat this here again list. Their bloody mary's, that were once all the rage, continue to get mixed reviews from me. I just don't understand what's going on here. Oh well they do have comfy chairs, free WiFi, they're open late, and a great place to people watch. So there are some positives and sometimes that's all you want with a cup of coffee.
(2)
Chris S.
Been visiting this place for years. Some perks of this place include Guinness on tap, they sell cigars, plenty of seating, well lit, music at a nice level in the background (pop, soft rock), full bar, decent menu including breakfast, large meeting-size tables, couches and WiFi. Was impressed that even though I was sitting at the bar, one of the wait staff that had a seating section elsewhere passed by, noticed my water glass was empty and automatically filled it. All staff seemed nice, friendly, etc. Clean place. OK, so why the 2 stars? I'm not a fan of hearing about employee issues, scheduling, tasks assigned by bosses to employees, etc EVEN if I am sitting at the bar. My biggest gripe is that I paid almost $6 for a grande (large) latte! It wasn't even "hand" made! From a machine! And it was way too watered down. Granted, I've been to dozens and dozens of coffee shops (even owned two espresso carts in Seattle), but it was a high end machine. The issue was the price. Common Ground's logo/motto refers to gourmet coffee! Machine made instead of hand-pulled shots? Anyways, realizing I'll probably go back and I am shooting myself in the foot with this review, I was/am disappointed. Nice people though, and beautiful facility.
(2)
john c.
My previous rating was 5 star.... several years ago. This is one of the most disappointing reviews I have ever written. I have been a "regular" at Common Grounds for over 7 years. I have probably spent several thousand dollars here. It was a regular hang-out. No longer. This restaurant has gone sharply down hill in the last few years. It is almost like they don't care anymore. With the exception of a few good servers and bartenders, this place is a horrible disappointment. 1) The music is terrible, boring and clashes with the environment and rarely changes. 2) Service. With the exception of a couple good servers the service is shit. 3) Food. Expensive.. inconsistent. Bland. Menu NEVER changes. In 7 years. No change. 4) The art on the walls, once a display of local flavor has not changed in years. 5) It is dirty, tired, and I am often harassed by flies. 6) The free internet is sometimes unusable. Not good for attracting college crowd. 7) Over the last week a terrible sewer smell has developed in the back end of the restaurant. It has not gone away and is truly horrible. It is sad to see a place I have devoted so much business to fall apart. I tend to doubt the owner reads or cares about yelp reviews, but if you do see this PLEASE pay attention. I was loyal. I gave you every opportunity to change my mind. If you are losing a customer like me, the only thing keeping you alive is your location. Please sell out or do a reboot. If you do, I will be back. Goodbye Common Grounds.
(2)
Heather C.
Every time I go back to Common Grounds I kick myself... the food is mediocre, overpriced, and the drinks (aside from the bloody mary, of course) aren't that fabulous (and they're expensive!) Its already on my no-list for lunch because its always a long wait, but at 10pm, a 30 minute wait for a wrap with chips? Ridiculous. Also, extra charge for split plate and for any extras (ranch, particularly) ...not worth my time for sure. I've always enjoyed the patio, and the dessert is fantastic. I'd only suggest it for a decent place to chow down on a giant piece of cake if you have lots of free time.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Seth J.
Food is ok. Poor presentation and poor service. Slow and didn't get any refills. There are better options.
(3)Tonja F.
Okay-first let me say I've been coming here since 90's and looked forward to it every time. Today I was totally disappointed. Came in with family to get a Bloody Mary and also ordered salads (you know, a well balanced lunch). So, the Bloody Mary was average at best-a pool of tomato juicy flavor at the bottom and the rest was just okay. nothing to write home about. The Funky Monkey, which is actually no longer on the menu was lacking the "FUNK". While we appreciate that someone thought they could resurrect it for us it just didn't hit the mark. It was more like a vanilla milkshake. Salads-BUST! Caesar salad wasn't well dressed, included sun dried tomatoes (which in my opinion have no place in a Caesar salad), and whole when croutons made from slices of sandwich bread (plain, dry and unseasoned). Greek salad came to the table and we were notified that they were out of feta cheese...well then it ain't a geek salad dude ! No we don't want Parmesan or cheddar instead. The waiter was kind enough to offer us a different salad which gave us hope but when we received the less than impressive Spinach with pecan salad we pretty much have up all hope that lunch would be satisfying at all. You win some- you lose some. What was once a favorite hangout is now part of my college life history. Somewhere I used to go and enjoy everything I ordered. Am I suggesting that you shouldn't check it out??? No, not at all. I'm just saying I'm not going back. I've enjoyed it but it's clearly time to move on.
