Commonwealth Cafe

Reviews

• JY

  J Yan

  Apr 16, 2026
  5.0
  I LOVE this food. The drinks and beverages are clean and amazing. But I’ve got a few suggestions: if the tip is mandatory, is it a tip? Or a price increase. And it wouldn’t hurt so much if the servers were more efficient. More friendly and more careful. They are smug and there’s a disconnect between the making of the food and the interactions at the register. A mandatory tip on takeout? Hmmmmm. No online delivery system because I imagine it’s hard to guarantee a tip and then tip the delivery guy. You have managed yourselves into a corner here. And while I appreciate the high level of creativity and commitment to food, whoever is managing the staff needs to rethink their snotty snobby ideas of how to serve it. Just raise the prices, call it the evolution of restaurant ethos and claim your place as the best cafe in birmingham. Maybe ask chef Dave Gilbert how he is so kind to both staff AND patrons. It’s an uneven approach.
• PC

  Pete Cilluffo

  Apr 14, 2026
  4.0
  Nice and comfortable. Will be back.
• MC

  Mr Corral

  Apr 13, 2026
  5.0
  This place is wonderful. The maple latte was truly a masterpiece. Great variety of food & beverages.
• DF

  Detroit Foodie

  Apr 2, 2026
  5.0
  This place is AWESOME! Such a cool experience, atmosphere, and the food is amazing! Feels like I’m on vacation when I come here. It is pricey and different because you order when you walk in then sit down, but it is worth it.
• LM

  Laurie McLachlan

  Mar 30, 2026
  3.0
  Excellent food. Loss of stars is due to their tricky tipping set up. A 15% tip is added to all orders, even take out. Yet, you will be asked to add a tip amount for dining in and takeout orders. Tipping in America is an artifact of slavery. It is how restaurants legally justify paying low wages. This is a massive turn off. A $20+ grain bowl should allow the owner to pay fair wages. If not, they have a broken business model.

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