Communal Oven & Earth: an UWS hidden Gem
The Upper West Side has no shortage of amazing food, so when I stumble into a little restaurant that I never heard of, the first thing that pops into my head is: I hope it is good! Communal Oven & Earth is super homey, and I felt very welcomed right upon entering. The restaurant is farm-to-table and centric around health-purposed ingredients, which is always a plus when you flock to dishes like French toast or a big-ass burger (but it’s healthy because it’s organic right?). The wine selection is pretty good and the prices across the board are very affordable.
The first time I came to Communal was for dinner, and I’ve been back about five times since because it is really, really good. I haven’t had a bad experience and my only complaint is that they took the Turkey Burger off the menu! Why?? It’s the best thing! I hope after this review they consider adding it back (I know I am not alone on this).
Since I have become such a regular, I thought it’d be fun to share a day in life at Communal for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
BREAKFAST:
Communal French Toast: House-Baked Challah & Seasonal Fruit, Piloncillo-Cinnamon Syrup. WOW – you can tell the Challah was fresh and it was not too eggy. The French Toast also the perfect combo of cinnamon and powdered sugar. The fruit was also very very fresh!
LUNCH:
Turkey Burger: Organic Turkey, Black Bean Hummus, Ancho Chile, Tomato Tepenade and Melted Mozzarella on a Brioche bun
VS
Drunken Shroom Burger: Cognac Sautéed Mushrooms with Melted Mozzarella on a Brioche bun
Both were delicious, but I have to go with the Turkey Burger. That black bean hummus was so rich in a good way and the Turkey Burger was super juicy, but crisp on the outside. I did love the shrooms and how the Drunken Shroom Burger had a Marsala vibe. The sweet potato fries are also always a must!
DINNER:
Guacamole Tartar: Hass Avocado, Goat Cheese, Edamame, Black Sesame Seeds, Scallions and Corn Chips – probably once of the best things on the menu. I’ve gotten this every time I’ve come here and have no intentions of stopping the trend.
Skinny Flat Margherita: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Garlic, Mozzarella and Fresh Basil
This isn’t that best Margherita flatbread, but it’s good. I wish they made it crispier!
THE MEAL is the best part of the menu because it allows you to mix and match different types of protein with either quinoa & veggies, soba noodles, lettuce wraps or as a sandwich.
This time we got the Seared Salmon Maple-Glazed, Caper-Lemon Aioli with Make Your Own Lettuce Wraps that came with Julienne Veggies Jalapeño-Wasabi Dip. The Salmon was seared to perfection. I once got the Herb Roasted Chicken with Soba Noodles and it was delicious! Wish I got a pic of that.
Communal Table is the perfect spot for brunch with friends or a casual dinner with family. It always hits the G-spot and gets a 9/10 overall. I really hope they bring the Turkey Burger back! Maybe I’ll consider the 10/10? Looking forward to my next visit!