(2)Michael F.
Very nice meal. Quick, friendly service. Young man had recently relocated from SoCal. Had the Daddy Warbucks coffee drink and a large entree called the Screaming Buddha. Both excellent. Wife's meal equally good. Eclectic atmosphere. Will definitely return.
(4)Daisy D.
Stopped in for breakfast with the fam when I was in town for graduation. Cute little (well, really not so little) place with a quirky atmosphere. Reminded me of a place back home which is always nice to find when you're on the road. While the idea of a cappuccino or other breakfast beverage was on my mind, getting a bottomless cup of coffee with multiple flavor options on the coffee bar won out. It was hard to figure out what kind of breakfast mood I might be in, but when I saw Bagel & Lox on the menu, I knew what I wanted. I don't know what's come over me, but I've been almost obsessive about trying this everywhere I go lately. And I most say CG's was definitely at the top of my list. The bagel was well toasted, but still soft. They had spread just the right amount of schmear on top. And most people wouldn't pay attention to the cut of the tomato & red onion, but the ring of onion fitting perfectly around the slice of tomato was not lost on me. No sir. It gave me a little bit of everything with every bite which is exactly what you go for on a NY Style bagel. Definitely one of my favorite stops in Fayetteville.
(4)D D.
Horrible drinks that taste like dirty carpet... No thanks! Keep your dirty carpet to yourself. This place was not what I expected and it needs a serious makeover/cleaning. I want good coffee, fair service, at a reasonable price. I didn't get either one. My fix is simple, so I expect that most coffee shops can take care of my fix. I'll hit a Starbucks up or suck a bullet before I get treated like that again. Good service goes a long way in the local business industry.
(1)Tiffany S.
The common grounds offers live performances in a very comfortable environment and has areas for client meetings or school study sessions or work time. The food is delicious (I suggest pizza sticks) and the drinks are amazing. I would suggest it for everyone needing great food, internet and a place to meet up with clients or friends.
(5)Nadeem M.
Coffee shops should not sell automated brewed coffee as espresso shots. The chicken pesto sandwich listed as smothered in pesto had hardly any pesto to speak of. What a disappointment.
(1)Patty B.
Coffee drinks are mediocre at best and overpriced. The atmosphere is laid back and chill, but not worth the price. I didn't find anything here that would make me want to come back.
(2)Tori K.
The atmosphere and the menu were somewhat confusing. We walked in just wanting a coffee to go but didn't see anywhere to place a to go order and we got seated with menus. There were so many things on the menu that it made it too hard to decide. I settled on an Italian cream soda and it was ok. We waited forever for a check and ended up having to leave a tip on something I could just walk up and order anywhere else. Our 5 minute stop turned into an hour long ordeal. For the price and the awkward atmosphere, I don't think I will frequent here.
(2)Hannah P.
The other reviews seem a bit surprising I had an excellent experience. Came in a 9 for dessert after eating at the Thai restaurant (which was awesome) as this was only a two minute walk from our b&b. the menu is huge.. I wish I would've been hungry bc a lot of things looked good! We had the espresso cheesecake and the original and shared, both were amazing. They drizzled it with syrup which I wish I would've known before but oh well amazing service as well + free wifi! Definitely recommend of you're looking for dessert and drinks!
(5)Brenda-David L.
Love everything on the menu and the coffeehouse is the best in the area. Oh stay way from the deserts because they are addictive!! The only reason I gave three stars instead of five is the service - it varies depending on who is on staff - I have been there when it is packed and not so packed and have had great service and bad service which did not depend on how busy they were - confusing I agree so they get three stars
(3)Lindsy B.
Regardless of how busy a weekend, service should never be this bad. My entire family was in town from California for my graduation and before everyone flew home Sunday(mother's day) we wanted to grab breakfast together. We decided to meet at 9:15am- as Common Grounds does not accept reservations, 4 of our 8 arrived at 9 to get a table which was no problem. We placed our order by 9:20 which was great and timely. However, it all went down hill from there... My cousin ordered a specialty coffee which she received 10 minutes later- the coffee was undrinkable it was so sweet so she asked for something else in it's place to which the server rudely said, "you'll have to pay for it"... There was no apology or customer service. At 10:30 we still had no food (though we continued to inquire about it) and there were no drink refills. At 11am still no food and half of the people in our group now had to leave for the airport. We asked the server to please bring to-go boxes along with our food... Which is ridiculous. The food arrived at 11:20, exactly 2 hours after we ordered. Four of our 8 had to eat their meals on the way to the airport. Half of the orders were cold, though plates warm. Again, the server never apologized or even seemed to care. Our bill came to $152.00- nothing comped, no apologies...I realize it was one of the busiest weekends in town but that is no excuse for such horrible service and food. Don't go!
(1)Sebastian P.
First and foremost, I want to mention that the employees that work at common grounds are absolutely wonderful. I've interacted with the majority of them and they are a delight. I'm here to talk about how terrible the food is. I have been eating here at least once a week for the past month because it's very close to my work and very convenient. I've tried about 7 different items on the menu only to be continuously disappointed. Their menu states that some items are served with "fresh fruit".... What you actually get is a half of a strawberry, a slither of honey dew melon, and a piece of romaine lettuce. The eggs are bland and flavorless. Everything else I've had tastes like it just came out of a microwave. I hate to speak ill of a local establishment considering the fact that I work at a local establishment myself and am in the service industry, but I just want this place to have integrity and understand that the quality of food they're putting out is not up to par with what the menu describes.
(1)K B.
This is honestly the worst place I've ever eaten at. I've been here twice (the second time only because I was with friends and they were set on it and I wanted to spend time with them) but I won't be back. My first visit I had a pizza (black bean I think?) and it was "meh". Would have rated the experience two stars. My second visit I got a sandwich (chicken with jalapeños) and it was awful. The chicken itself was so overcooked that it was hard enough to literally cut the roof of my mouth. I bit into the sandwich and thought there was one of those sandwich toothpick things in it because something really hurt my mouth but it was just the chicken. Even if the chicken had been cooked well (I don't know how you can ruin chicken this much!) the rest of the sandwich was bland. It was essentially bread with chicken and jalapeños. Go somewhere else. Please.
(1)Jim L.
Great place for any time of day. Wonderful folks. The coffee. The food. The staff. The patio. Just the best Give me a Blue Moon or a triple latte. Check them out.
(5)Kim W.
Very good desserts (especially their carrot cake), but everything is on the expensive side. If you want to go here for just dessert and coffee, it's a good option, but if you want somewhere to have a full meal, you can get much cheaper elsewhere that is just as good. I took my boyfriend here when he was in from out of town, and he didn't think their coffee was anything special, and they unfortunately did not have many dairy-free options for dessert for him to eat either.
(3)Minny R.
I love this great "hang out" on Dickson. The ambiance is inviting with color-coordinated decor and artwork for sale on the walls. I really appreciate the free wi-fi, many electrical plug-ins for laptop users like me, and a large TV on the wall behind the bar that usually shows sports events. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner... coffee and alcohol too. One disadvantage: Their prices are expensive. This isn't the place for you if you're tight on cash.
(5)James F.
I love me some Sunday brunch, but this was one of the less enticing places I have been to for that particular meal. I saw the less than stellar reviews but thought I would chance it anyways. I had no issues whatsoever with the service, which I know was something that a few other people mentioned. However, I was thoroughly displeased with both the food and the coffee. Considering the place is named after coffee, I figured that at least would be good; however, their standard coffee tasted like they contracted it out to a gas station. I got one of their eggs platter, and everything on it ranged from "average" to "terrible;" the bacon was low quality and poorly cooked, the eggs were completely unseasoned and boring, and the potatoes had seemingly been cooked by someone blindly clutching at a spice rack mid-preparation and hoping for the best. All in all, there are definitely better places to go for brunch. The only reason it didn't get one star is because the service was good and, while the food was bad, it didn't lead to food poisoning, so that's something.
(2)Stephanie K.
Really expensive, and not all that great coffee. I got something with cinnamon and it was literally undrinkable. Tasted like they had dumped an entire jar of cinnamon powder in it. And their service is EXTREMELY slow!! The only thing that saves them is their amazing cheese cake!
(2)Morgan E.
Have been to this place both times I was in Fayetteville. Amazing atmosphere, indoor seating, bar seating and a gorgeous back patio. Server was great in getting us just what we wanted, and helpful with suggestions on food. Perfect place for brunch on a Saturday, and well priced. I had the 3 Little Pigs, bacon sausage and ham on an everything bagel with home fries. talk about delicious, I had never tried something like that and the waitress was right, it was great.
(5)Deserey S.
I came in this morning because I was told this place was amazing. When we came in, no one greeted us so we went up to the bar and they said to seat ourselves and someone would be right with us. We sat for 5 minutes till we got water and menus. The gentleman said out server would be right with us. We waited another 10 minutes in which 3 waitresses and a waiter passed us without even a glance. There were waitresses cleaning tables, putting up menus, wiping doors down and the bartenders were chatting it up behind the bar. A new table even sat down and was waited on IMMEDIATELY. This was absolutely ridiculous and decided to share with you the horrible service we received. We decided to leave, in which I decided to let the bartender know that we were leaving because we were there for a total 15 minutes and no one even took our drink order.
(1)Lea M.
The bloody Mary's are maybe average (I've had much better). The coffee is average. Plenty of seating inside and out. My issues are these: having to pay for any parking in the area (it's a headache to find the pay-spot, remember my parking space number, etc). The supreme nachos would have been good had the beans not been rancid. I returned the nachos. I hoped I and my date wouldn't get sick later. Instead of comping my meal, they gave me a % off card for next time. There has been no next time. Yuck.
(2)Lola M.
My advice? GO ELSEWHERE. The place claims to be a Coffee House? Ironic, seeing as how the coffee is horrible (i'd be shocked if it WASN'T Folgers) and incredibly overpriced. What else is incredibly overpriced? Everything. On my most recent visit to this cave of an establishment, I ordered a Greek Salad with oil & vinegar on the side as dressing - the lettuce was bitter, found some mold on the cheese....and the total bill? ELEVEN. DOLLARS. I asked the waitress why I had been charged an additional THREE DOLLARS - her response? The extra dressing. Never have I ever been charged for oil & vinegar. Like, ever. This place is horrid. If you're looking for great coffee and great food (most of which comes from local farms and not off the back of a Sysco truck) check out Arsaga's Creperie and the Brick House Kitchen. You'll thank yourself (and wallet) in the end.
(1)Tim S.
I stop here every time I am in Fayetteville to see the Razorbacks. I actually really like this place. The bad reviews are puzzling to me. I'm not here to bash the reviewers who rated this place low. I'll stick with my own experiences here. I love coffee places like this. You can get all kinds of coffee, including spiked coffee. What's cool is you can also get wine and beer. It's like a Starbuck with an alcohol selection. They also have food as well. The food is alright. Not great or outstanding but it is very satisfying. Every time I show up here the place is very busy. If it sucked like some are saying then I doubt they would have lasted this long. If your looking for a place to chill then I highly recommend.
(4)Adam M.
I absolutely loved this coffee shop! The service was great and the coffee FRESH! I had the Vanilla Lattè. Wonderful! :)
(5)Luke C.
Been going to common grounds off & on for the last 12 years. In all my travels, it doesn't get much better. I love their coffee, breakfast, drinks and hours. Good work!
(5)Mary C.
If I could give this place a negative star rating I would. I can't speak for the food as we never got to eat. We got there and found a table and sat there for 15minutes before a server came over to ask if we wanted water and coffee. He left and never came back. After another 15min we decided to move to the bar for better service. Made it to the bar we were given cups for coffee and menus. We ordered and then waited...for an hour. We asked about our order and the server said he forgot to put it in and just walked away. No apology or explanation, not even an offer to rush a new order. So we left. I would suggest you find another location for breakfast. This place will waste your day!
(1)Austin N.
Awesome breakfast food - get the Screaming Buddha. Staff is super friendly. Will definitely be coming back
(5)Zachary S.
Meh, good enough coffee for a diner and the deserts are good when you've been drinking on Dixon. Their scrambled eggs are DISGUSTING, "premixed" and taste like styrofoam (about the same texture too). They even ruin the fruit!! Service is good about 10% of the time, 50% of the time bad, 40% of the time it's terrible.
(1)Derek T.
Trying to find a great breakfast place before I left Razorback-ville, we were directed here. My initial disappointment at not being able to have the two or three eggs over-easy I craved was quickly offset by the very friendly and capable service - and the fresh-cracked eggs scrambled into whatever your desired done-ness and heart desire. Okay, at $8+ dollars the Cowboy scramble was a little steep - but I was a very stuffed and happy camper for the whole 5-hour drive back to Miz-Zou country. I took a slice of carrot cake back with me as well. Jumping Jehosaphat, that slice was almost 1/4 of a normal cake. Took me two nights of dessert to eat it (no, I did NOT share!!!) -and every bite was carrot-cake heaven...
(3)R H.
I agree with most of the reviews about CG. Coffee-8 Food-4 Service-4 Beer Selection-8 Atmosphere-6 (obviously a coffee house motif) Desserts-4(I'm not into Frozen Sysco products) I have eaten here numerous times over the last 12 years or so, and the food quality/consistency has stayed the same. This is not the worst place you could go, but it wouldn't be on my top 25 eateries/bars to visit when you come to Fayettenam.
(2)Timothy E.
Coffee, coffee, coffee. I have two requirements for a coffee joint, and it is met here. Coffee. The more the better. And...Wi-Fi. They have it! As much coffee as you want to drink, and usually at least five kinds to choose from, mix or match. I prefer the morning life to the night life here. Strange mix of people at night, coffee people, food people, drinking people...they all seem to be sizing each other up...haha. But mornings seem to belong to me.
(4)Taylor W.
Expensive to the maximum. The breakfast and pizzas are good (ie. the breakfast pizza), and the patio is enjoyable. And the snickerdoodle coffee and free WIFI are worth returning for. Used to be a regular. Now I just go when others want to go there.
(2)Abby T.
This place has quite a nice menu selection! Their breakfast is delicious but the lunch leaves a little to be longed for. Apparently they have a nice breakfast buffet as well. Our server spilled a bunch of balsamic vinegar and oil on me, like a complete stoner, but I am not faulting the restaurant for this kid waiter. He should have been more careful. I like the outdoor seating area of this establishment too. If I ever return to Fayatteville, I will definitely stop into Common Grounds.
(4)Kate H.
As soon as we moved to Fayetteville, we were told to have breakfast at Common Grounds. We eagerly anticipated a fantastic breakfast based on word of mouth, and when we saw the creativity that went into designing the menu, we just knew we wouldn't be disappointed. How wrong we were.... Despite consistent rave reviews about the Bloody Marys, I was unimpressed by mine. I felt it was underseasoned and watery by the time it reached us. Both us ordered specialty items from the menu--the Breakfast Pizza and the Breakfast Quesadilla--and both somehow managed to be boring and bland. After paying $40 for such a disappointing breakfast, I don't expect to go back again.
(2)Jenee F.
The reason I'm giving a poor review is because they put a mushroom in my boyfriend's meal after we had specifically sent back the last one that had mushrooms in it because he will have to be rushed to the ER if he eats one. There was only one mushroom in the whole plate, which he noticed before taking that bite. She told us that the cook "opened all new packages and used new bowls and utensils." If this is true then why was there a mushroom? My theory: They were sick of special orders. The day before I had ordered off the gluten free menu and they put gluten coated fried potatoes on my fruit and eggs and I sent it back. The cook was probably sick of this kind of thing. We have always been very polight and friendly. They did comp our meal (but my boyfriend went home hungry and blurry-headed from eating only a few bites and then discovering a mushroom). We left a 5 dollar tip for the server because it wasn't her fault. Most of the staff is pretty nice to us but if you have a food allergy nice doesn't always cut it. (Common grounds is one of two breakfast options for me because they have a gluten free menu. For breakfast, you have only 4 gluten free options. Hope you like eggs. And watch out, ordering off the gf menu does not mean they put it in that way to the cooks)
(1)Sacha D.
I can not say enough how great this place is it's been there for yrs use to hang out there alot in high school every morning there bakery was better then but the atmosphere is still calm and laid back and the coffee and tea is great
(5)Kris H.
I would really only recommend coming to Common Grounds for brunch, and then really only for the Bloody Mary. The food is okay, but too expensive for what it is. The food isn't always made from fresh ingredients, and you can tell. I like to sit on the back patio though, so I'm glad summer is here.
(3)Whitney W.
When my fiance and I had our first official "date" we came here and shared the hummus platter. Afterwards we took a walk around Lake Fayetteville and had our first kiss, which tasted like hummus. I will never forget that.
(5)Sam B.
I loved the friendly service, the wide variety of menu items, free wifi and great atmosphere. I highly recommend "Lotsa Lox", it's one of the tastiest dishes I've had in a long time.
(5)Robert G.
Visited 8/5/10 It should be noted here that this review is only of Common Grounds as a drinking establishment. I didn't eat anything, and I didn't order coffee. However, i did sit on the back patio with several grad students and order two beers and one drink. And i spent 18 bucks. This, as the kids say, is bullshit. FIrst of all, our waitress was non-existent. I know people hate to read about industry stuff like staffing, but as a former culinary professional, I can tell you that if you can't get your staffing levels right, then its "Danger, Will Robinson!" time. While the website and online menu were impressive, i found the operation to be a bit lackluster. Someone below compared Common Grounds to Austin's Kirby Lane. I lived in Austin for the last three years and have dined at several of the Kirby Lanes, and i can tell you that Common Grounds isn't even close. Its not even the homeless man's KL. And its not in the same universe as Magnolia Cafe. Because they allow smoking on the back patio, i brought my own cigar (the cigar selection, while, i suppose, a nice revenue enhancer, was not spectacular). As i often do when i smoke, i ordered a Jameson Irish Whisky (the standard, they don't carry the 12 year, though i don't penalize for that) on the rocks. What I got, several minutes later, was a rocks glass that was completely full of ice, with a liquid that was 75% water and a splash of Jameson. I paid $7 for the privilege. Now, I don't mean to deviate from my review of Common Grounds, but let us all take a quick review in how a proper Jameson rocks should be poured. In a rocks glass, place no more than two large, or three medium sized ice cubes. Onto the ice, pour two fingers of Jameson Irish Whisky. Serve immediately. Notice that liquid water is not in the mix. If i'm going to pay $7 bucks for a glass of whisky, it had better be nothing but whisky. (oh, and a further note to those who don't drink, American and Scottish whiskeys have an e before the y. Irish Whisky does not.) After the stunning disappointment that was my Jameson, i waited for a good 20 minutes before ever receiving so much as a glance from the waitress. You'd think, since i just ordered a $7 and looked to be sticking around that i'd warrant attentive service. Apparently, you would be wrong. Given that i could not trust the bar to pour a proper drink, i ordered a Boulevard Wheat. Getting a second one a little while later proved as difficult as the first, and when i asked another waiter for the beer, he simply said he'd find my waitress. She printed tickets before anyone asked for them, and was generally inefficient, inattentive, and unacceptable. The only reason i left a tip and did not ask to speak to the manager was because i was with a group. Had I been alone or with a smaller number of people, I most certainly would have. All in all, as a drinking establishment, Common Grounds is so unacceptable as to not warrant the single star Yelp requires me to give it. But since i must give it one star, i will say that at no point was there any sort of structural collapse, alien invasion, or violent squirrel attack while i was there. For that, Common Grounds gets one star. For everything else, they shall never have my business again. oh, and PS: I have it on very, very good authority that the vast majority of the food at Common Grounds is not only not fresh, its microwaved. Having not eaten there, i cannot personally confirm this, but my source is quite knowledgeable about the food industry.
(1)Red G.
We were really disappointed with the breakfast. We were trying to get away from the hotel buffet, but we fell right into it. This place has sooo much potential! The menu LOOKS great!, but the eggs are powdered and the potatoes were the pre-made frozen type. Coffee was decent. I would definitely look for somewhere else to eat - even if the food wasn't better, at least I wouldn't have to pay "fresh" prices for reheated bland food.
(1)Callan C.
I agree with Tay Tay. CG is one of those places that you continue to end up at but never really enjoy. It's kind of pretentious and isn't really that excellent. I will say that daytime service seems to be a little more attentive than the evening service. The menu has remained unchanged, it seems, for quite a while and it would also be nice if the aesthetics were a little more updated. Main complaints are the overprices and super slow service.
(2)Penny M.
I think I like the location and atmosphere of Common Grounds way more than anything else about it. The food can be good, particularly for lunch. There are a couple good salads (the California Chicken Salad is good), and the Garden Pasta has been consistently tasty when I've had it.. The side items that come with most meals (bland roll or plain tortilla chips) leave a lot to be desired, but they are just included side items. No big deal there. Breakfast is sort of another story. Everything I've ever ordered for breakfast there tastes pretty much exactly like every other thing I've ordered. This is not to say it tastes bad - there just isn't really much variety. The coffee is good, but nothing I couldn't make at home. Everything on the menu in general seems like it costs a little more than it should. We've also had to wait for our food for way too long to be worth it. One Saturday afternoon (around 2pm and after the lunch rush), my husband and I were told we could order, but food might take 20 minutes or so. We had some time to spare and books to read, plus the 20 minute wait was more or less what we'd already expected, so we agreed. We had to wait an hour and a half before my salad and his sandwich (neither of which involved anything more intricate than a microwave) to show up. While we had willingly agreed to wait a little while, I find this completely ridiculous. That said, it's not a bad place to go and hang out for awhile, if you're not intending to have a major meal or are in a rush of any kind. I like the changing artwork on the walls and being able to people watch out the windows. The patio is usually a nice place to be with a group. My pleasant experiences going and ordering something small (a desert and coffee or a drink) almost, but not quite, balance out the more unpleasant experiences.
(3)Derek M.
The food at Common Grounds is nothing spectacular. In fact, sometimes it is downright awful. The service is slow -- it seems they are constantly understaffed. The coffee is also mediocre. Common Grounds is a bad version of Austin's Kerbey Lane. However, they serve food late at night and the bloody mary is decent. Don't worry Common Grounds, I'll probably be back in you next time I visit Fayetteville.
(2)Nathan S.
Yum! Great breakfast and excellent coffee.
(5)Katy N.
I'm from out-of-town; just stopped in for a mocha. Service was really friendly and mocha was delicious.
(5)Bo C.
Common Grounds, I suppose it's called this because it's a place you come to politely respect everyone else's tastes no matter how crappy. I suppose you can get an endless cup of snicker doodle coffee for 4 bucks, but I can get an endless cup of coffee at Waffle House for about 100 pennies...and the antiquated Waffle House commercial art on the walls could probably best most of the rotating local art in Common Grounds. Too bad Waffle House doesn't serve beer and mixed drinks, cause they too would probably not break the bank Grounds style. All things considered though, Common Grounds does have a friendly variety of menu items and beverages and the kitchen sometimes stays open till almost 11. You don't have to be afraid of bringing your vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, or even oxygenarian friends to this place cause they'll probably find something on the menu and find something on the walls to comment on. If you're a regular ole' carnivore like me though, the Big Dipper is a pretty good bet, but screw the horsey sauce and get some spicy mustard on the side. You'll thank me later. They also have a supposedly "famous" breakfast menu and sunday brunch...but like I said...there's always Waffle House.
(3)Laura G.
My two experiences with Common Grounds left me less than impressed. First visit---I had a sandwich that was mozzarella/basil/tomato and it was the least flavorful thing I may have ever eaten. The second time, I just went for desserts and was just as unimpressed. The cheesecake was one big hunk that was hard to cut through with a fork and the cake completely separated from the crust almost immediately.
(2)Shannon R.
I go to Common Grounds only when I'm walking on Dickson and crave a nice sit by the front window & a cup of decent coffee. Sadly, that's all I ever order at CG anymore; they used to be fantastic, but everything has gone downhill. The waitstaff is snooty and barely there, the food and drinks are mediocre, and they have strange rules about seating (no card games while you are waiting hours for your food!), when lunch or breakfast can be served, and everything takes forever to get to your table. Edit: I again found myself an unfortunate victim of Common Grounds three times in the past month. With such a central location between work, school, and my house combined with the late hours & wifi access, it's hard to stay away. I wish I had. I took away one of the two stars I had given CG because of my consistently bad experiences these past three times. While there is a definite improvement in the attentiveness and attitudes of the waitstaff (from zero to quite pleasant), the food has gone from bad to worse. From salads with forgotten dressing to salads with way, wayyy too much dressing (we're talking a literal cup of dressing on a plate-sized salad, which was unpalatable!), cold coffee drinks (which were supposed to be hot!), soup that was still cold in the middle, and an agonizingly long wait for bar drinks, everything that was barely acceptable about CG has disappeared. I'll miss the patio and the centralized location. I'll even miss the bizarre art on the walls. But this is one local business in Fayetteville that I will never frequent again. I'd rather go to ihop. Bummer, guys.
(1)Jenae T.
As a local, I advise you to not waste your time. The service is slow, food is sub-par, and prices are too expensive. Dickson Street is great- but this, and Hog Haus, are not.
(1)Aaron G.
I happen to like their breakfast (Buddha!) but the other comments are dead on about lunch and dinner. The place isn't really a restaurant but rather a coffee bar that serves decent food. It's a great place to go to enjoy Fayetteville's nightlife, especially for a date or if you don't want to yell over blaring music. Specialty drinks are a little pricey but no more so than most places on Dickson St. and your typical bar drinks are pretty much the same price as everywhere. This is one of only a few places that can make Mojitos and make them well. I personally wouldn't spend a whole evening here drinking nor would I come every weekend but during the summer when the patio opens up it's definitely worth stopping by for an hour or two. Did I mention I like their breakfast?
(3)Alured P.
Decent coffee based drinks. Fairly good alcohol selection in the evening. Food is okay. Just not one of those places that ever called out to me when in the area.
(2)Sarah F.
I keep going back to Common Grounds because I think it's good. It's not. It's just their Bloody Marys. They're awesome. Everything else totally blows. The music totally clashes with the rest of the atmosphere, and the food is unduly expensive and average, at best, and takes too long getting to your table. I heard they have a tiny kitchen and like one microwave, and while that's maybe an excuse for slow serving times on Sundays, it's not really any explanation for a perpetually indifferent waitstaff. All the same, I like the Birdseed Salad a lot. And the Bloody Marys. That's about it.
(2)Cathy W.
My husband and I rolled into Fayetteville on a motorcycle during the triple digit heat of midafternoon 8/10/10. We were hot, sweaty and VERY thirsty. We were looking forward to cooling down a little with what was touted as the best Bloody Mary we would ever have. And, we really wanted to find the answer to the age-old question, "What the heck is a dilly bean?" We were satisfied in both respects. The Bloody Mary was thick, spicy, very flavorful and topped with the famed dilly bean in lieu of celery. I also had one of their signature cold coffee drinks which was good and my husband had a diet soft drink, which the waitress forgot to bring after it was ordered. However, when I ventured to the bar to get it for him (without complaint or mentioning the waitress forgot it), the bartender insisted on bringing it to our table, which was very nice. Normally we are sticklers for good service, but since the waitress in another city at dinner the night before also forgot to bring my husband something he ordered, we figured it was par for the course and laughed it off. (Did I mention the Bloody Marys were very good!?) Common Grounds was cool, literally, and had lots of cool, not literal, local art on display. We would definitely stop by again if we are ever in the neighborhood.
(4)Dion B.
The only real reason why I would continue to go here is because it really is a cool place to hang out at on Dickson. I really hate that I had to give the place 2 stars but I really have experienced better SERVICE and that is key to a businesses success. I just thought about it, SERVICE is the only thing that separates coffeehouse from coffeehouse. Common Grounds the, as they're referred to on Yelp, is an amalgamation of all of Fayetteville's cool and chic coffeehouses rolled into one. Except they left out the great service that the other places have. Maybe one day they'll decide to add that to the mix. The service is not bad all the time but it is that way too often. Consistency is key to maintaining a reputation whether it be good or bad. The food unfortunately suffers the fate of inconsistency in its palatability. You never know what to get when you come here so you stick with one "sure thing" until that ends up on the do not eat this here again list. Their bloody mary's, that were once all the rage, continue to get mixed reviews from me. I just don't understand what's going on here. Oh well they do have comfy chairs, free WiFi, they're open late, and a great place to people watch. So there are some positives and sometimes that's all you want with a cup of coffee.
(2)Chris S.
Been visiting this place for years. Some perks of this place include Guinness on tap, they sell cigars, plenty of seating, well lit, music at a nice level in the background (pop, soft rock), full bar, decent menu including breakfast, large meeting-size tables, couches and WiFi. Was impressed that even though I was sitting at the bar, one of the wait staff that had a seating section elsewhere passed by, noticed my water glass was empty and automatically filled it. All staff seemed nice, friendly, etc. Clean place. OK, so why the 2 stars? I'm not a fan of hearing about employee issues, scheduling, tasks assigned by bosses to employees, etc EVEN if I am sitting at the bar. My biggest gripe is that I paid almost $6 for a grande (large) latte! It wasn't even "hand" made! From a machine! And it was way too watered down. Granted, I've been to dozens and dozens of coffee shops (even owned two espresso carts in Seattle), but it was a high end machine. The issue was the price. Common Ground's logo/motto refers to gourmet coffee! Machine made instead of hand-pulled shots? Anyways, realizing I'll probably go back and I am shooting myself in the foot with this review, I was/am disappointed. Nice people though, and beautiful facility.
(2)john c.
My previous rating was 5 star.... several years ago. This is one of the most disappointing reviews I have ever written. I have been a "regular" at Common Grounds for over 7 years. I have probably spent several thousand dollars here. It was a regular hang-out. No longer. This restaurant has gone sharply down hill in the last few years. It is almost like they don't care anymore. With the exception of a few good servers and bartenders, this place is a horrible disappointment. 1) The music is terrible, boring and clashes with the environment and rarely changes. 2) Service. With the exception of a couple good servers the service is shit. 3) Food. Expensive.. inconsistent. Bland. Menu NEVER changes. In 7 years. No change. 4) The art on the walls, once a display of local flavor has not changed in years. 5) It is dirty, tired, and I am often harassed by flies. 6) The free internet is sometimes unusable. Not good for attracting college crowd. 7) Over the last week a terrible sewer smell has developed in the back end of the restaurant. It has not gone away and is truly horrible. It is sad to see a place I have devoted so much business to fall apart. I tend to doubt the owner reads or cares about yelp reviews, but if you do see this PLEASE pay attention. I was loyal. I gave you every opportunity to change my mind. If you are losing a customer like me, the only thing keeping you alive is your location. Please sell out or do a reboot. If you do, I will be back. Goodbye Common Grounds.
(2)Heather C.
Every time I go back to Common Grounds I kick myself... the food is mediocre, overpriced, and the drinks (aside from the bloody mary, of course) aren't that fabulous (and they're expensive!) Its already on my no-list for lunch because its always a long wait, but at 10pm, a 30 minute wait for a wrap with chips? Ridiculous. Also, extra charge for split plate and for any extras (ranch, particularly) ...not worth my time for sure. I've always enjoyed the patio, and the dessert is fantastic. I'd only suggest it for a decent place to chow down on a giant piece of cake if you have lots of free time.
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